The Minnesota Vikings didn’t have the strongest group at running back going into the year but there was always a path forward in terms of development.
Alexander Matison entered the season as the top running back for the Vikings. The fifth-year running back had started six games in his tenure with the Vikings and averaged 79.5 YPG with three total touchdowns across those starts.
This season, he hasn’t been able to take a step forward and a high ankle sprain suffered against the Las Vegas Raiders opened up the door for second-year running back Ty Chandler.
Chandler, who happens to be slightly older than Mattison, was a very explosive player in college once he got the opportunity at North Carolina. The little things were what was holding him back. Poor vision on zone concepts and struggling to be consistent in pass blocking was part of the reason why the Vikings traded for Cam Akers in September.
Agaisnt the Cincinnati Bengals, Chandler got the opportunity to be the lead back and he took it by the horns and looked like the best player in the running back room. These seven plays highlight how well he played and why he should be the guy moving forward.