Fansided

Each NFL team’s biggest breakout candidate

By Conor Dorney

Mandatory Credit: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 17: Dalvin Cook #33 of the Minnesota Vikings in action against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 17, 2017 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 17: Dalvin Cook #33 of the Minnesota Vikings in action against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 17, 2017 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Minnesota Vikings – Dalvin Cook

Much like my Malik Hooker pick, Dalvin Cook is another player who was already on the cusp of breakout superstardom in 2017 before suffering a season-ending injury.

While much of the running back fanfare in the 2017 Draft landed on Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey, the Minnesota Vikings snatched up Florida State’s Dalvin Cook in the second round, and immediately found their running back of the future.

Cook had already amassed 354 yards and two touchdowns on 74 carries before tearing his ACL in Week 4 against the Lions. Up to that point, it was easy to tell just why the Vikings were enamored with the former Seminole, and he looked well on his way to potentially being the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

So far, the team has been very optimistic about Cook’s recovery from the injury and there seems to be no reason to doubt that he’ll be ready for the start of the season. And after winning the sweepstakes for Kirk Cousins, Minnesota is set to have one of the most potent offenses in the league, which will only get better with the return of a healthy Dalvin Cook.

If Cook can stay healthy, a 1,000-yard season is well within reach.

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