The Viking Age
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Minnesota Vikings 2019 Offseason: The plan for the running backs

By Chris Schad

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 16: Dalvin Cook #33 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball in the first quarter of the game against the Miami Dolphins at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 16: Dalvin Cook #33 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball in the first quarter of the game against the Miami Dolphins at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 18: Mike Boone #44 of the Minnesota Vikings avoids a tackle by Telvin Smith #50 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second quarter in the preseason game on August 18, 2018 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) Mike Boone /

The Current Situation

  • RB1: Dalvin Cook

  • RB2: Mike Boone

  • RB3: Roc Thomas

  • 2019 Free-Agents: Latavius Murray and Ameer Abdullah

Heading the top of this list is Cook, who was hoping to pick up where he left off after tearing his ACL just four games into his 2017 season. His 2018 season was an overall disappointment thanks to a hamstring injury that limited him to just 11 games and several where he was put on a “pitch count.”

Cook’s overall stats look disappointing, but his production hints that the best is yet to come. In the final five games of the season, Cook averaged 18 touches per game and executed at a 5.1 yards per carry clip on the ground and he added 13 catches for 111 yards and a touchdown in the air. With a running back-friendly scheme coming in this season, it’s possible that Cook could be poised to explode in 2019.

Behind Cook is a bigger question. Latavius Murray is an unrestricted free-agent and although some believe he’ll re-sign with Minnesota, a chance to battle for a starting position could be more attractive for the 29-year-old than backing up Cook. Ameer Abdullah is also a free-agent.

If the Vikings are unable to come to terms with Murray, the onus could be on a pair of young running backs to step up. Both Roc Thomas and Mike Boone flashed in training camp last August and while neither of them received a chance to show their stuff during the regular season, they could be ready to fill a backup role if something should happen to Cook.

In a perfect world, Cook stays healthy and has a monster season in 2019. With 17 missed games over his first two seasons, however, the Vikings have to develop a contingency plan.

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