Should You Start Alexander Mattison or Cam Akers in Fantasy Football Week 8?

The Minnesota Vikings continue to get next to nothing from its ground attack, which ranks 30th in rushing offense. And yet, there continues to be a debate each week over which Vikings running back you should select to start on your fantasy football team. We’ll let you know which is the right choice for Week 8.

Fantasy Outlook for Alexander Mattison This Week

Alexander Mattison has started all seven games for the Vikings this season and leads the team in rush attempts (90) and rushing yards (359). But there are some reasons to at least give pause when trying to decide which back among the Vikings is worth starting on your fantasy team.

One of the biggest issues with Mattison is his inability to find the end zone. Yes, Mattison has two touchdown receptions this season, but he’s yet to score a rushing touchdown this season. In fact, no player in the league has more rushing attempts without a rushing TD this season than Mattison (90).

To be fair, it’s not as if he’s keeping any other Vikings out of the end zone since Minnesota remains the only team in the league without a TD run.

MORE: Should You Start D’Onta Foreman or Roschon Johnson in Fantasy Football Week 8?

The other potential red flag concerning Mattison and his status in a fantasy lineup is the fact that for the second time in the last three games, he was on the field for less than 60% of the team’s offensive snaps (53% last week vs. 49ers).

That is one reason why Mattison finished with just eight rush attempts last week, tying a season low.

Mattison still seems like the pick if you’re choosing between the two Minnesota backs. But it’s at least something to keep in the back of your mind as we get closer to kickoff.

Fantasy Outlook for Cam Akers This Week

Cam Akers enjoyed his most productive outing in four games since joining the Vikings. He was on the field for 27 snaps — 39% of the team’s offensive snaps — and reached double-figures in rush attempts (10) for the first time with the Vikings.

The problem was, there just wasn’t much to show for all that time on the field. Akers’ 10 carries produced just 31 yards on the ground (3.1 yards per carry). He did finish with 30 yards receiving, the first time he had at least 30 rushing yards and 30 receiving yards in a game since Week 14 last season vs. the Green Bay Packers.

Beyond the added time on the field and touches, there really isn’t much to speak up in support of Akers being in your fantasy lineup this week.

Which Vikings RB Should You Start?

PFN’s Fantasy Start/Sit Optimizer projects Mattison with a much more productive fantasy output (11.2 fantasy points) than Akers (4.4 points).

Not that you needed any additional evidence to support choosing Mattison over Akers, but that gap in the optimizer’s projections should seal the deal.

Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!