5 bold Minnesota Vikings predictions vs. the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 15

Ty Chandler will make the most of his first career start

The Vikings backfield hasn’t been effective this season but many have placed their hope into the hands of Ty Chandler.

The speedy running back out of North Carolina will finally get his first career start as Alexander Mattison has been ruled out with an ankle injury, but there are several hurdles to clear to make the most out of his opportunity.

The most obvious obstacle is Cincinnati’s defense, which has struggled against the run this season. While they allow 127.2 yards per game, they also have the third-highest yards per carry (4.7) this season, which gives Chandler a favorable matchup.

But for as much as Chandler and his 4.3-second 40-yard dash time can turn a mistake into a touchdown there are several hurdles to be. Chandler’s pass protection has convinced the Vikings to use C.J. Ham in the backfield as a pass protector and O’Connell’s desire for consistency could work against the boom-or-bust nature of Chandler.

Even with his flaws, Chandler has enough to have a big play or two on Saturday. That could be enough to convince the coaching staff to trust Chandler moving forward and help him cash in on his first career start.