Fantasy Football: How high should Alexander Mattison’s ADP rise after Dalvin Cook release?

Now that the Minnesota Vikings will officially part ways with Dalvin Cook, to what stratosphere will Alexander Mattison’s fantasy ADP go?

It might not be official until later on Friday, but after an offseason of speculation, it’s happening. The Minnesota Vikings are set to cut Dalvin Cook, and go with Alexander Mattison as their new lead back.

The Vikings tipped their hand when they re-signed Mattison, on a two-year deal to boot. More recently, head coach Kevin O’Connell referred to the 25-year old in every-down back terms.

"It’s been really good to see Alex Mattison take a few more reps and really show that all three-down kinda ownership that he’s been capable of for a long time, O’Connell said."

To say Mattison has fresh legs entering his fifth NFL season might be an understatement. He has 474 touches in his career, averaging less than 119 touches per season as Cook’s backup.

In five career games where he has had 20 or more carries, Mattison has run for 112, 95, 112, 113 and 90 yards respectively. In those five contests, he had more than 16 PPR fantasy points with at least three receptions in each and more than 20 PPR points four times.

Opportunity is king in fantasy football, and Mattison has it clearly right in front of him now. Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu and DeWayne McBride don’t seem like huge threats to him getting 17-20 touches per game. The goal-line work should be his.

Fantasy Football 2023: How high will Alexander Mattison’s ADP go after Dalvin Cook release?

In the wake of Cook being gone, Mattison’s name is heating up in fantasy circles after percolating on a back burner for months as Cook’s status in Minnesota was drawn into question. Those who have him in dynasty leagues could have a sell-high moment.

But we’re focused on Mattison’s 2023 ADP (Average Draft Position) from here on out, where it is and where it may go.

ADP data can vary, based on source and of course scoring system. But let’s lean to current Yahoo! ADP and 0.5-point PPR (h/t to Fantasy Pros) to try to get a viable data point.

Seemingly with a slight boost already after the Cook news, as of Friday morning, Mattison sits at RB29 and No. 81 overall in Yahoo! 0.5-point PPR. That’s mid-RB3 territory, and a seventh-round pick, in a 12-team league.

Mattison’s ADP rise should level off in RB2 territory, maybe in the top-20 among running backs, and somewhere in the fourth round in a 12-team league. Taking him any higher than that is pushing toward counting on him reaching his absolute ceiling. Which is a RB1 finish, and is within the range of outcomes for him. He just shouldn’t be drafted as an RB1.