One of the bigger surprises in Week 1 was Mattison playing more snaps than Zamir White against the Chargers, and Mattison was also used as a pass catcher out of the backfield. It worked, as he caught four of six targets for 43 yards and a touchdown with five carries for 19 yards. He played 60 percent of the snaps compared to 38 percent for White, and we'll see what happens in Week 2 at Baltimore. Given the likely game script of the Raiders playing from behind, Mattison can be considered a flex option in PPR.
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Raiders' Alexander Mattison: Week 2 Adds (RB Preview)
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Oh, how the turntables. Remember when Mattison was the presumed starter in Minnesota, got drafted way too high in Fantasy Football, and then lost his job by midseason? In Week 1 it was Mattison outplaying Zamir White, scoring a touchdown, and looking like the best back in Las Vegas. Mattison is the clear passing downs back and I would bet on the Raiders playing from behind in Week 2. Mattison could be a PPR flex this week and could be the best back for the Raiders for the rest of the season.
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Raiders' Alexander Mattison: Week 2 Waiver Priority List
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Mattison played more snaps than Zamir White in Week 1 at the Chargers (36-23), and we'll see if that's a sign of things to come. Mattison did well in the passing game with four catches for 43 yards and a touchdown on six targets, and he also added five carries for 19 yards. We'll see what happens for the Raiders in Week 2 at Baltimore, but if Las Vegas is trailing then Mattison could again have an expanded role. He's worth adding for 5-10 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Raiders' Alexander Mattison: Makes touchdown grab in Week 1 loss
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Mattison rushed five times for 19 yards and caught four of six targets for 43 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 22-10 loss to the Chargers.
Mattison not only scored the Raiders' only touchdown of the contest on a 31-yard reception in the first quarter, but he also out-snapped starting running back Zamir White by a count of 36 to 23. Opening as big underdogs against the Ravens in Week 2, Mattison once again could see a healthy share of the backfield split if a similar second-half script requires more passing from the Raiders. White figures to handle the bulk of the early-down rushing work after taking 13 carries for 44 yards in Sunday's loss at SoFi Stadium.
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Raiders' Alexander Mattison: Unremarkable with six touches
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Mattison rushed five times for 15 yards and secured one of two targets for six yards in the Raiders' 27-12 preseason loss to the Cowboys on Saturday night. He also returned one kickoff for 23 yards.
Mattison worked as the second running back in behind Zamir White, a hierarchy that's expected to be mirrored during the regular season. Mattison shouldn't need any additional reps to get ready for the regular season and will be a valuable complementary presence, so he's likely to sit out of the Raiders' preseason finale against the 49ers on Friday night.
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Raiders' Alexander Mattison: In line for No. 2 RB role
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Mattison profiles as Zamir White's top backup at running back, Tashan Reed of The Athletic reports.
Following the free-agent departure of Josh Jacobs, White is the team's presumed lead back and figures to handle the bulk of the carries, likely leaving Mattison without much fantasy value unless the 24-year-old suffers an injury (or struggles and eventually gets benched). Meanwhile, Reed indicates that Ameer Abdullah and rookie Dylan Laube are still competing for third-down RB duties, although Mattison handled some of those snaps with the first-team offense in Vegas' preseason opener against Minnesota.
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Raiders' Alexander Mattison: Set to join Las Vegas backfield
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Mattison is in line to sign with the Raiders, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
In 16 games for the Vikings during the 2023 regular season, Mattison had 180 carries for 700 yards and caught 30 of his 44 targets for 192 yards and three receiving TDs. With the Raiders, Mattison -- who turns 26 in June -- is slated to provide the team with needed backfield depth and a complementary option alongside 2022 fourth-rounder Zamir White following the free-agent departure of Josh Jacobs. Assuming White serves as Las Vegas' top RB option, Mattison's weekly upside will be modest, but if White is injured or struggles at all as the 2024 season progresses, Mattison could reenter the fantasy lineup equation.
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Alexander Mattison: Officially released by Minnesota
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The Vikings officially released Mattison on Monday.
