Viktor
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
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Rank recapped the team's highs and lows from the 2020 season, which included Justin Jefferson's impressive rookie campaign and missing the playoffs, respectively.
He then spotlighted various individuals who will make an impact on this season: Zimmer, quarterback Kirk Cousins, running back Dalvin Cook, tight end Irv Smith, Jr., cornerback Patrick Peterson and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson.
Rank projected Cook as Minnesota's MVP for 2021.
Cook [broke] through with his first 1,000-yard campaign in 2019 and was even more amazing last year, rushing for 1,557 yards and scoring 17 total touchdowns.
Maybe the most important figure is that Cook carried the ball 312 times in 2020, which is kind of a lot, considering he played in 14 games. You might have heard, but the NFL is expanding to 17 games this year. And with Cook's history of injuries, the Vikings are surely going to be very cautious with him. In fact, you have to wonder if we'll see some NBA-style load management during the season. Because the Vikings don't want their star running back going into any kind of Arian Foster- or Larry Johnson-type decline. So expect them to protect Cook – and look out for Alexander Mattison to be in the mix a lot, too.
Rank believes Smith will be the team's "breakout star" this season, and he mentioned Peterson and Tomlinson as "new faces to know." He pointed out that Peterson was a "solid" offseason addition for the Vikings, who ranked 25th against the pass in 2020.
Sure, Peterson turns 31 this summer. But the dude is durable. He's never missed a game due to injury in his NFL career. The biggest question is, can he stay with two of the best in the business, Bears receiver Allen Robinson II and Packers receiver Davante Adams, in the two times he faces each this season?