How should fantasy managers invest in Minnesota RBs?
Yahoo Fantasy analysts Dalton Del Don and Liz Loza examine draft strategy around Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison
Video Transcript
LIZ LOZA: I will ask, though. You mentioned Cook and Mattison. Now I have heard some varying ideas, and I want to know what yours is. I'm happy to offer mine as well. The idea that if you do draft Cook, wherever you do. Like, maybe he falls to you at a later spot, or maybe you have one draft where you're like, screw it. I'm still going to go robust RB or anchor RB in one of these drafts.
So you select Cook. Are you then also going to select Mattison, or were you advising that you would pass on Cook, grabbing Cupp or Chase? And then later, much later in the draft, grab Mattison in a zero RB-esque strategy?
DALTON DEL DON: He works for both. I think if you grab Cook, I do think it's worth it to go ahead and get Mattison as well, and get some safety there.
LIZ LOZA: So you're going to spend two draft slots on one player?
DALTON DEL DON: Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure, for sure, with-- yeah I think in that case, it works to totally--
LIZ LOZA: Two roster spots, excuse me.
DALTON DEL DON: --look at--
LIZ LOZA: You're spending two roster spots on one player.
DALTON DEL DON: And then also, if you do go all receivers, really then Mattison, whatever. He makes just as much sense because, yeah, I mean, he could-- it's a great situation. He's the clear back-up there. The Vikings, a lot of weapons, upgrade in the coaching staff, so-- and he just takes over whenever Cook inevitably misses his two to four games, so-- and then even there's a suspension looming there. So, yes.
And I have no problem with spending a second roster spot and doing the backup there, if you do have Cook. In fact, I know-- again, I moved Cook slightly higher because Mattison exists. And I think that is the safe route. Whatever-- his ADP is like in the 115 range or 120 range, Mattison. So if he costs you a tenth-round pick, most tenth-round picks are busts anyway.
LIZ LOZA: That's a fair point. I just don't like the idea. I want to diversify the portfolio as much as possible. I just don't like the idea that I need insurance for a top three selection. I should not need any insurance if I am putting all of my eggs in a basket, you know? It just-- it feels-- I've never liked linking the players that way, you know, because then this person is just sitting there. But you make a very excellent and astute point about a tenth-round pick probably not hitting anyway, so why not leave it as insurance? It's a higher floor play. You said the word safer. I think that's right. I just also think it's a little-- it bothers me.
DALTON DEL DON: I would just put it differently. I would rather McCaffrey have a clear back at Foreman, other than the fact that I don't know if it's going to be Hubbard or Foreman there. So that's just kind of the mainly the point I was going to make, and the fact we've seen Mattison really be a top five fantasy back quite often frequently when he does get that opportunity. So that's just my theory there.