5 free agent running backs the Minnesota Vikings could sign in 2019
By Chris Schad
T.J. Yeldon
2018 stats
- 104 carries, 414 yards, TD
- 55 catches, 487 yards, 4 TD
If the Vikings want a similar dual-threat running back behind Cook, Jacksonville’s T.J. Yeldon could be the guy they’re looking for.
The former second-round pick didn’t get off to a great start in his career and was eventually replaced by Leonard Fournette as the Jaguars’ starter. With Fournette in the fold, however, Yeldon showed signs of life seeing spikes in yards per carry and an increased role in the passing game.
There are still some negatives to Yeldon’s overall game, but with the way things unraveled in Jacksonville last season, his shortcomings could have been fueled by bad coaching. Putting him in the Minnesota Vikings offense could help the 25-year-old find his form and provide a nice insurance policy for Cook.
The problem here could be the cost. Yeldon’s player comparison at Player Profiler was Carlos Hyde, who signed a three-year, $15 million deal with Cleveland last offseason. Comparably, Jerick McKinnon received a four-year, $30 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers last offseason despite being a backup for most of his career.
Yeldon’s price is somewhere in the middle and if he wants to be a starter, he will likely find more attractive situations on the open market.