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Minnesota Vikings: 5 Bold predictions for the 2020 season

By Mitchell Hansen

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 05: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates with Adam Thielen #19 after defeating the New Orleans Saints 26-20 during overtime in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 05, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 05: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates with Adam Thielen #19 after defeating the New Orleans Saints 26-20 during overtime in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 05, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images
Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images /

3. Mattison will see a larger role in 2020

Leading into the start of the 2020 season and throughout the year, all eyes will be on the running back group for the Vikings and how they are able to perform to try and lead this offense during the year.

In past seasons, Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer has been very vocal in that he would like the Vikings to run the offense through the ground game, and that is for good reason. Minnesota features a young star running back in Dalvin Cook that enjoyed a career-best year in 2019.

But there are question marks surrounding Cook, who held out earlier this offseason and continues to look for a new contract either in Minnesota or elsewhere as he breaks onto the scene in the NFL and becomes a top five running back in the league. Cook, however, has participated in training camp and ended his holdout, although he is still actively looking for a new contract.

With some of the question marks surrounding not only Cook’s contract situation but also his lack of being able to stay healthy for an entire season up to this point in his career could mean that backup running back Alexander Mattison could start to see a larger role in 2020.

Mattison has consistently brought it on the ground for Minnesota as its backup running back behind Cook and he is set to enter his second year in the NFL and with the Vikings in 2020.

During his rookie campaign a year ago after being drafted by Minnesota in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, the 22-year-old running back appeared in a total of 13 games for the Vikings and had a total of 100 rushing attempts out of the backfield. Mattison managed to finish his rookie season with 462 rushing yards, one touchdown and added 10 receptions out of the backfield as well.

Throughout last season and leading into this year, the Vikings have been high on Mattison and his potential as he progresses in his professional career. With Cook’s contract situation and some uncertainty surrounding his future with the franchise, Mattison could start to see a larger role and even more playing time in his second season.

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