Who Should I Start? Alexander Mattison or J.K. Dobbins

Monday, March 18, 6:02 PM

Former Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison is signing an undisclosed deal with the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday, according to a source. Mattison is still only 25 years old and recorded 17 touchdowns in his five seasons in Minnesota after they took him in the third round in the 2019 draft out of Boise State. The 25-year-old was a disappointment in 2023 while taking over the lead-back role from Dalvin Cook, though, which is why Mattison was released this offseason. In 16 games (13 starts) last year, Mattison had a career-high 180 carries for 700 yards (3.9 yards per carry) and no rushing touchdowns while adding 30 catches for 192 yards and three touchdowns. Josh Jacobs is no longer in Vegas, but Mattison figures to work in a timeshare with Zamir White in his first year in Sin City in 2024.

Tuesday, April 30, 2:02 PM

Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins (Achilles), who suffered a season-ending torn Achilles in 2023 while with the Baltimore Ravens, said he's "100 percent now." Dobbins had 805 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 134 carries for the Ravens in his rookie year. But since then, he suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2021, played in just eight games in 2022 with another knee injury and missed all of last year with his Achilles tear. He'll be joining former Ravens RB Gus Edwards and offensive coordinator Greg Roman in LA in 2024. The familiarity with Roman is definitely good for Dobbins as he attempts to return from yet another devastating injury, but the presence of Edwards and Dobbins' extensive injury history will make him a pretty big fantasy risk with the Bolts. At best, the 25-year-old will probably be a touchdown-dependent RB3/flex for fantasy managers.