The Minnesota Vikings are a quarter away from defeating the New Orleans Saints with Joshua Dobbs under center for his first start with the team this season. However, with under a minute to go in the third quarter, RB Alexander Mattison took a big hit and left the field for the medical tent. Here’s the latest on his status.
Alexander Mattison Injury Update
Mattison gained three yards on a 1st-and-10 run but stayed down on the field, causing head coach Kevin O’Connell to check on him. Mattison was able to walk off the field on his own power but went straight to the medical tent. As the fourth quarter began, the Vikings announced Mattison out with a concussion.
When Dalvin Cook became a New York Jet, heavy expectations fell on Mattison’s shoulders. Unfortunately, he hasn’t lived up to them (122-434-0 rushing line this season), prompting the Vikings to trade for former Rams RB Cam Akers earlier in the season. And even when Akers suffered a season-ending Achilles tear, Minnesota spread the workload to second-year RB Ty Chandler.
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Before exiting against the Saints, Mattison picked up just 33 yards on nine touches (one catch for six yards). Meanwhile, Chandler racked up 40 yards and a red-zone touchdown run on eight carries.
Chandler will take over RB1 duties for the rest of the game and possibly into the Vikings’ Week 11 Sunday Night Football matchup against the Denver Broncos. Minnesota has been cautious with player injuries this season (i.e., Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborn) and may opt to hold Mattison out next week, depending on his symptoms.
Currently, Kene Nwangwu is the only healthy back on the roster, so the Vikings could bring seventh-round rookie DeWayne McBride up from the practice squad this week.
Fantasy Fallout From Mattison’s Injury
Chandler is the next man up, with Akers (Achilles) out for the season. He scored against the Saints and should assume pretty good volume if this injury lingers, and that would land him as a low-end RB2 next week against the worst run defense in the league.
This injury could stabilize Dobbs’ rushing value. At the very least, it puts more on Dobbs’ plate ahead of Justin Jefferson returning, and that is great for his fantasy value.
Chandler is a must-roster running back, while Dobbs is a two-week streamer for those in the QB market (Broncos next week, Bears in Week 12).
— PFN Fantasy Analyst Kyle Soppe