Dalvin Cook

Dalvin Cook

27-Year-Old Running BackRB
Minnesota Vikings
Questionable
Injury Shoulder
Est. Return 5/1/2023
2022 Fantasy Outlook
While he wasn't able to repeat his huge 2020, particularly when it came to scoring touchdowns, Cook still put up good numbers last season, ranking fourth in the NFL with 89.2 rushing yards per game. In fact, he may be the most consistent top back in the NFL, for good and for bad. He's always been a big-play threat thanks to his blend of power, speed and agility, producing 4.5 yards per carry or better in all five of his NFL seasons, and his nine carries of 20 or more yards last year were a career high. On the other hand, he's missed multiple games every year, including four last season due to ankle and shoulder injuries and a stint in the COVID-19 protocols. If there's reason for optimism in 2022, it's the likelihood of positive TD regression and the sweeping changes the Vikings made to their coaching staff. Gone is Mike Zimmer and his old-school approach and in his place is former Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell. The new offense is expected to give the passing game a more significant boost, but that could also benefit Cook if the Vikings are more efficient overall, particularly if they're playing at a faster pace. He's averaged more than 21 touches and 100 total yards per game three straight seasons, and there isn't much reason for the new coaching staff to reduce Cook's workload after backup Alexander Mattison managed only 3.7 YPC last year. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
$Signed a five-year, $62.5 million contract with the Vikings in September of 2020.
Reportedly getting trade interest
RBMinnesota Vikings
Shoulder
March 9, 2023
The Vikings have received a trade offer for Cook (shoulder), according to SKOR North's Darren Wolfson.
ANALYSIS
The report didn't name the team offering the deal nor the return for the Cook in such a scenario. However, trade talk around Cook makes sense given that he will count $8 million toward the cap next season and Minnesota is about $15 million over the salary cap. The report says Cook does not want to take a pay cut. Cook underwent shoulder surgery in February which guaranteed $2 million in his salary for next season due to injury. The injury could affect his availability for the start of OTAs, but he's expected to be ready for the start of the coming season.
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NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Dalvin Cook's 2022 advanced stats compare to other running backs?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
  • Broken Tackle %
    The number of broken tackles divided by rush attempts.
  • Positive Run %
    The percentage of run plays where he was able to gain positive yardage.
  • % Yds After Contact
    The percentage of his rushing yards that came after contact.
  • Avg Yds After Contact
    The average rushing yards he gains after contact.
  • Rushing TD %
    Rushing touchdowns divided by rushing attempts. In other words, how often is he scoring when running the ball.
  • Touches Per Game
    The number of touches (rushing attempts + receptions) he is averaging per game
  • % Snaps w/Touch
    The number of touches (rushing attempts + receptions) divided by offensive snaps played.
  • Air Yards Per Game
    The number of air yards he is averaging per game. Air yards measure how far the ball was thrown downfield for both complete and incomplete passes. Air yards are recorded as a negative value when the pass is targeted behind the line of scrimmage. All air yards data is from Sports Info Solutions and does not include throwaways as targeted passes.
  • Air Yards Per Snap
    The number of air yards he is averaging per offensive snap.
  • % Team Air Yards
    The percentage of the team's total air yards he accounts for.
  • % Team Targets
    The percentage of the team's total targets he accounts for.
  • Avg Depth of Target
    Also known as aDOT, this stat measures the average distance down field he is being targeted at.
  • Catch Rate
    The number of catches made divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Drop Rate
    The number of passes he dropped divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Avg Yds After Catch
    The number of yards he gains after the catch on his receptions.
  • % Targeted On Route
    Targets divided by total routes run. Also known as TPRR.
  • Avg Yds Per Route Run
    Receiving yards divided by total routes run. Also known as YPRR.
Broken Tackle %
14.8%
 
Positive Run %
76.5%
 
% Yds After Contact
54.6%
 
Avg Yds After Contact
2.4
 
Rushing TD %
3.0%
 
Touches Per Game
17.8
 
% Snaps w/Touch
37.3%
 
Air Yards Per Game
-1.8
 
Air Yards Per Snap
-0.04
 
% Team Air Yards
-0.6%
 
% Team Targets
8.8%
 
Avg Depth of Target
-0.5 Yds
 
Catch Rate
69.6%
 
Drop Rate
8.9%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
8.5
 
% Targeted On Route
14.6%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
0.77
 
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2022
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2020
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2021 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Minnesota VikingsVikings 2022 RB Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
#% of Team Snaps

86173%
00%
28824%
00%
182%
00%
121%
00%
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Dalvin Cook lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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2022 Dalvin Cook Split Stats
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Measurables Review View College Player Page
How do Dalvin Cook's measurables compare to other running backs?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
5' 10"
 
