Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

Vikings Training Camp Preview: Running Backs

The Vikings added a star to their running back room. With Aaron Jones now the starter, how does the room shake out?

In 2023, the Minnesota Vikings were 24th in yards per carry, 25th in rushing EPA, and 29th in rushing yards per game. There are a plethora of reasons that play into these statistics. The Vikings went through multiple running backs, none of which could hold onto the job for one reason or another. Kirk Cousins tearing his Achilles put way more pressure on an already struggling run game, which certainly didn’t help. Also, according to ESPN analytics, the Vikings offensive line was an average run-blocking group, which wasn’t enough to make up for the deficiencies previously mentioned. With a clear need for improvement, the Vikings moved on from veteran Alexander Mattison. They brought in a proven star who gives the Vikings a real rushing threat for the first time in years, adding to an unproven but talented backfield.

Vikings Training Camp Preview: Running Backs

Aaron Jones

After years of fighting on the side of evil, Aaron Jones was released and signed immediately by the Vikings, joining the long list of inter-divisional signings between the two rivals. From week 15 to 18, the games Jones returned from injury, Green Bay was third in rushing EPA and first in EPA per play and headlined in a 48-32 blowout of the Cowboys in the wild-card round, rushing for 118 yards and three touchdowns. Jones will raise both the ceiling and the floor of this run game and will take the stress off whichever quarterback plays from week to week, something last year’s running game couldn’t do. Jones does have a bit of an injury history, so expect the workload to be more of a committee and not a bell cow workload, but even with semi-limited carries, Jones will be highly impactful in 2024.

Ty Chandler

The running game plagued the Vikings early into the 2023 season, causing them to trade for Cam Akers instead of leaning into giving Ty Chandler a heavier workload. After Akers tore his Achilles, Chandler split snaps with Mattison until he also got hurt and then benched. Chandler had his breakout game in Cincinnati, rushing for 132 yards and a touchdown and adding 25 receiving yards.

He finished the year as the starter and had incredible moments that could make you think he could be a starter in the NFL, but consistency with pass protection made it so he could never be a three-down back as he became unplayable in third and long situations. In a role behind Jones where he can contribute as a role player behind an established veteran could unlock Chandler. He’s shown premier playmaking when given the chance, and he’ll have plenty more chances to do what he does best in 2024.

Kene Nwangwu

Though listed as a running back, Kene Nwangwu is a return specialist. The Vikings never really gave Nwangwu a chance, only giving him five carries in the year. Listed as the third running back on the depth chart, Nwangwu had the best opportunity he’s ever had last year in a struggling backfield, and he couldn’t even crack the rotation. If he expects any offensive snaps at all, he needs to become a lot better as a pure running back. As a returner, he’s one of the most dynamic in the league but hasn’t translated that into a running back skillset. Preseason will be big for Nwangwu, look for him as someone to watch to be either an under-the-radar asset or a surprise cut candidate.

Myles Gaskin

Myles Gaskin started his career in Miami under then head coach Brian Flores where he had two productive seasons rushing for a combined 1,336 yards his first three seasons. When Mike McDaniel was hired, Gaskin was phased out and ended up in Minnesota, Los Angeles, and now back to Minnesota playing in a combined three games between the two teams in 2023. As an injury-replacement level player, there’s a lot worse you could do than Gaskin. He’s split time between McDaniel, Sean McVay, and Kevin O’Connell, and looks to finally crack a rotation for the first time since 2021. There isn’t anything to be said about on-field production, because there hasn’t been any, but we’ll see in preseason if he has any of the juice he once had.

DeWayne McBride

A year after being drafted in the seventh round out of UAB and then put onto the practice squad, DeWayne McBride rounds out the depth chart. With his work cut out for him to make the team, McBride was put onto the NFI list as training camp begins for the Vikings, only furthering the idea he’s a camp body. With many at the time of his being drafted saying he could be a potential steal, the second-year running back needs a strong preseason to make the team, with the odds leaning toward him being stuck on the practice squad again.

C.J. Ham

A list of running backs wouldn’t feel complete without the longest-tenured offensive player, C.J. Ham. When O’Connell was hired, many wondered if Ham would be kept around considering the offense ran with the Rams never needed a fullback. O’Connell instead pivoted to rushing offense with schemes needing a fullback and utilizing Ham’s blocking ability. While Ham will never be the star of any play, he’s been the most consistent and efficient Viking since the Mike Zimmer days and gives Minnesota another dangerous piece to this budding offense.

Main Photo: Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin-USA TODAY NETWORK

Alex Anger

Alex Anger

Alex Anger is a journalism student at Arizona State with a passionate love for sports, specifically football. Being from Minnesota Alex is a Vikings fan, but wants to give readers an unbiased opinion on all things football from all around the league. Alex, like many football fans alike, is an expert at watching redzone.

Share:

More Posts

Send Us A Message