Ty

Chandler

Chandler will not come off injured reserve, so the Vikings will once again go with a Jordan Mason-Aaron Jones backfield for the tilt against the Commanders. Chandler likely wouldn’t have a big role/won’t have one whenever he is activated, anyways.

He practiced in full all week, so he’d seem likely to be activated from injured reserve and play against the Commanders on Sunday. With both Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason healthy, it doesn’t feel like Chandler is going to find a fantasy-friendly role this week.

After being designated to return yesterday, Chandler opened the week with a limited session. A full practice would seem to signal that he can be ready sooner rather than later. With Aaron Jones banged up, it’s possible Chandler finds a small role on Sunday. He would not be a real fantasy option at this point.

Chandler returned to practice in a limited fashion on Wednesday as the Vikings opened his 21-day window to be activated from injured reserve. He suffered a knee injury in Week 1 and has been on injured reserve since. A limited practice gives Chandler a shot at returning Week 14 against the Commanders; with Aaron Jones (shoulder) also banged up, Chandler could pick up an immediate role on passing downs in his return.

Blake Cashman (hamstring) joins him in missing at least the next four weeks. Zavier Scott will elevate to the team’s No. 3 back in Chandler’s absence. Cam Akers is undoubtedly leaving calls on Kevin O’Connell’s phone.

O’Connell said S Harrison Smith (illness) will join Darrisaw in the ramp-up process. Smith has been dealing with some sort of health issue since late August and should not be considered a lock to suit up in Week 2. Darrisaw continues to rehab his ACL and MCL injuries from last year. Vikings LB Blake Cashman and RB Ty Chandler “will miss some time” after suffering injuries in Week 1. Both LB Andrew Van Ginkel and CB Jeff Okudah are in the concussion protocol.

It’s been a theme of training camp that the Vikings simply don’t believe in Chandler’s ability to pass protect despite his explosiveness with the ball in his hands. Lewis thinks the team will instead roster Zavier Scott behind the combination of Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason at running back.

Aaron Jones’ hamstring was supposedly an issue heading into Week 7, but he’s now out-touched backup Chandler 38-2 over the past five days. Unideal. We doubt Jones will maintain quite that level of touch dominance, but any dreams fantasy managers had of Chandler becoming more than a strict contingency back have been dashed. He can be released to the waiver wire ahead of Week 9 against the Colts.

Aaron Jones looked better than ever in Week 7 despite being listed as questionable. He ran for 93 yards and a score while dominating the backfield work with 14 rush attempts. Chandler wasn’t targeted and his most impactful play was a holding penalty he committed that nixed a 30-yard reception by tight end Johnny Mundt. Chandler can still be rostered as an insurance option for Jones, but the Vikings don’t seem awfully interested in using him when the latter is healthy. He will rank as an RB5 for Minnesota’s Week 8 game against the Rams.

Jones went down with the hip injury in Week 5 and did not return. He got an extra week of rest with the Vikings on bye last week, but he may still be forced to miss their upcoming game versus the Lions. Minnesota’s trade for Cam Akers also points toward Jones missing at least a week. Ty Chandler would see the bulk of the Vikings’ touches if Jones is ruled out, putting him on RB2 notice pending Jones’s status.