Minnesota Vikings player power rankings: Week 1 edition
By Adam Carlson
10. Dalvin Cook
If not for a season-ending injury after only 4 games last year, Cook may have been among the league leaders in rushing or total yards from scrimmage. With plenty of time to recover from his ACL injury, Cook will be looking to come back without missing a step.
Cook was hugely impressive in the run game, where he averaged 4.8 yards per carry and showcased his amazing combination of power, speed, acceleration, and elusiveness.
He will still be sharing some carries with Latavius Murray, but it could be very difficult for Minnesota to justify taking Cook off the field if he can look like he did last season.
9. Danielle Hunter
Finally being named a full-time starter for the 2017 NFL season was good for Hunter. He proved to be a disrupting force opposite Everson Griffen and recorded 7 sacks while continuing to hone his craft.
Hunter should continue to thrive with the Vikings. The team locked him down to a massive extension to secure their future at getting to the quarterback, but Hunter offers so much more and has the potential to learn more under Mike Zimmer.
With a strong game against the 49ers in the season opener, Hunter could find himself climbing these power rankings pretty quickly, especially if he continues to perfect his pass rush technique.
8. Kyle Rudolph
The Vikings drafted Rudolph to be a safety net for Christian Ponder as he developed, but the tight end has become one of the most consistent red zone targets in the NFL since putting on a purple jersey.
In the last three years, only one player at his position has caught more touchdown passes…and that is Rob Gronkowski in New England. Last season, he hauled in 8 scores, bringing his career total to 37.