Stylistically, what are the main differences between Vikings running backs Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison?
In early June 2020, we learned Dalvin Cook would likely holdout from team activities and training camp until he and the Vikings could come to an understanding on future contract terms. This kindled talk by fans and pundits as to the Vikings contingency plan if Cook and the Vikings remained at a standstill through September.
Conveniently, the Vikings selected a very capable running back in the 2019 NFL Draft, Alexander Mattison from Boise State University. In the event Cook’s holdout persisted after summer, Mattison would probably be the guy.
Mattison showed significant promise in his rookie campaign tallying 534 yards from scrimmage on 110 touches. It was the fifth-most touches by a rookie running back in 2019, and the sixth-most yards from scrimmage. More memorably, Mattison put some flamboyant highlights on film. These seemed to lock him into the minds of onlookers as a potential RB1. But is he?
The next four topics will examine how Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison are style-wise different football players and why Mattison is not necessarily a no-brainer at Plan B for the 2020 Vikings offense.