The Vikings reliance on Alexander Mattison in the running game raises some major questions writes Judd Zulgad
The Minnesota Vikings’ offseason pivot at running back included rewarding running back Alexander Mattison with a two-year, $7 million contract after the decision was made to move on from veteran Dalvin Cook.
Cook was nearing the end of a five-year, $63 million contract and the assumption was the Vikings wanted to flip to more of a running back by committee situation. That would start with Mattison but not require him to be a bellcow in the backfield.
The likely scenario as training camp opened was that Mattison would be the lead back (1A) and Ty Chandler and Kene Nwangwu would battle for the job as the 1B running back.
But during the Vikings’ 2-4 start little has gone as expected and the running back situation is one of them. The Vikings are 30th in the NFL in rushing, averaging 75 yards per game, and they join the Pittsburgh Steelers as one of two teams without a rushing touchdown this season.
Which running backs should you start and sit for Week 6? Natalie Miller has your fantasy team covered.
Starts and sits is here to help fantasy managers make those all important last minute lineup decisions .While we won’t tell you about obvious starts such as Christian McCaffrey or Justin Jefferson, we will find players you may be waffling about and help you make a decision.
Studs and duds from Jets’ 31-21 win over Broncos in Week 5
The Jets went to Denver almost needing a win to save their season. They came away with a 31-21 victory and a 2-3 record that gives the team hope again with the schedule lightening up after the bye week.
Who stood out and helped the Jets get that big win? Here’s our Week 5 “Studs and Duds”.
The NFL season is taking form and were left with only two undefeated teams and two one winless team. Player rankings are still dominated by players who had one monster game to skew their fantasy points. Right now, the only Top-10 running backs from last year that are still Top-10 are Tony Pollard and Christian McCaffrey. But the top wideouts from last year are almost all top in the rankings again. Puka Nacua is a slight surprise, and maybe we underestimated the Texans and Nico Collins. But so far – those early wideout picks have almost all been golden, and running backs are mostly frustrating.
Unless we are talking about rookies.
Let’s take a look at some positions and situations as we head into Week 5.
Rookie running back report – Here’s where the first five rounds of rookie running backs have ended up through the first four weeks.
Pick
Tm
Running Backs
Yards
Catch
TDs
FF Pts
RANK
1.08
ATL
Bijan Robinson
452
19
1
70.2
6
1.12
DET
Jahmyr Gibbs
249
14
0
38.9
27
2.21
SEA
Zach Charbonnet
126
4
0
16.6
57
3.08
NO
Kendre Miller
42
2
0
6.2
79
3.18
TEN
Tyjae Spears
150
10
0
25
46
3.21
MIA
Devon Achane
362
8
6
80.2
4
3.25
JAC
Tank Bigsby
33
2
0
15.3
60
4.13
CHI
Roschon Johnson
180
11
1
35
30
5.08
NYJ
Israel Abanikanda
0
0
0
0
na
5.28
CIN
Chase Brown
-1
1
0
0.9
114
5.37
NYG
Eric Gray
0
0
0
0
na
5.41
IND
Evan Hull
7
1
0
1.7
110
Jahmyr Gibbs still rates as a fantasy starter but hasn’t been a difference-maker. Devon Achane’s stats were vastly impacted by his four-TD performance, but he’s a fantasy starter until he isn’t. The most likely assumption is that Achane drops and Gibbs rises as the season progresses. But we were all correct – Bijan Robinson is the one to draft and in the first round.
Rookie wide receiver report – Rookie receivers very rarely meet fantasy expectations. That has held true with one gigantic outlier. Tank Dell and Michael Wilson can thank one big performance to scoot them into the end of the WR3 range. Zay Flowers is also barely there. All the others have not rated a fantasy start except for NFL-record setter Puka Nacua. He was the 20th wideout drafted. All other teams missed him five times before he was taken.
Pick
Tm
Wide Receivers
Yards
Catch
TDs
FF Pts
RANK
1.20
SEA
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
62
12
0
18.2
89
1.21
LAC
Quentin Johnston
44
6
0
10.4
113
1.22
BAL
Zay Flowers
244
24
0
49.5
35
1.23
MIN
Jordan Addison
185
13
2
43.5
44
2.08
CAR
Jonathan Mingo
64
8
0
14.4
100
2.19
GB
Jayden Reed
203
12
2
44.1
42
2.24
KC
Rashee Rice
140
13
1
32.7
59
2.32
DEN
Marvin Mims
242
9
1
40.5
45
3.06
HOU
Nathaniel Dell
267
16
2
56
25
3.10
NYG
Jalin Hyatt
99
4
0
13.9
102
3.11
CLE
Cedric Tillman
5
1
0
1.5
154
3.16
IND
Josh Downs
158
17
0
32.8
57
3.31
ARI
Michael Wilson
239
21
2
59.8
34
3.37
LVR
Tre Tucker
34
1
0
1
137
4.23
LAC
Derius Davis
85
4
0
6.4
108
4.29
CIN
Charlie Jones
6
1
0
1.6
150
4.31
CHI
Tyler Scott
20
3
1
2.3
123
5.15
BUF
Justin Shorter
0
0
0
0
na
5.24
GB
Dontayvion Wicks
0
0
0
0
na
5.42
LAR
Puka Nacua
501
39
1
95.5
5
Some of the above will likely creep into fantasy starter range later in the season. But drafting a rookie wideout almost never pays off. Nacua wasn’t drafted in most leagues – why would he? You have to love the surprises.
