Who Should I Start? Justice Hill or Alexander Mattison

Saturday, January 20, 8:35 PM

Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill emerged as the leader in the Baltimore backfield during the Divisional Round, rushing 13 times for 66 yards and making two catches for 11 yards in the team's commanding 34-10 victory over the Texans. His 13 carries matched a season-high, and his 66 rushing yards marked his highest in a game all season, surpassing his previous best of 48 yards. Dealing with injuries to running backs J.K. Dobbins and later Keaton Mitchell throughout the season, Hill seized the opportunity that came his way. Baltimore is set to host the AFC title game next week against either the Chiefs or Bills, both of whom rank below average in DVOA against the run. They are both in the bottom half in points allowed to running backs this year, and the Ravens are likely to continue relying on whoever the hot hand is in their backfield.

Monday, March 18, 6:02 PM

Former Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison is signing an undisclosed deal with the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday, according to a source. Mattison is still only 25 years old and recorded 17 touchdowns in his five seasons in Minnesota after they took him in the third round in the 2019 draft out of Boise State. The 25-year-old was a disappointment in 2023 while taking over the lead-back role from Dalvin Cook, though, which is why Mattison was released this offseason. In 16 games (13 starts) last year, Mattison had a career-high 180 carries for 700 yards (3.9 yards per carry) and no rushing touchdowns while adding 30 catches for 192 yards and three touchdowns. Josh Jacobs is no longer in Vegas, but Mattison figures to work in a timeshare with Zamir White in his first year in Sin City in 2024.