Welcome to today’s dynasty outlook. In this article, we will be talking about running back Dalvin Cook.
Cook was a three-year starter in college at Florida State University. He was a talented college running back and had NFL scouts talking. One of the real concerns scouts had about him was his shoulder injuries and the multiple surgeries. Despite those concerns, the Vikings still selected him as the 41st overall pick in the 2017 draft.
His rookie season came to a quick end after suffering a torn ACL just four games into the season. It hurt to lose him as a fantasy owner, but you were happy with the little you saw. He was explosive and could break off big runs as he did in college.
Let’s take a look at his 2018 and 2019 stats.
Cook’s 2018 stats
Cook played a total of 11 games, coming back from his ACL tear. He rushed the ball 133 times for 615 yards while averaging 55.9 yards per game. He saw 49 targets with 40 receptions, totaling 305 receiving yards. Cook finished as the 29th ranked running back, tied with Mark Ingram, and landed 132 fantasy points in half-point PPR leagues.
Let's review how he did last year.
Cook’s 2019 stats
Cook was on a roll last year. He rushed the ball 250 times for 1,135 yards while averaging 81.1 yards per game. He also saw an uptick in targets from 49 to 63. His receiving yards were slightly lower, totaling 519 yards. He also totaled 13 TDs, which was an increase from his 2018 total of four TDs. Cook finished as RB5 with a total of 265.9 fantasy points, in half-point PPR leagues. He might’ve finished as RB3 if he had stayed healthy.
Does the change at offensive coordinator hurt Cook’s value?
There wasn’t much that changed in the coaching staff for the Vikings except the OC position. Kevin Stefanski, who was the OC, is now the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. The Vikings addressed the vacancy within the organization, naming Gary Kubiak as the new OC for the 2020 season. Kubiak was the assistant head coach and the offensive advisor last year. He was given credit for implementing running and play-action schemes the Vikings ran last year. Great news, the offense shouldn’t look much different. Keeping things in house and not messing with the offensive scheme should bode well for Cook.
Dynasty Outlook
Dalvin Cook is in the final year of his rookie contract and there have been rumors that Cook is looking for a long-term deal. Do the Vikings sign him to an extension or do they let him test free agency? It’s hard to tell if the Vikings will spend the money to keep Cook, given Mattison looked pretty good as the backup last year. If they don’t resign him and let him test free agency, his fantasy value could look different.
The real question you want the answer to is what should you do with Cook? It’s hard to say, but I would sell Cook. If you own him, try and trade him now as he’s coming off the production he had last year. His name holds value right now and there is no better time to capitalize on that value than now. Sometimes you just have to know when to sell and right now is that time.
Final thoughts on why I am telling you to sell
My main concern and why you should sell Cook is due to his durability. He has yet to play a full NFL season. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want that type of risk on my dynasty team. The risk of not knowing if I will have him when it matters most. If you happen to roster him and he is the best back you have, then I am going to help you out here. I can name a few other RBs that I would prefer over Cook right now. They are Nick Chubb, Austin Ekeler, and Joe Mixon. I would target those players in a trade. It’s possible to get one of these guys and a draft pick for Cook. Some owners may see him as an asset, but I don’t and neither should you.
Dalvin Cook is talented, so it may be hard to let him go. But you will be happier in the end if you sell now and capitalize on what he did in 2019.
I hope you enjoyed reading this article. Stay blessed and remember if you have any questions or comments, we would love to hear from you.
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