New Running Back Gets His Shot with Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings evidently needed a bit more running back roster depth this week and signed a little-known tailback for the task.
The Vikings have signed a new running back, giving the man a chance to prove himself as the team looks to strengthen its backfield depth in the preseason.
He’s Xazavian Valladay, the newest member of Kevin O’Connell’s team. Valladay should be attached to the roster for at least a week.
A New Running Back for the Vikings
Minnesota opted for some preseason roster depth this week.
Vikings Sign Xazavian Valladay
It’s a done deal for Valladay. NBC Sports‘ Charean Williams wrote Monday, “The Vikings are signing running back Xazavian Valladay, Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports. Valladay became a free agent in June when the Saints cut him. He had stints on the practice squad of the Jets and Saints last season. Valladay was with the Steelers in 2023.”
Valladay is 6’0″ and 200 pounds with 4.46 speed. He turned 27 last month.
Preseason Depth
Valladay should not be considered a long-term running back solution for Minnesota. The Vikings actually do this quite often, signing a depth tailback for the preseason’s remainder. For example, the club won’t play RB1 Aaron Jones or RB2 Jordan Mason on Friday, but it still needs halfbacks for the exhibition showing.
In that vein, Valladay should experience some rushing attempts, probably in the second half against the Titans.
It’s not a bold prediction to surmise that Valladay will be a Viking for one week. Roster cutdown day is August 26th.
Vikings Updated RB Room
This is Minnesota’s current RB situation:
- Aaron Jones
- Jordan Mason
- Ty Chandler
- Zavier Scott
- Tre Stewart
- Xazavian Valladay
O’Connell will probably keep three tailbacks for the regular season, so Valladay would have to score quite the upset over Chandler or Scott.
Outside Shot at RB3?
Valladay has not taken a rushing attempt in the NFL, at least not in the regular season. He saw 12 special teams snaps with the New York Jets in 2023, and then that was it.
He absolutely rocked it in college, however, delivering 5,346 yards from scrimmage in four years at Wyoming and one at Arizona State from 2018 to 2022. Valladay also accounted for 39 total touchdowns. He logged 99 yards from scrimmage per game in college. Not bad.
Still, assuming Valladay would have the juice to win the RB3 job is a total longshot.
More realistically, if the Vikings needed a new third running back, the post-roster-cutdown market will offer dozens in one week. Some fans have fallen in love with Zavier Scott, who lived on the practice squad last year.
More on Valladay
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein profiled Valladay before the 2023 NFL Draft: “Valladay runs a little bigger than his measured size, thanks to his decisive mindset and his acceleration into contact. He will get what is blocked and keep the play on the designed track, but he doesn’t have the change of direction or instincts to create for himself when it’s not blocked up. Valladay is competitive and productive, but he fails to stand out in any single area.”
“Strengths: Proven he can handle a heavy workload. Finds his play speed very quickly on outside zone. Takes runs play-side rather than making unnecessary cuts. Very decisive with almost no dancing to the line. Accelerates through contact for forward progress. Sifts through the front to find protection duties.”
Zierlein also mentioned Valladay’s weaknesses: “Low-knee runner with tight hips. Bumper-car runner colliding with his own blockers. Runs lack creativity, and he’s easy to find for tacklers. Needs to slide his feet to mirror blitzers. Struggles to catch off-frame throws.”
Valladay likely has a practice squad upside in 2025. Fans should see him in action this Friday night at the Tennessee Titans in the final preseason game.
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