Jameson Williams (DET) – He served his time and the NFL cut his suspension short, so tie those yellow ribbons all over Ford Field. The Lions play the Carolina “for a good time, call” Panthers, so most everything should work anyway. To start, he’ll timeshare with Marvin Jones which is to say he’ll handle all the actual receptions between the two. He’s one to watch but had just one catch last year as he returned from a torn ACL. He’s good enough that the Lions drafted him with their 1.12 pick last year, knowing that he’d have a down rookie year from his knee. They did not see the suspension coming, but it is over and the ex-Alabama star finally hits the field healthy. He turned in a 79-1572-15 stat line as a Crimson Tide junior who ran a 4.38 and even posted 7-184-2 on the Georgia defense in 2021. Amon-Ra St. Brown is safely the No. 1 wideout but there’s room for Williams to start to climb the depth chart.
Chiefs receivers – Will there be a primary wideout this year? Tyreek Hill left last year, and JuJu Smith-Schuster stepped up with 78-933-3 as the No. 27 fantasy wideout. This year? The top wideout is the rookie Rashee Rice (No. 59) and Skyy Moore (No. 69). Patrick Mahomes uses around a dozen receivers every week and none have more than five catches in a game. Usually, they catch two or three. Kadarius Toney is officially empty on any upside. Playing at the Vikings who rank No. 32 versus wideouts should give a look at how the passing should ideally be distributed. Rice is the one to watch, but if he cannot clearly step forward ahead of the rest in this venue, than the Chiefs will not offer a safe wideout fantasy starter this season.
Kyle Pitts / Drake London (ATL) – Both players are highly talented. Pitts (2020 – 1.04) was the highest-drafted tight end in NFL history. London (2021 – 1.08). Pitts set records as a rookie, as expected. Last year, Marcus Mariota prevented the passing game from succeeding. Now that Desmond Ridder is starting his career, the passing game has nosedived and both Pitts and London are landing on waiver wires in frustration and anger. The duo are in the Bottom-3 among all NFL receivers in catchable target rate. It is not their fault. The Falcons rank No. 32 in fantasy wideouts. Pitts isn’t even the most productive tight end on his team. But if the passing continues to be so bad, the Falcons will be forced to switch to Taylor Heinicke. This week against the Texans should see some signs of improvement. If not, the calls to remove Ridder will grow. Don’t throw away either receiver if you have any roster room. Talent always finds a way. Eventually.
Israel Abanikanda (NYJ) – The Jets intend to kick off the training wheels for Breece Hall and eliminate his limitations. That’s great for Hall and his fantasy owners because he looks very much to be in top shape, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. Behind him has been Dalvin Cook, but the veteran back has not been of any help. After four games, he is averaging just 2.5 yards per carry. There is speculation that Cook could get traded or released, as he is not adding anything to the backfield despite signing a 1-year, $7M contract. The fifth-round pick Abanikanda impressed earlier this summer, but then had a thigh injury. He’s not seen any work this season, but the Jets have to be concerned about Cook if they were forced to rely on him. It is a situation worth tracking.
About last night
Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago 40, Washington 20
Free at last…
The Bears broke that fourteen-game losing streak, this time by building a huge lead and then NOT letting the opponent post a huge comeback. Bet they thought about last week, just without anyone speaking a word. The Commanders are now officially “it.” And in their own stadium, no less.
Once again, Justin Fields was a fantasy gem. He ran for 57 yards on a team-high 11 rushes, and passed for 282 yards and four touchdowns. DJ Moore had a career-best game with eight receptions for 230 yards and three touchdowns. Cole Kmet offered five catches for 42 yards and a score, but all other receivers combined for only two catches for two yards. This illustrates why covering DJ Moore would be a game-changer. Khalil Herbert rushed for 76 yards on ten carries but left with an ankle injury. Roschon Johnson gained 19 yards on three rushes and left with a concussion. Have to think the only Bears cheering then were close family members of D’Onta Foreman. Who may have been at home with them.
