All summer heading into training camp, it was hard to know what to make of the battle to be the No. 3 running back for the Minnesota Vikings. Ty Chandler was certainly vulnerable to losing the job and a spot on the 53-man roster, but who would push him? Would there be an outside addition who would simply take over the gig?
Enter Zavier Scott. By all accounts, early in camp, he was seizing the RB3 job, and that carried over to the first preseason game against the Houston Texans. In the second preseason game against the New England Patriots, the gap seemed to widen even more.
Scott had a team-high 10 carries for 28 yards against the Patriots, but he notably showed juice as a pass catcher with 44 yards on three receptions. Meanwhile, Chandler had another ho-hum outing (three carries for 12 yards, zero receptions on one target).
In a vacuum, it would make sense for the Vikings to shop Chandler, such as there would even be a trade market for him. The game against the Patriots could have been a showcase opportunity, but it turned into Scott showing himself as the best candidate to be the No. 3 running back (not a bad thing).
Minnesota Vikings have a final opportunity to showcase Ty Chandler for a trade
Trade activity has been rampant around the NFL this week, and the Vikings are certainly in that mix with a need at a certain position. Multiple teams appear to be in the market for a running back, according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, so the Vikings could find a suitor for Chandler.
With that in mind, Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports has Chandler on his list of five running back trade targets who could be on the move as roster cuts near.
"There was a time, not long ago, when Chandler was considered the electric change-of-pace man in Minnesota's backfield, scampering for more than 450 yards as a second-year reserve while helping succeed Dalvin Cook.
He saw a big dip in playing time after Aaron Jones' arrival in 2024, however, and now he's on the roster bubble thanks to Jordan Mason's entry and Zavier Scott's strong summer. His breakaway upside could have value elsewhere."
But where could Chandler land? Benjamin predicts the Houston Texans.
The Texans certainly could be in the market for a running back. Joe Mixon is still on the NFI list, and he may not be ready for Week 1. That would leave Nick Chubb, who has played 10 games over the last two seasons, Dameon Pierce, and rookie Woody Marks as the top three running backs on the depth chart.
Chandler is almost a lock to be cut next Tuesday. But even the faint idea he's a trade asset should push the Vikings to showcase him in the preseason finale against the Tennessee Titans on Friday night. Or maybe the potential return in a trade is not enough for them to care, and Chandler's workload against the Titans will be rooted in keeping Scott healthy and ready to become the No. 3 running back.