Mattison initially was informed of his release by the team in late February, and he's now officially a free agent after having signed a two-year, $7 million deal with the team last offseason. The veteran back is coming off a solid season from a volume perspective, with 700 yards on a career-high 180 carries across 16 games, but those stats were marred by a lack of explosiveness (3.9 YPC) and turnovers, with three total fumbles, two of which were lost. Mattison has turned in three straight seasons averaging less than 4.0 YPC. In the meantime, Minnesota should be in the market for backfield options to join Ty Chandler.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Handles eight touches in finale
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Mattison rushed seven times for 24 yards and caught his lone target for five yards in Sunday's 30-20 loss to the Lions.
Mattison continued to operate as the backup running back behind Ty Chandler, concluding a disappointing season for the former player. In 16 appearances, the 25-year-old carried 180 times for 700 yards (3.9 average) and failed to find the end zone as a rusher. Mattison did, however, score three times as a receiver while compiling 30 catches for 192 yards.Though he signed a two-year, $7 million contract last offseason while Minnesota eventual cut incumbent starter Dalvin Cook, Mattison's future atop the depth chart for the Vikings looks murky at best. Chandler will presumably slot ahead of Mattison heading into the start of the offseason program, though it wouldn't be surprising if the Vikings looked to upgrade the position group through the 2024 NFL Draft, free agency or trade.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Five touches in loss
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Mattison had three carries for 17 yards and two receptions for 13 yards on two targets in Sunday's loss to Green Bay.
Mattison again took a back seat to starter Ty Chandler as he played on 21 of the offense's 53 snaps. Chandler played on 30 snaps. Mattison looks set to work behind Chandler again for the regular season finale Sunday at Detroit.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Cleared for SNF
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Mattison (ankle) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday night's game against Green Bay.
His status was never really in doubt after he returned from an ankle injury last week and took two touches on five snaps in a 30-24 loss to the Lions. Mattison upgraded to full practice participation Friday after limited sessions earlier in the week, and there's a good chance he gets at least a little more playing time Week 17 given that he's healthier and Ty Chandler managed just 17 total yards last week. Chandler still looks like the better fantasy play out of the two, having taken 65 percent of the snaps last week after rumbling for 157 total yards in a loss to Cincinnati the week prior.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Limited Thursday
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Mattison (ankle) practiced on a limited basis Thursday.
Since sitting out Week 15 due to a sprained right ankle, Mattison handled a bit role in the offense (two carries on five offensive snaps) this past Sunday versus the Lions and now has been listed as limited on back-to-back injury reports during Week 17 prep. He likely will need to return to all activity Friday in order to avoid an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Packers. Even if he's able to suit up again this weekend, though, Mattison may play second fiddle to RB Ty Chandler, who logged 65 percent of snaps and had eight rushes for 17 yards and a touchdown against Detroit.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Limited on practice estimate
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Mattison (ankle) was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's estimated practice report.
Mattison sat out Week 15 due to a right ankle sprain, but he was able to return to action this past Sunday against the Lions, when he turned two carries into minus-1 yard on five offensive snaps in the Vikings' 30-24 loss. Fellow running back Ty Chandler paced the Vikings backfield with 36 snaps on offense, but he managed just eight carries for 17 yards and one touchdown. As long as Mattison's health is compromised, he may continue to play second fiddle to Chandler down the stretch, assuming the former is active on game days. In the end, Friday's injury report will reveal whether or not Mattison enters the weekend with a designation for Sunday's matchup with the Packers.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Sparse usage in return
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Mattison had two carries for minus-1 yard during Sunday's 30-24 defeat to the Lions.
In a game in which the Vikings were in catch-up mode from the outset, the offense led by quarterback Nick Mullens leaned toward the air and not the ground, resulting in 36 pass attempts and just 11 rushes. Fellow running back Ty Chandler handled eight of those carries, and the only member of the backfield to receive a target was FB C.J. Ham, despite WR Jordan Addison (ankle) and TE T.J. Hockenson (knee) leaving the contest with injuries. According to Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, there was an expectation that Mattison would be the second RB behind Chandler in the former's return from a one-game absence due to a sprained right ankle, and Mattison's upcoming activity level during Week 17 prep may give a sense of how much work he'll be able to handle Sunday, Dec. 31 against the Packers.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Active, may have light role
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Mattison (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against the Lions.
