Are Ty Chandler and Jordan Mason Dynasty Sleepers Worth Targeting?
Ty Chandler and Jordan Mason are two intriguing dynasty assets. Mainly due to their environmental factors, the running backs may find opportunities during the regular season. Chandler was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round and the San Francisco 49ers picked up Mason after the draft.
Before we get into the details, you may be wondering: why are a fifth-round pick and a UDFA intriguing dynasty assets? Here are some quick background details on both:
- Chandler
- 4.38-second 40-yard dash speed
- The new Minnesota coaching staff and scheme may have drafted “their guy” to backup Dalvin Cook
- Current backup Alexander Mattison is on the last year of his rookie contract and Minnesota is reportedly getting calls regarding him
- Mason
- Kyle Shanahan has a perceived notion to utilize multiple running backs
- Elijah Mitchell missed six games his rookie season, prompting durability concerns
Running back is a major component of winning championships and the luxury of having top-tier assets may not fall in your favor. So are these two backs worth targeting on the cheap?
Ty Chandler, RB MIN
Chandler finished his final collegiate season at North Carolina by accumulating 1,308 scrimmage yards and 14 touchdowns… in his fifth season. The important note is that he was utilized as the main running back compared to his first four seasons at Tennessee. Previously, he split time between one or two other running backs.
Playing behind Cook in Minnesota will mean there is no way to win the starting job. The only opportunity Chandler will have is if Cook misses any time. This seems plausible as Cook is entering his sixth season and has never finished an entire season healthy, playing only 69% of career games, or 78% if we disregard his torn ACL rookie season.
I know we seem to care about age in dynasty for running backs – this is a conversation for another time – but Chandler is a 24-year-old rookie. Given his appeal as a potential handcuff, age should not matter right now. Mattison is due a deal, teams are calling about him, but he figures to be the second option if need be – and has proven himself to be ‘the guy’ when Cook has gone down. It seems speculation is the foundation embodying Chandler’s dynasty outlook.
Jordan Mason, RB SF
Let’s just be straightforward: the perceived Shanahan offense is the reason we care. I did a case study on his offense but was foolish to buy into Trey Sermon. Regardless, the information surrounding running back usage was the important aspect.
Throughout four years at Georgia Tech, Jordan Mason never rushed for over 900 yards in a season and only had 26 career receptions. What a player does in college will not matter if they produce at the NFL level.
Mason is not an outstanding athlete or home-run hitter. If you watch football (I do not), I have been told he looked great in preseason. He runs with power and his athletic testing does not seem to do him justice. An impressive preseason where he averaged 3.5 yards after contact has left the beat writers raving about him. He made the team as a UDFA – that is important.
The number two role in a run-heavy offense is up for grabs. Who is to say Mason will not claim it? This does not necessarily translate to weekly fantasy production.
Discussion
There are two reasons why we roster running backs within appealing environments: 1) They can step up to an RB1 role or 2) we can trade them at a higher value — because a team may be looking for the former. I am sure there may be other reasons. The chances you find gold in running backs like Chandler or Mason are very slim. Playing for outliers is not an ideal long-term strategy.
It is easy to recommend acquiring these players and hoping you check waiver wires for them. That is not my dynasty recommendation. I want you to roster these running backs to gain a dynasty edge when the selling window opens. That is my dynasty outlook for Chandler and Mason.
I like these players. I like the idea of what could happen. What we know is 32 NFL teams felt comfortable passing on Chandler for four rounds and Mason for the entire draft. This is no knock on the individual players, just a reality we need to acknowledge.
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