The Bears defense finally showed up and never left. The No. 31 defense against running backs only allowed Brian Robinson to gain 10 yards on six runs. That will help the average. Sam Howell passed 51 times to complete 37 passes for 388 yards and two scores between Logan Thomas (9-77, TD) and Curtis Samuel (6-65, TD). Antonio Gibson never rushed the ball but caught four passes for 64 yards. Eight different receivers caught at least two passes but they were not nearly enough for a Bears team that found destiny after almost a calendar year.
3 Studs and 2 duds from Jets’ crushing 23-20 loss to Chiefs in Week 4
The Jets played their tails off and came oh-so-close to pulling off the major upset of the Kansas City Chiefs. Instead, the Jets are now 1-3 following a 23-20 loss in Week 4. As always, some players played well and others, not so much. Here’s our look at who stepped up and who stepped aside for the Jets in primetime against the Chiefs.
Here are our five immediate takeaways from the Jets’ 15-10 loss to the Patriots in Week 3.
The New York Jets fell to the New England Patriots by the score of 15-10 in Week 3. Sunday’s defeat to the Patriots handed the Jets their 15th consecutive loss to the Patriots, with their last win coming in Week 16 of the 2015 season.
For the second straight week, the offense was nonexistent following the season-ending Achilles injury that Aaron Rodgers sustained in Week 1. Zach Wilson made another start under center and he took what would end up being a game-sealing safety with fewer than three minutes remaining.
After another disappointing loss, here are our five immediate takeaways from the Jets’ five-point loss to the Patriots.
Here are our six immediate takeaways from the Jets’ 30-10 loss to the Cowboys in Week 2.
The New York Jets played their first game since Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending injury, and it didn’t go according to plan. In the second week of the season against the Dallas Cowboys, the Jets lost 30-10 on the road on Sunday.
Zach Wilson replaced Rodgers under center and the offense never managed to stack plays to move the ball consistently. While the defense wasn’t a letdown in the loss, there weren’t many positives to take away from the road defeat to the Cowboys.
After a lopsided loss to the Cowboys in Week 2, here are six of our immediate takeaways.
Check out these starts and sits in Week 2 for fantasy football.
The fantasy football season is officially underway, and managers already are focusing on the ever-challenging objectives of making the correct start/sit decisions for their lineups.
Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.
Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.
Bills Wire Week 1 Player of the Game: Matt Milano (via @TejasVemparala):
The Buffalo Bills’ first game of the 2023 NFL season ended in heartbreak as the New York Jets won in overtime on a punt return for a touchdown.
The Jets won 22-16 in a game that stayed close because of turnovers despite an injury to new Jets QB Aaron Rodgers.
Despite the loss, a few Bills players had very good games and worked hard to keep the lead. We are awarding the Player of the Week Award in Week 1 to linebacker Matt Milano, who had eight tackles, including a tackle for a loss on New York Jets running back Dalvin Cook, one pass deflection, one QB hit, and an interception on the Jets backup quarterback Zach Wilson:
The 2022 All-Pro was a force to be reckoned with all game, with multiple great tackles throughout all four quarters and securing the interception after a Bills touchdown. Milano’s pick would lead to a Tyler Bass field goal before the end of the first half. After the interception, the linebacker taunted Zach Wilson which backed up the Bills following the penalty.
You can see Matt Milano’s perfect read of Zach Wilson’s throw here:
Despite Milano’s best efforts to keep the Jets score to 3 points, New York ultimately would score in the 4th quarter before the game-ending punt return in overtime.
#Jets expect to have Dalvin Cook, Breece Hall ready for #Bills:
The New York Jets backfield will be a full go against the Buffalo Bills when the two faceoff in their 2023 season openers.
New York head coach Robert Saleh said both Dalvin Cook and Breece Hall will be available against Buffalo. But the coach did admit there will be a bit of thinking going into the decision.
“I don’t know if I want to call it a snap count, but we are gonna be smart with them,” Saleh said per Jets Wire. “We’ll continue to evaluate and build up what we think Monday needs to be, but it’s not that we’re putting a snap count on it.”
Cook, brother of Bills running back James Cook, signed with the Jets last month. Prior to heading to New York, Cook had offseason shoulder surgery and has been limited in practices.
However, Cook has not appeared on the injury report prior to facing the Bills. The Jets have listed Hall, though.
Hall suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2022. Despite being listed as limited by New York this week, it appears Buffalo will be getting a dose of both backs to begin the season.
In addition to Cook and Hall, the Jets’ backfield sports a healthy Michael Carter as well… and of course, quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