Weight
210 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.49 sec
 
Shuttle Time
4.53 sec
 
Cone Drill
7.27 sec
 
Vertical Jump
30.5 in
 
Broad Jump
116 in
 
Bench Press
22 reps
 
Hand Length
9.25 in
 
Arm Length
32.38 in
 
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Wednesday Free Agency Recap: RB Market Takes Shape
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NFL Reactions: Wild-Card Weekend
67 days ago
Jim Coventry gives his reactions to the wild-card games, including the Jaguars improbable comeback victory over the Chargers.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
Cook once again did not suit up for a full schedule, missing Week 6 last year with a minor groin strain before leaving the team in Week 17 after the death of his father, but his production when he was on the field was phenomenal. He finished second in the league in rushing yards and rushing TDs, behind only Derrick Henry, and no back saw more carries inside the five-yard line or broke more tackles than Cook. His combination of strength, elusiveness and breakaway speed makes him perhaps the most dangerous pure runner in the NFL, and while Cook doesn't have the route-running ability of some other three-down backs, he's recorded at least 40 receptions in three consecutive seasons, proving capable as a pass catcher. The circumstances around him remain extremely favorable as well. The offensive line figures to get better with Ezra Cleveland and Garrett Bradbury solidifying the middle, while coach Mike Zimmer is still predisposed to a ground-and-pound gameplan. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak did come up through the ranks focused on the passing game, but his father Gary was no stranger to dominant rushing attacks during his coaching career. One of these years Cook is going to play 16 games, and 2,000-plus scrimmage yards likely will follow.
Cook stayed mostly healthy last season and as a result put together a career year, but his improved numbers were more than just a product of increased volume. The Florida State product solidified his standing as a three-down weapon, leading the league in carries inside the 5-yard line with 21 while also finishing second to Austin Ekeler in yards per target among running backs (8.2 YPT). Cook's burst through the hole and speed in the open field remain his greatest assets, and his well-rounded skill set keeps him on the field in most situations and makes him arguably the key figure in a Minnesota offense that finished third in the NFL with a 49.1 percent run-play rate. Despite the dynamic numbers, the 5-10, 210-pound Cook still is not completely free of his injury-prone reputation, as the team sat him for the final two games of the regular season while he nursed a shoulder injury, before he scored twice in an upset win over New Orleans in the opening round of the playoffs. With a competent backup available in Alexander Mattison, the Vikings likely will continue to keep a close eye on Cook's workload, and they might even decide to play hardball when it comes to negotiations on a long-term contract. Cook reported to training camp on time, but he may take limited reps in practice while the contract situation plays out.
Cook's return from a torn ACL in his rookie season didn't go according to plan. Rather than proving he could handle the rigors of the NFL, he strained his hamstring Week 2 and missed five of the next six games, not looking 100 percent healthy until late in the season. The Vikings were forced to give Latavius Murray more snaps than they planned, and Cook now heads into 2019 having played 15 of 32 games, totaling a respectable but not fantastic 1,364 scrimmage yards. When healthy, he's flashed a three-down skill set, showing solid receiving ability and good burst and speed on the ground, but until he demonstrates he can handle a big workload he'll be hard to trust. Minnesota promoted from within for its new offensive coordinator, handing the job to QB coach Kevin Stefanski, so don't expect big changes to scheme or Cook's role. The offense will flow through Kirk Cousins, but the Vikings at least gave Cook a vote of confidence by allowing Murray to depart for New Orleans, leaving little in the way of established backup talent behind their third-year starter.
Through the first month last season, Cook looked every bit the part of a true three-down back, piling up 444 scrimmage yards with two touchdowns, 4.8 YPC and four runs of 20 yards or more through his first 14 NFL quarters, but then he blew out his knee just after halftime in Week 4. The silver lining is that his injury happened early in the season, so he should be healthy for the start of the 2018 campaign. The Vikings certainly are counting on it after allowing Jerick McKinnon to leave for San Francisco in free agency. Assuming he's healthy, Cook has every tool you could want in a No. 1 RB. He has the patience to allow holes to develop, the vision and burst to hit them before they close, and the speed and elusiveness to do damage once he hits the second level. His receiving and blocking skills are good enough to keep him on the field in passing situations, and at 5-11, 213, he has the size and strength to handle goal-line duties as well. With Kirk Cousins coming over from Washington and former Eagles QB coach John DeFilippo taking over as coordinator, the Vikings are likely to focus more on their passing attack, but that isn't necessarily a bad sign for Cook's touch volume. The stability of his knee is a greater concern than his role, even after he managed limited participation in team drills at OTAs in May and June.
Hugely productive at Florida State, Cook saw his draft stock tumble due to off-field concerns and some ball security issues, but the Vikings snapped him up in the second round anyway as their potential replacement for Adrian Peterson. Cook looks the part of a lead back at 5-10, 213, and while his speed and elusiveness make him dangerous in the open field, his patience and ability to set up would-be tacklers are his best assets. Those traits may not play as well as they could in Minnesota, however. The Vikings' offensive line was terrible in 2016, and while they did attempt to bolster the unit in the offseason by signing tackle Riley Reiff away from the Lions and selecting Ohio State center Pat Elflein in the third round, Cook's vision and guile may not help him much if he's dodging defenders in the backfield instead of on the other side of the line of scrimmage. The club also signed former Raiders lead back Latavius Murray, who was expected to compete with the rookie for the starting role but was still recovering from offseason ankle surgery when training camp opened. It's not out of the question Cook ends up as the most productive NFL back from a stacked 2017 draft class.
More Fantasy News
Undergoing shoulder procedure
RBMinnesota Vikings
Shoulder
February 14, 2023
Cook underwent surgery Tuesday to address a shoulder injury, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
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Totals 70 yards in playoff loss
RBMinnesota Vikings
January 15, 2023
Cook rushed 15 times for 60 yards and caught six of seven targets for 10 yards in Sunday's 31-24 playoff loss to the Giants.
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Only plays first half
RBMinnesota Vikings
January 8, 2023
Cook rushed 11 times for 37 yards and lost a fumble in Sunday's 29-13 win over the Bears. He also caught his only target for no gain.
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May not play full game
RBMinnesota Vikings
January 6, 2023
Head coach Kevin O'Connell intimated Friday that Cook and other key starters on offense and defense may not play the entirety of the Vikings' Week 18 game in Chicago, Joe Nelson of SI.com reports. "We've got a pretty clear cut plan with how we want to go about the whole game, but we're going to go in with the expectation of our guys going and try to get off to a good start and play good football," O'Connell said.
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Stifled by Green Bay
RBMinnesota Vikings
January 1, 2023
Cook carried the ball nine times for 27 yards and caught two of three targets for 17 yards in Sunday's 41-17 loss to the Packers.
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