5 players the Minnesota Vikings need to be great in 2019
2. RB Dalvin Cook
969 rushing yards (4.7 yards per carry) and 51 receptions over 15 games. From a certain perspective, that would be a solid season. But due to a torn ACL as a rookie in 2017 (four games played), and a hamstring issue last year (11 games played), that’s what Cook has done in two NFL seasons. Heading into his third season, it’s moving toward make-or-break time for the 2017 second-round pick.
Backup Latavius Murray left for the New Orleans Saints in free agency, and the Vikings replaced him with Alexander Mattison in the draft. So Cook is in store for a bigger role, and late last season when healthy he showed he could handle it.
Dalvin Cook lands squarely on our list of under-the-radar injury discounts for fantasy in 2019https://t.co/Z9D75UxdSV pic.twitter.com/LMpeIUdn1U
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) May 21, 2019
In five December games last year, Cook had 68 carries for 387 yards (5.7 yards per carry) and 21 catches for 133 yards with three total touchdowns. More specifically, he averaged 19 touches and 104 total yards per game over that span. Narrowing to the three games where now permanent offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski occupied the interim post, and Cook had his highest (19) and tied for second-highest (16) single-game carry totals for the season in that span.
Better offensive line play and Kubiak’s influence on the Vikings’ offense are lining Cook up for a breakout season this year. It’s up to him to stay on the field, and perform to his capabilities.