ty chandler – Syndication Server

Kevin O’Connell explains why the Vikings traded for Cam Akers

For the second time in two seasons, the Vikings made a move to trade for running back Cam Akers.

For the second year in a row, the Vikings traded for running back Cam Akers. The former Texan running back had 40 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown for Houston this season before Minnesota traded for him.

The trade raised a few eyebrows around the league and the main reason was because of starter Aaron Jones and what that signaled about the injury he suffered in London two weeks ago. Jones left with a hip injury, but head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters on Wednesday that the trade had no bearing on the current situation.

“Has no bearing on our current running back situation,” O’Connell said. “Aaron is going to progress throughout the week and hopefully has a chance to go on Sunday. Ty Chandler and Myles Gaskin and Cam will work behind (him). I like where Ty’s at, obviously, Aaron Jones has been a huge impact to our team, so getting to solidify that depth at that position, with an urgency to run the football throughout the rest of the season, we wanted to make sure we could do that now when an opportunity became available.”

It ultimately sounds like coach O’Connell just really likes Akers as a running back and Minnesota did want to re-sign him this offseason but the two sides didn’t agree on a deal. Akers will now get an opportunity to earn a potential backup role to Jones if he can beat out Chandler.

TRADE: Vikings acquire running back Cam Akers from the Houston Texans

The Minnesota Vikings saw what their running game turned into with Aaron Jones being hurt, and they got some insurance.

The Minnesota Vikings saw what their running game turned into with Aaron Jones being hurt, and they got some insurance. On Tuesday, they traded for a familiar face, which was the third trade of the day for the NFL.

According to NFL Media, the Minnesota Vikings acquired running back Cam Akers from the Houston Texans. Akers signed with the Texans after spending last season with the Vikings, so he is familiar with the offense and roster.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah sent the Texans a conditional 6th-round pick in 2026 in return for Akers and a conditional 7th-round pick in 2026.

Akers has run for 147 yards and found the endzone once while working in a loaded backfield in Houston. Akers was the odd man out with the team utilizing Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce.

The Vikings gave running backs Ty Chandler and Myles Gaskin every chance to earn the role in the preseason and against the Jets, but they proved to be less than ideal. Once Aaron Jones went down with his hip injury, the entire offense lost its momentum, and the Vikings could not afford that.

Vikings RB Aaron Jones (hip) returns to practice following Bye Week

The Minnesota Vikings offense has been a well-oiled machine in 2024 with Aaron Jones, which is why his absence was concerning.

The Minnesota Vikings offense has been a well-oiled machine in 2024 with Aaron Jones, which is why his absence was concerning. When he left the game against the Jets in Week 5, the offense lost momentum, and the question was whether he would be ready for Week 6.

We got an answer to that question on Monday at the Vikings practice.

Kevin Seifert of ESPN shared a video of Aaron Jones dressed for practice and participating as the team prepares for Week 6. His ability to play in the biggest game of the year against the Lions could make a difference for this team.

The offense sputtered without Jones in the second half against the Jets. Both Ty Chandler and Myles Gaskin played in his absence but could never get the offense going as efficiently. Jones’ work out of the backfield in pass protection and as a receiver has been underrated this year.

We will continue to monitor Jones’s status on the week’s first injury report when it is posted on Wednesday.

Fantasy Football waiver wire: 15 running backs to target in Week 7

Isaac Guerendo headlines this week’s list of running backs to target on the fantasy football waiver wire.

As we wait for tonight’s Monday Night Football showdown between the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets to wrap up Week 6, fantasy football managers are already considering their waiver wire options for next week.

The top option at wide receiver this week is Josh Downs (49%). Zach Ertz (54%) is a quality tight end option, and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (27%) will be eligible to return from injured reserve next week.

Today, though, we’re focusing on running back. We’ve put together a quick list of 15 running backs to target on the fantasy football waiver wire ahead of Week 7. If you’re looking for reinforcements at RB, consider these options.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Running Backs

1. RB Isaac Guerendo (1%): Christian McCaffrey’s status remains murky and fellow running back Jordan Mason has an AC joint sprain. That could leave Guerendo as the next man up for the 49ers and he impressed on Thursday Night Football with 99 yards on 10 carries, including a 76-yard sprint to seal the game.

