Viktor
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- Mar 19, 2019
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Dalvin Cook has flashed plenty of big-play potential over his first two seasons in the league.
The running back rushed for 288 yards and a touchdown on 61 carries over the first three games of his career, a strong start for the 2017 second-round pick.
Cook ripped off a 70-yard run in Week 9 of the 2019 season against the Lions, and had a sterling performance in Week 15 against the Dolphins with 136 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.
But the former Florida State standout has also been hampered by injuries and has played just 15 games in two seasons due to a torn ACL in 2017 and a nagging hamstring issue in 2018.
Yet as the 2019 season looms, ESPN Vikings beat writer Courtney Cronin believes Cook is primed for his biggest season yet.
Cronin recently predicted the versatile running back will get 300-plus touches in his third season and become a dual-threat in Minnesota’s offense.
Cronin wrote:
Minnesota wants to place a heavier emphasis on its rushing attack. [Cook is] also fully capable of catching passes out of the backfield and helping ignite the screen game. Injuries have limited Cook to 15 games over the past two seasons, and now that he’s fully healthy with zero restrictions, it’s time the Vikings utilize the running back as they envisioned when they drafted him.
Cook has 258 career touches through the first two seasons of his career.
He has 969 career rushing yards and four touchdowns on 207 carries, good for almost 4.7 yards per attempt. He also has 51 career receptions for 395 yards and two scores.
Cook was asked earlier in training camp about whether he considers himself a three-down running back.
“Yeah. I love catching the football and love making plays, so anyway I can get the ball in my hands and change the scoreboard or change the [first down] markers, I’m willing to do that,” Cook said. “Any way possible. Catching the ball, running the football … I’m willing to do it. So yeah, I consider myself a three-down back.”