Alexander Mattison Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook (shoulder) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Lions. It sounds like a Week 15 return is his best-case scenario. RB Alexander Mattison is a good bet for 20+ touches against Detroit’s 29th-ranked RB defense, making him an elite fantasy play.

The MRI on Vikings RB Dalvin Cook's left shoulder revealed a torn labrum, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It's not a season-ending injury. "The hope is this is like 2019, when the team rests Cook a few games to have him healthy for a playoff run," Rapoport adds. Cook missed 2 games with that shoulder injury, which is what former NFL head team Dr. David Chao expects him to miss this time around. That'd put Cook back on the field for Week 15, giving starts to RB Alexander Mattison the next 2 weeks vs. the Lions and Steelers.

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook suffered a shoulder injury in the 3rd quarter of Sunday's game vs. the 49ers. He was in obvious pain, was carted back to the locker room and quickly ruled out. We'll update Cook's status when we know more, but this clearly looks like a potentially serious injury. Alexander Mattison will be a RB1 for however long Cook is out.

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook has been accused of assault by an ex-girlfriend. Gracelyn Trimble alleges that Cook caused a concussion and facial injuries during a disagreement last November. Cook's representatives claim that Trimble was the aggressor, breaking into Cook's house, assaulting him and now extorting him for millions of dollars. But Trimble has messages from Cook about the incident, including him saying, "I know what I did can't be rewind...If you wanna go to the police I'll respect that I'll take my punishment for what I did!" Both the NFL and Vikings declined comment on Tuesday night. We'll see where this goes. RB Alexander Mattison needs to be owned in all fantasy leagues as a RB1 if Cook misses time.

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook (ankle) isn't listed on the final injury report. He practiced all week, including full workouts on Thursday and Friday. That all points to Cook being ready to handle a full workload. It's possible that Minnesota mixes RB Alexander Mattison in a bit more than they were before, but Cook is back to easy RB1 status.

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook (ankle) was a full participant in Thursday's practice for the 1st time since hurting that ankle in Week 2. He's on track to return for Sunday's game vs. the Panthers -- and it looks like he's ready to resume lead-back duties. We'll see if Minnesota mixes in RB Alexander Mattison more than before, but Cook should be considered a RB1 for Week 6.

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook (ankle) is INACTIVE for today’s game against the Lions. It’s a smart move by Minnesota to sit him. Cook’s absence turns Alexander Mattison into a RB1. He racked up 171 yards on 32 touches when Cook was inactive in Week 3.

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook (ankle) remains a game-time decision for today's tilt with the Lions. "If Cook plays, it’s no sure thing he will get his usual workload and, either way, it also shapes up as an active day for Vikings’ RB Alexander Mattison," ESPN's Adam Schefter tweets. We'll get Cook's game status around 11:30 am ET. But he'll be more of a risk/reward RB2 if active. Consider Mattison a RB3 if Cook is active and a RB1 if Cook is out.

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook (ankle) is listed as questionable for this weekend's game vs. the Lions. We're still waiting to see if he practiced on Friday, but HC Mike Zimmer suggested that Cook will be a game-time decision. It'd make a lot of sense for Minnesota to hold Cook out considering he's obviously nowhere near 100%. We'll get his game status by noon ET on Sunday. Cook's absence would turn Alexander Mattison into a fantasy RB1.

Update: Cook got in a limited practice on Friday.

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook (ankle) missed practice again on Thursday. He claims he didn't aggravate his ankle injury last week, but he clearly wasn't anywhere close to 100% in that one. It'd sure make sense for the Vikings to hold him out of a game vs. the Lions on Sunday that they can win without him. We'll get another update on Cook tomorrow. Alexander Mattison will be a fantasy RB1 if Cook is out.

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook (ankle) did not practice on Wednesday. He played through this issue last week, of course, but carried just 9 times on a 49% snap rate. “I don’t feel like I’m getting worse or heading in the wrong direction," Cook said Wednesday. "Part of this game is playing through pain." We'll continue to keep a close eye on Cook's status. He should play vs. the Lions this weekend, but how big a role he'll take on is uncertain.

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook (ankle) is active for today’s game vs. the Browns. He got in 3 limited practices this week and “looked pretty good” on Friday, per HC Mike Zimmer. Cook said Friday that his ankle is at 90%. It’s possible that he cedes a bit more work than usual to RB Alexander Mattison today, but Cook remains a strong RB1.

ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport report that Vikings RB Dalvin Cook (ankle) is expected to play vs. the Browns today. Rapoport adds, "Perhaps he shares the load a bit more than usual with Alexander Mattison," but it's unclear if that's a report or an educated guess. We've shaved a bit off Cook's Week 4 projections, but he remains a strong fantasy play.

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook (ankle) is listed as questionable for this weekend's game vs. the Browns. He was limited in practice all week after sitting out all 3 workouts last week. "He looked pretty good today." HC Mike Zimmer said after Friday's practice. We're tentatively expecting Cook to play but will continue to keep an eye on his status. We'll get Minnesota's inactives around 11:30 am ET on Sunday.

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook (ankle) returned to a limited practice on Wednesday. He reportedly had a chance to play last week -- and this early-week work bodes well for his Week 4 status. Check back tomorrow for another update on Cook.

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook (ankle) is officially inactive for today’s game vs. the Seahawks. That leaves Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah as Minnesota’s only active RBs. Mattison should handle the majority of the rushing work, but Abdullah figures to mix in on passing downs. Check out our Week 3 projections for the Vikings backfield.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Vikings RB Dalvin Cook is considered "unlikely" to play today against the Seahawks because of his sprained ankle. That would mean a start for Alexander Mattison, who would be usable against a Seahawks defense that Derrick Henry trampled in Week 2. Check our updated RB rankings as kickoff nears to see where we rank Mattison vs. other Week 3 options. Word from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport on Cook's status is that "while he hopes to play, it's no sure thing." Rapoport adds that even if Cook plays, "he'll likely be extremely limited." It would be better for fantasy lineup decisions if Minnesota just holds him out.

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook (ankle) is listed as questionable for this weekend's game against the Seahawks. We're still waiting to see what he did in Friday's practice, but HC Mike Zimmer said in his Friday press conference that Cook is "doing much better." Zimmer stopped short of guaranteeing that Cook will play on Sunday, though. We'll continue to keep a close eye on the situation. Alexander Mattison will step in as Minnesota's lead back if Cook is out.

Update: Cook did not practice on Friday.

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook (ankle) did not practice on Wednesday. HC Mike Zimmer reportedly didn't seem concerned about Cook after last week's loss to the Cardinals, but this is certainly a situation to monitor. If Cook can't play vs. the Seahawks this weekend, Alexander Mattison would step in as Minnesota's lead back.