Vikings running back Dalvin Cook has shown signs of being a really good running back, but he’s only been healthy for 17 of 32 career games in his first two seasons.
Even so, former running back Maurice Jones-Drew ranked Cook as his 10th-ranked running back in the league over at NFL.com.
Here’s what MJD wrote about Cook:
The hiring of Gary Kubiak in Minnesota bodes well for Cook. Throughout the years, Kubiak has turned unheralded backs into 1,000-yard rushers, including former sixth-round pick (and Hall of Famer) Terrell Davis and Mike Anderson (in Denver), Steve Slaton and undrafted free agent Adrian Foster (in Houston) and Ray Rice (in Baltimore). Cook is one of the more naturally talented backs Kubiak has worked with. Look for the third-year veteran to be maximized in this year’s offense — IF he can stay healthy.
In his first four games in 2017 as a rookie, Cook ran for 354 yards while adding on 90 receiving yards before tearing his ACL. In 2018, Cook never really looked like himself, rushing for 615 yards in 11 games.
It really feels like 2019 is a make or break year for Cook. If he’s healthy, chances are he’ll rush for 1,000 yards and show just how dynamic he is. But if he can’t stay healthy for the third-straight season, the Vikings will be tempted to look elsewhere at the position.
