6 candidates to replace Dalvin Cook for the Minnesota Vikings
By Adam Patrick
Running Back No. 3
Ty Chandler
2022 Stats (with Minnesota Vikings):
- 3 games
- 6 carries, rushing 20 yards (3.3 average)
- 1 rushing touchdown
Ty Chandler is probably the player on the Vikings' roster that currently has the best chance of taking Alexander Mattison's starting job during the middle of the 2023 season.
Selected by Minnesota in the fifth round of last year's NFL Draft, Chandler is a speedy back that showed his potential during the preseason last summer. In three exhibition matchups last year, he rushed for 113 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries (7.5 yards per attempt).
Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell has talked highly of Chandler since the kid entered the team's facilities in 2022. So he's already got the most important guy on the coaching staff in his corner rooting for him to succeed.
Chandler likely isn't going to get as many snaps as Mattison during the early part of the upcoming season. But if Chandler takes advantage of his opportunities, he could wind up getting the majority of the running back touches by the end of the 2023 campaign.