Alexander Mattison Week 3 Outlook - Raiders at Patriots

By Mike Tagliere (FantasyPros), Thu, Sep 24th 2020, 10:09am EDT

The fact that Cook has scored three touchdowns has saved him from looking like an ugly top-six pick this year, though it's not his doing. The Vikings offense has only run 48.0 plays per game because their defense can't get off the field, and it's led to Cook totaling just 29 touches through two weeks. The two starting running backs who've gone against the Titans haven't had that problem, as they've both (James Robinson, Melvin Gordon) totaled at least 18 touches, and that's despite the Titans winning both those games. Titans opponents have averaged 66.5 plays per game this year, which would be a welcomed sight for all Vikings players who've been forced to be too efficient with minimal plays. The 5.15 yards per carry the Titans have allowed to this point is the fourth-highest mark in the league, though it was expected to be a strength of theirs this year with their talented front seven. Maybe the loss of interior defensive lineman Jurrell Casey matters more than most thought? There were also nine running backs who totaled at least five receptions against the Titans last year, so Cook's floor should be fine, and we all know his ceiling in this offense. Trot him back out there as a solid RB1 this week. With the Vikings not running many plays, Mattison has totaled just 14 touches through two weeks, which makes it difficult to trust him as anything more than a desperation RB5. He does remain one of the better handcuffs in the league, though.