2. RB Tyler Allgeier (43%): He remains an important handcuff behind Bijan Robinson, and Allgeier has standalone value in Atlanta’s two-back offense. He got 18 carries and scored a touchdown on Sunday.

3. RB Tyrone Tracy (45%): Even if Devin Singletary returns from a groin injury this week, Tracy has played well enough to continue getting carries. Tracy turned 23 touches into 107 yards and a touchdown on Sunday.

4. RB Ty Chandler (34%): Coming out of the Vikings’ bye week, Aaron Jones has an uncertain status due to his hip injury. If Jones misses this week’s game, Chandler will be Minnesota’s top running back.

5. RB Tank Bigsby (44%): Travis Etienne is considered “week-to-week” with a hamstring injury, leaving Bigsby as Jacksonville’s RB1. D’Ernest Johnson (1%) is also worth a look in deep leagues after he got eight touches on Sunday.

6. RB Jaylen Wright (9%): De’Von Achane might be able to return from a concussion this week following Miami’s bye, but Wright should have a role going forward after rushing for 86 yards last week.

7. RB Alexander Mattison (36%): Mattison led Raiders running backs in carries (14), rushing yards (33), targets (five) and catches (five) on Sunday. His efficiency hasn’t been great, but Mattison scored on Sunday and he should remain fantasy-relevant thanks to his volume.

8. RB Sean Tucker (1%): The Bucs had a blowout win over the Saints on Sunday, so Tucker might not get 14 carries on a regular basis, but he’s worth a look after rushing for 136 yards and a touchdown.

9. RB Antonio Gibson (43%): Rhamondre Stevenson remains sidelined with a foot injury and Gibson led New England’s backfield in Week 6 with 13 carries and four targets.

10. RB Braelon Allen (37%): Allen is an important handcuff behind Breece Hall and he has standalone value in a shared backfield.

11. RB Audric Estime (1%): Javonte Williams lost a fumble and dropped a pass on Sunday while Estime led the team’s running backs with a 6.5 yards per carry average. Granted, that was on a very small sample size of two carries, but if Williams continues to struggle, Estime will likely get more work in the coming weeks.

12. RB Kimani Vidal (2%): The rookie rushed twice for 14 yards and hauled in two receptions for 40 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. Consider Vidal in deep leagues.

13. RB Trey Benson (20%): Benson doesn’t have much standalone value, but he’s an important handcuff behind James Conner, who has never played a full season.

14. RB Blake Corum (18%): Corum is another running back worth stashing behind Kyren Williams.

15. RB D’Onta Foreman (4%): Jerome Ford is dealing with a hamstring injury, which could lead to a bigger workload for Foreman.

Bonus: Nick Chubb (79%) and Jonathon Brooks (60%) are already rostered in most leagues, but double check just to make sure they’re not still available in your league.

Roster percentages for players listed in this article were sourced from ESPN. For more fantasy coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.

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Fantasy Football waiver wire: 12 running backs to target in Week 6

These 12 running backs should be waiver wire targets in your fantasy football league this week.

As we wait for tonight’s Monday Night Football showdown between the Chiefs and Saints to wrap up Week 5, fantasy football managers are already considering their waiver wire options for next week.

The top option at wide receiver this week is Josh Downs (35%). Zach Ertz (49%) is a quality tight end option, and quarterback Kirk Cousins (46%) is coming off a huge game on Thursday Night Football last week.

Today, though, we’re focusing on running back. We’ve put together a quick list of 12 running backs to target on the fantasy football waiver wire ahead of Week 6. If you’re looking for reinforcements at RB, consider these options.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Running Backs

1. RB Tank Bigsby (10%): Bigsby got more carries (13) than Travis Etienne (six) and he rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns while Etienne ended the day with just 17 rushing yards. Etienne remains an option in PPR formats after hauling in six catches, but Bigsby played one more snap in Week 5 and he could emerge as the team’s new RB1.

2. RB Tyrone Tracy (19%): Devin Singletary missed Sunday’s game with a groin injury and Tracy stepped up, rushing 18 times for 129 yards. That kind of production should signal more opportunities going forward.

