Who is the Vikings RB1 After Dalvin Cook Was Released? Fantasy Football Outook

The Minnesota Vikings released Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook on Thursday. The team saved $9 million by cutting Cook while taking on a $5.1 million dead cap hit this season and a $3.1 million dead cap hit in 2024. 

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The 27-year-old back has been a big part of Minnesota's offense since he was drafted in 2017. He has topped 1,100-plus rush yards over the past four years, including 1,173 yards on 264 carries and eight touchdowns last season. With Cook now gone, the Vikings will call on Alexander Mattison, Ty Chandler, rookie DeWayne McBride, and Kene Nwangwu in the running game.

But which running back takes over the RB1 job? What's his fantasy value like with Cook out of town?

Who is the Vikings RB1 After Dalvin Cook Was Released?

Mattison is set to take over the lead-back role in Minnesota after backing up Cook for four seasons. He was a third-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and will finally get his shot to shine as the RB1. The Vikings re-signed the 24-year-old to a two-year, $8 million deal this offseason.

The former Boise State product has been highly efficient as the backup in Minnesota's offense since 2019. He finished with 500-plus scrimmage yards in three of his four NFL seasons and has averaged 4.1 yards per carry throughout his career.

But he has really excelled when stepping up for an injured Cook. In 2021, Mattison had over 120 scrimmage yards in three of the four games as the Vikings' starter. He showed potential in that role since entering the league and will now be the top back in the offense for the first time in his career. 

Alexander Mattison 2023 Fantasy Football Outlook

Mattison was regarded as one of the best handcuffs to Cook in fantasy football since 2019. The latter not only missed multiple games per season due to injuries, but the former always came in and put up just as good numbers. 

These were Mattison's fantasy numbers and stats as the RB1 since 2020:

1. Week 6, 2020: 10 carries for 26 yards, one catch for four yards (4 points)
2. Week 17, 2020: 21 carries for 95 yards and one touchdown, three catches for 50 yards and one touchdown (29.5 points)
3. Week 3, 2021: 26 carries for 112 yards, six catches for 59 yards (23.1 points)
4. Week 5, 2021: 25 carries for 113 yards, seven catches for 40 yards, and one touchdown (26.3 points)
5. Week 13, 2021: 22 carries for 90 yards and one touchdown, three catches for 34 yards (21.4 points)
6. Week 16, 2021: 13 carries for 41 yards and one touchdown, three catches for 29 yards (16 points)

Mattison averaged 20.05 PPR fantasy points and 115.5 scrimmage yards in games as the Vikings' RB1 in 2020 and 2021. That type of production will likely put him in the RB1 conversation this season. He should be drafted higher in drafts in 2023 as a low-end RB1/high-end RB2. 

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