Fantasy Football: One QB, RB, WR, and TE primed for huge Week 3 performances

RB: Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings

Like Deshaun Watson, Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison is another player who has gotten off to a slow start in 2023. Mattison has been handed the keys to the Vikings' backfield this season after long-time running back Dalvin Cook was released and signed by the Jets. Mattison’s usage has been promising; he’s handled 78 percent of the Vikings backfield touches through two games, but has done very little with them. He is also one of nine running backs in the NFL to have received 100 percent of his team’s goal line work, according to fantasy football analyst Alex Caruso. Despite this, he has turned 25 touches into just 83 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown.

However, his involvement as a receiver has been encouraging thus far. Through two games, he has reeled in six of his 10 targets for 21 yards and his lone score on the year. Now, Mattison enters Week 3 as the featured back on a high-powered offense against the Chargers, in a game that has the highest over/under for the week by a wide margin.

The Vikings made headlines this week when they traded for disgruntled Los Angeles Rams running back Cam Akers. This should light a fire underneath Mattison and give him some extra motivation in what could be his last chance to have the backfield mostly to himself following the trade for Akers, who spent the first two years of his NFL career with Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell. Mattison's immediate fantasy football future depends on Week 3.