3. RB Braelon Allen (42%): Allen (and the entire Jets offense) struggled on Sunday, but he’s still taking away touches from Breece Hall. Allen is an important handcuff with standalone flex value when New York has better matchups.

4. RB Tyler Allgeier (43%): Another important handcuff with standalone value, Allgeier got nine touches this week, eating into the workload of Bijan Robinson (15 touches).

5. RB Ty Chandler (35%): Aaron Jones left Sunday’s game with a hip injury and Chandler took over RB1 duties after that. The Vikings have a bye this week, but if Jones misses any games, Chandler will be an important pickup.

6. RB Roschon Johnson (12%): D’Andre Swift (21 carries, two targets) remains Chicago’s top running back, but Johnson got 10 carries this week and he scored twice on the ground. He’s worth flex consideration.

7. RB Jaylen Wright (8%): De’Von Achane suffered a concussion on Sunday, which led to 13 carries for 86 yards for Wright. Raheem Mostert (63%) seems to be the RB1 when Achane is unavailable (he got 19 carries this week), but Wright could remain fantasy relevant if Achane misses any games. Miami has a bye this week.

8. RB Trey Sermon (50%): Jonathan Taylor missed this week’s game with an ankle injury and Sermon got the nod in his place. Sermon rushed 10 times for 38 yards and a touchdown while adding six catches for 25 yards. If Taylor misses any more games, Sermon is a serviceable fill-in at RB.

9. RB Alexander Mattison (41%): Zamir White missed Sunday’s game with a groin injury, but even if he hadn’t, coach Antonio Pierce had previously hinted that the Raiders planned to make changes at running back. Mattison led the team with 15 carries in Week 5 and he also drew three targets.

10. RB Ameer Abdullah (1%): Mattison was the Raiders’ starter on Sunday, but Abdullah arguably looked like the team’s best running back. The veteran turned five carries into 42 yards and a touchdown and he also caught all three of his targets. Abdullah is worth a look in deeper leagues.

11. RB Audric Estime (1%): Estime is eligible to return from injured reserve this week and the Broncos have left a spot open for him on the 53-man roster. Estime could quickly earn a role in Denver’s backfield.

12. RB Keaton Mitchell (4%): Mitchell (ACL) was eligible to return last week, but Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he’s yet ready to return to practice. Mitchell might still be worth stashing on your IR spot if it’s open.

Bonus: Nick Chubb (79%), Kareem Hunt (72%), Jonathon Brooks (63%) and Bucky Irving (58%) are already rostered in most leagues, but double check just to make sure they’re not still available in your league.

Roster percentages for players listed in this article were sourced from ESPN. For more fantasy coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.

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Vikings RB Aaron Jones leaves game against Jets with hip injury

The Jets defense stifled the Vikings on Sunday as they face off. The offense has relied heavily on Aaron Jones this year.

The Jets’ defense stifled the Vikings on Sunday as they faced off in London. The offense has relied heavily on the run game this year, specifically Aaron Jones.

Unfortunately for the Vikings, Jones left the first quarter of the game with a hip injury. After being evaluated and tested on the sideline, he will not be returning to the game.

Jones had been averaging 116 total yards of offense through the first four weeks of the season. He was an explosive part of their offense, but now that workload will fall on Myles Gaskin and Ty Chandler.

Chandler has been running well this year when given the chance, so his earning more reps in this game could tell us how things will go without Jones.

Thankfully for Jones and the Vikings, the team has a bye week in Week 6, so he will have ample time to recover if anything serious happens.

Former UNC RB Ty Chandler delivers big day for Minnesota Vikings

Should former Tar Heel Ty Chandler be the Minnesota Vikings’ starting running back?

The North Carolina Tar Heels were extremely lucky to have Ty Chandler for their 2022 season, as he joined a long list of running backs to hit the 1,000-yard mark in a single season.

Chandler’s lone year in Chapel Hill wasn’t a successful year overall, with UNC finishing 6-7. North Carolina did make a bowl game, but lost in the 2021 Duke’s Mayo Bowl to South Carolina.

