5 reasons the Vikings will win the NFC North

2. Dalvin Cook will show up and be a star 

There’s a lot of drama between Cook and the front office at the moment. He wants a big-money contract while the franchise is, understandably, hesitant to commit that kind of money to a running back with a long history of injuries.

That makes the question of just how much Cook is worth on the open market a complicated one. It’s still a deal that is likely to get done. Cook needs to play and get paid and the Vikings need him on the field to be a legitimate playoff contender.

It might take a while, but the odds still strongly favor Cook being the Vikings starter at running back when Week 1 finally arrives. That makes him a strong bet to equal last year’s production of 250 carries for just over 1,100 yards on the ground. There’s also a strong chance he can build on the 53 catches he provided this offense last season.

The biggest question about Cook’s ability to help Minnesota in 2020 isn’t his contract status. It’s still going to be his ability to stay healthy for a full 16-game slate. If that happens, the Vikings offense should comfortably finish as one of the top 10 units in the NFL.