Welcome back to the offseason roster breakdown of the Minnesota Vikings. This week we move on to the running back position. With the Vikings’ offense centered on the ground game, this position will be crucial to the team’s success in 2020.
Dalvin Cook was one of the best running backs in the NFL last season. Since he came into the league, his skill was never doubted – instead, it was his health that was holding him back. Dalvin was healthy for most of last season and was rewarded with his first Pro Bowl invite. He started 14 games last season and ran the ball 250 times for 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was also a force in the passing game, catching 53 passes for 519 yards (the second most receiving yards on the team). There is no doubt he is an important piece in the Vikings’ offense, and in the final year of his rookie contract, Dalvin Cook is drastically underpaid. But with big money being spent at quarterback, will the Vikings be able to keep him around by paying Cook the amount of money he will undoubtedly get on the free agent market?
Backing up Cook is Alexander Mattison, who was drafted by the Vikings in the third-round last year. As a rookie he showed tons of potential but was unable to take advantage of Cook’s injury because he was also injured at the time. Mattison carried the ball 100 times last season for 462 yards and one touchdown. His ceiling could be nearly as high as Cooks’, which is important because there is a chance Mattison could be the team’s starter in 2021 if Cook doesn’t come back.
Mike Boone and Ameer Abdullah are in a battle for the team’s third and possibly final running back roster spot. Both backs played in all 16 games last season, with Boone carrying the ball 49 times for 273 yards and three touchdowns, and Abdullah getting 23 carries for 115 yards. Based on Boone’s younger age and bigger workload last season, he’s clearly the front runner for that third RB spot. Tony Brooks-James is the only other running back currently on the roster. The team will likely put him on the practice squad for one more season.
Running backs may get most of the glory, but it wouldn’t be possible without the help of C.J. Ham at fullback. The Vikings used a fullback on nearly 35% of their offensive snaps last season, a mark only beaten by the San Francisco 49ers (36.5%). Ham made the Pro Bowl last season, and when you combine that with the fact he’s only missed one game in his career, and it’s easy to see why the Vikings rewarded him with a four-year, $12.25 million contract extension back in March. The team also lists rookie Jake Bargas as a fullback, and while it will be nearly impossible to knock Ham out of his spot, it’s possible Bargas could make the practice squad.
Do you think the Vikings should give Cook an extension or let him leave next offseason? Reach out to me on Twitter (@JordanWrightNFL) and let me know. SkoL!