Coming off his first absence of the season in the Vikings' Week 15 overtime loss to the Bengals, Mattison turned in just one limited practice this week, but the coaching and training staffs apparently came away encouraged enough with his health to give him the green light to play Saturday. However, Mattison likely isn't close to 100 percent healthy and could be in store for a smaller role than usual out of the backfield, as Ty Chandler is expected to serve as the team's lead back, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com. Head coach Kevin O'Connell hasn't outlined his plans for the backfield beyond Week 16, though he suggested earlier in the week that Chandler could have an opportunity to stake his claim to the No. 1 role beyond Sunday's game. Chandler broke out for the best performance by a Minnesota running back all season in last week's loss to Cincinnati, finishing with 132 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries to go with three catches for 25 yards on four targets. Mattison, meanwhile, is averaging a middling 3.9 yards per carry and hasn't found the end zone on 168 carries through 13 appearances.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Likely to play, may be limited
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Mattison (ankle), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Lions, is expected to play, but he may be less than 100 percent healthy, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
After sitting out the Vikings' 27-24 overtime loss to the Bengals in Week 15 due to a sprained right ankle, Mattison has put himself in position to play Sunday after he was able to return to practice Friday as a limited participant. When active this season, Mattison has typically paced the Vikings in snaps and touches out of the backfield, but Pelissero suggests that the 25-year-old will likely find himself in a supporting role Sunday while Ty Chandler gets another chance to lead the backfield after producing 157 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on 26 touches in Week 15. Head coach Kevin O'Connell intimated earlier in the week that Chandler had likely earned himself another opportunity as the lead back, and O'Connell even seemed to leave the door open for Chandler sticking atop the depth chart once Mattison is closer to 100 percent healthy. How both Chandler and Mattison perform Sunday could have significant sway in how the running-back depth chart shakes out for Weeks 17 and 18.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Gets Week 16 questionable tag
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Mattison (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Lions.
After missing the Vikings' 27-24 overtime loss to the Bengals last weekend and then sitting out the team's first two practices of Week 16, Mattison returned to practice Friday. The running back appears to have demonstrated enough progress in his recovery from a right knee sprain to at least put himself in consideration to play Sunday, but final word on his status won't arrive until Minnesota releases its inactive list 90 minutes prior to the game's 1 p.m. ET kickoff. Even if Mattison gets clearance to play, he'll likely be filling a supporting role behind Ty Chandler, who broke out for 23 carries for 132 yards and a touchdown to go with three catches for 25 yards while serving as Minnesota's lead back last week. According to Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, head coach Kevin O'Connell hinted earlier this week that Chandler could remain in a featured role moving forward on the heels of his big game, especially after Mattison had lost two fumbles and was limited to 3.9 yards per carry and no touchdowns on 168 totes through his first 13 appearances of the season.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Returns to practice
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Mattison (ankle) returned to practice Friday, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
It's his first participation of any kind since spraining an ankle during a 3-0 win over the Raiders in Week 14. Ty Chandler then took 81 percent of Minnesota's snaps on offense en route to 157 total yards in an overtime loss to the Bengals in Week 15, so he may remain the lead back even if Mattison is active for Sunday's game against Detroit.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Idle for another practice
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Mattison (ankle) didn't practice Thursday.
Mattison looks to be trending toward missing a second straight game this weekend against the Lions, as he hasn't been able to practice in any capacity since sustaining a right ankle sprain in the Vikings' 3-0 win over the Raiders in Week 14. Ty Chandler looks poised to serve as Minnesota's lead back Sunday, and head coach Kevin O'Connell alluded Wednesday to the possibility of the second-year player remaining atop the depth chart even Mattison has fully moved past the ankle injury, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com. Mattison has mustered just 3.9 yards per carry and zero touchdowns on the ground in addition to losing two fumbles over his 13 appearances in 2023, while Chandler came through with the best performance by any Vikings running back this season in this past Saturday's 27-24 overtime loss to the Bengals. Chandler carried 23 times for 132 yards and a touchdown and added three catches for 25 yards on four targets in the loss, and the Vikings could look to reward him for his efforts.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: No practice reps Wednesday
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Mattison (ankle) was held out of practice Wednesday.
Mattison hasn't practiced since spraining his right ankle in the middle of the Vikings' 3-0 win in Las Vegas in Week 14, which sidelined him for this past Saturday's 27-24 overtime loss in Cincinnati. Head coach Kevin O'Connell told Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com on Wednesday that he hasn't ruled Mattison out for Sunday's game versus the Lions, but Minnesota likely will lean more on Ty Chandler at running back, even if the former is available. Mattison's listing on the team's last two Week 16 injury reports could reveal whether he has a chance to play this weekend.
