Week 10 at Chicago
Dalvin Cook is an absolute monster. After a ridiculous four-touchdown game in Week 8, Cook’s encore performance last week saw him carry the ball 22 times for 206 yards and two touchdowns as well as catching two passes for 46 yards. Wow. This season’s clear RB1 is doing some serious damage on the ground as he now leads the NFL in rushing yards and touchdowns. His touchdown feats this season are impressive as he’s scored a rushing touchdown in every game he’s played this season and has four multi-touchdown games. The Vikings have long made their intentions clear as far back as last season, and that was to run their offense through Dalvin Cook.
Even though Minnesota’s Week 10 matchup has them facing a stout Bears defense who is ranked 8th in aFPA to RBs this season, it really doesn’t matter. Cook has proven to be matchup proof all season long and the Vikings have shown the commitment to feed Cook even when they’re down. Ranked as this week’s overall RB1, it is becoming increasingly clear that the road to fantasy championships in 2020 will go through teams rostering Dalvin Cook.
Week 9 vs Detroit
After an uncertain outlook coming back from injury, Cook quelled all manager worries as he ran absolutely wild in his first game back. Cook ran the ball 30 times for 163 yards and three touchdowns in addition to catching two passes for 63 yards and one touchdown. Cook looked excellent in this one as he ripped off large gains and highlight plays to render the passing game of the Vikings virtually nonexistent.
As Minnesota heads into Week 9 against the Lions, Cook will be facing the 30th ranked defense in aFPA to RBs this season. It appears the Vikings are sticking to their heavy running attack since the bye week, so the opportunities coupled with a juicy matchup have Cook as an elite RB1 for Week 9.
Week 8 at Green Bay
Cook has missed some time due to a groin injury but will be ready to roll against Green Bay. Before getting injured, Cook was on an absolute tear as he was coming off consecutive 100-yard games and even had 65 rushing yards before halftime of his Week 5 game against Seattle before getting injured. Having at least one touchdown in every game this year, Cook has been unstoppable, and his Week 8 matchup against familiar foe Green Bay is one that should bring him loads of production. Even in a game where Minnesota was getting blown out, their Week 1 contest against the Packers still brought Cook plenty of work as he finished with 50 rushing yards for two touchdowns and two 2-point conversions. Keep Cook in your lineups as this RB1 will continue produce.
Week 5 at Seattle
Cook had yet another impressive performance last week against Houston as he carried the ball 27 times for 130 yards and two touchdowns. This was the most carries Cook has seen all season and the first time this year he ended with more rushing attempts than Kirk Cousins had throwing attempts—a staple of the Minnesota offense in 2019. With Cook’s touches increasing every week, the Vikings want to run their offense through him, something that will prove challenging this week against Seattle.
The Seahawks are the top-ranked team in aFPA to RBs as they have only allowed 12.9 fantasy points to backs all season in half-PPR leagues. In addition to having a great run defense, Seattle’s poor secondary has allowed teams to carve them up through the air, something Cook owners will have to prepare for. Cook should still be viewed as a solid RB1 in this one as his workload will stay as consistent as ever.
Week 3 vs. Tennessee
Even in the worst of times, Dalvin Cook is proving he is the only constant in the Vikings offense. In an absolutely embarrassing offensive performance by Minnesota in Week 2 against the Colts, Cook still managed to carry the ball 14 times for 63 yards and one touchdown and tacked on a 2-PT conversion. Cook hasn’t had any elite RB1 performances early in the season, but his consistency is promising and he should see more work moving forward, especially in his Week 3 matchup against the Titans.
Tennessee has given up a rushing touchdown to RBs in each of the first two games this season and had a tough time containing rookie James Robinson last week against Jacksonville. If Cook is going to have a big game anytime soon, this week against Tennessee feels like the time. Cook showed be viewed as an elite RB1 option this week.
Week 2 at Indianapolis
A mere 24 hours after signing his five-year. $63 million extension, Cook ran for two touchdowns and 50 yards on 12 carries in Week 1 against the Packers. Perhaps not the usage we all expected, but solid production considering the Vikings were in comeback mode throughout most of this one. He only saw two targets all game, something we hope to see improve to reinforce his true workhorse potential. A Week 2 matchup against the Colts should this game a bit more competitive and not just draw more carries for Cook, but more targets in the passing game. Fire up Cook as a solid RB1 in this one.
Week 1 vs. Green Bay
Notwithstanding contract disputes in the offseason, Dalvin Cook remains one of the few unquestioned workhorse backs in the league. Since Cook’s breakout last season, the Vikings have added depth to the offensive line while diminishing their receiving group. Cook’s lone game against Green Bay last year saw him run the ball 20 times for 154 yards and one touchdown, and fantasy owners can expect more of the same heading into Week 1. Backup Alexander Mattison might eat into Cook’s workload, but not enough to prevent Cook from being a high-end RB1 in the season opener.
Fantasy Upside
2019 served as the breakout season for RB Dalvin Cook as he ran for over 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns to finish as the RB6 despite missing the final 2 games of the season. Cook served as the focal point of the Minnesota offense as he was targeted 63 times for 53 receptions and was top-10 in the league in rushing attempts. Minnesota continues to make it clear that 2020 will be another season that features their 24-year-old star RB as the departure of WR Stefon Diggs and the acquisition of 2020 second round pick Ezra Cleveland assure that a run-heavy offense continues to roll on for the Vikings.
Fantasy Downside
As much success as Cook had last season, there is some pause in his upside as the reason he missed the final 2 games of the season was due to shoulder injuries. Even though this was a new injury for Cook, he’s yet to play a season without missing time due to substantial injuries as he missed 5 games in 2017 with a hamstring injury 12 games in 2016 with an ACL tear. In addition to injury woes, the biggest risk factor with Cook is the potential of a holdout. With other top RBs in Christian McCaffery and Derrick Henry getting lucrative contracts earlier this year, Cook believes he also deserves a new deal and has stated he is willing to sit out the season until he gets one.
2020 Bottom Line
Dalvin Cook is one of the few truly elite workhorse backs in the league and the departure of Stefon Diggs more than likely signals an even bigger workload in 2020. Cook has already gone on record in saying he wants to compile 2,000 yards from scrimmage this season—a feat that was only achieved last season by fantasy football’s RB1 Christian McCaffery. We have Cook ranked as 8th amongst running backs and his current ADP has him going in the middle of the 1st round in 12-team leagues. Coupled along with his injury concerns, Cook’s potential holdout should be concerning to those looking to spend their first pick on him—however if he gets a new contract before the season, Cook has serious potential to finish the season as the RB1.
Week 15 at Los Angeles Chargers
Dalvin Cook wasn't dominant last week like we thought he would be, but he still had a great game with 75 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. He's now scored in all but two games this season while averaging 123 scrimmage yards. He faces the Chargers this week, but honestly it doesn't matter what the matchup is. Cook has been too dominate to even consider benching him. He should be viewed as a must-start RB1.
Week 14 vs. Detroit Lions
Dalvin Cook wasn't able to finish out last week's game, but he still gave fantasy owners 64 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. He's been limited in practice this week with a chest injury, but coach Mike Zimmer said he expects Cook to play. If he's active, he'll get a great matchup against the Lions who are allowing the third-most fantasy points to running backs. He ran for 142 yards and two touchdowns when he played them earlier in the season, so expect a strong performance assuming he's active. He should be viewed as an RB1.