The Minnesota Vikings then selected Chandler in the 2022 NFL Draft, taking him in the fifth round. While Chandler’s played primarily as a backup, he’s also shined in limited action as a starter.

Chandler shined yet again on Sunday, Sept. 15 in the Minnesota Vikings’ 22-17 upset win of the reigning NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers.

Primarily in relief of Minnesota starting running back Aaron Jones, Chandler carried the football 10 times for 82 yards, averaging 8.2 yards per carry. Chandler’s highlight was in the second quarter with the Vikings up 10-0, when he broke off a 25-yard carry to pick up a huge first down.

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As long as Jones is in Minnesota, Chandler will continue seeing a majority of his touches in a secondary role. Even with Jones’ injury, which wasn’t too serious because he returned to the playing field, Chandler’s production should earn him extended playing time.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

See it: Giants assistant Charlie Bullen suffered broken leg vs. Vikings

New York Giants outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen suffered a broken leg this past Saturday when he was collided with on the sideline.

New York Giants outside linebacker coach Charlie Bullen suffered a broken leg while standing on the sidelines during last week’s game against the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium.

Bullen was injured in the fourth quarter of the game when Giants cornerback Deonte Banks pushed Vikings running back Ty Chandler out of bounds, crashing into Bullen.

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“He had surgery this morning. He’s texting already,” Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen told reporters on Thursday.

Bullen isn’t expected to be in Washington with the team this Sunday afternoon when the Giants face the Commanders. Bowen outlined a possible workaround to cover Bullen’s responsibilities.

“There’ll be some things. I think we’ll probably move somebody down from the box to help with that group throughout the game with rotation, with everything else that comes into play,” he said. “Obviously, I’ll be involved a little bit more over there. It’s a tough deal. I hate it for Charlie, but I know he’s fighting like hell to get back out here.”

Bullen is in his first season as a Giants assistant. He coached at the University of Illinois last year. In his 17 years as a coach, he’s spent time with the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, and the University of Iowa.

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Vikings RB Ty Chandler is listed as the top KR on the depth chart

After a shocking cut, the Vikings appear to know who their new kick returner will be in 2024.

After a shocking cut by the Vikings, former running back and kick returner Kene Nwangwu is no longer with Minnesota. While Nwangwu didn’t show much as a runner, he was a valuable part of the Vikings’ special teams, and Minnesota is now searching for a new returner.

According to the Vikings’ official depth chart, it would appear that running back Ty Chandler would be the top kicker returner. Wide receiver Brandon Powell is listed behind Chandler as the second option.

Chandler has four career kick returners for 97 yards.

The Vikings currently have just two running backs on their roster, which is abnormal. Most teams have three or four running backs on their roster, and it’s almost a certainty Minnesota will add at least one more running back. If not, it’s unlikely Chandler would stay as kick returner, being the second option to Aaron Jones.

Powell and Jalen Nailor are expected to handle the punt return duties.

A look back at Tennessee’s victory over Chattanooga in 2019

A look back at Tennessee’s first win in 2019 against Chattanooga at Neyland Stadium.

Tennessee will host Chattanooga on Saturday to open the 2024 season.

Kickoff is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. EDT and SEC Network will televise the contest between the Vols and Mocs.

Tennessee leads the all time series, 40-2-2.

Each week, Vols Wire will look back at a memorable game against Tennessee’s upcoming opponent. This installment will revisit the Vols’ win over Chattanooga on Sept. 14, 2019 at Neyland Stadium.

Tennessee entered the game under head coach Jeremy Pruitt with an 0-2 record, having lost to Georgia State and BYU.

The Vols defeated Chattanooga, 45-0.

Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano completed 7-of-8 passing attempts for 142 yards and three touchdowns for Tennessee.

The Vols forced four turnovers in the contest as Jeremy Banks, Nigel Warrior and Kenney Solomon III all recorded interceptions, while Darrell Taylor recovered a fumble by the Mocs.

Brandon Johnson also scored a touchdown after a blocked punt.

Ty Chandler led Tennessee in rushing yards (46) and Marquez Callaway led the Vols with 59 receiving yards.

PHOTOS: Tennessee football defeats Chattanooga in 2019