Dalvin Cook’s health will be a key to the Vikings’ success in 2019

The Minnesota Vikings will need running back Dalvin Cook to stay healthy if they want their best chance at being successful during the 2019 NFL season.

The biggest key to the Minnesota Vikings season will once again be the play of the offensive line. Since 2014, it has been a major weakness for this team,  although the unit did decent in 2017.

On offense, the running game was their biggest threat during Adrian Peterson‘s ten seasons with the team (excluding 2009 with Brett Favre). With him seeing very little time on the field in 2014 and 2016, the running game was not very effective (last in yards in 2016).

The team said goodbye to their all-time leading rusher after the 2016 season due to his salary cap number and age.

Minnesota then made Florida State running back Dalvin Cook their first selection in the 2017 draft (41st overall). Cook has shown that he can be a very good player, both as a runner and receiver. The only issue has been injuries.

In Week 4 of his rookie season, he tore his left ACL and missed the rest of the season. His 354 rushing yards were third best in the league at the time.

Last season Cook missed five games due to a hamstring injury. He rushed for 615 yards (4.6 yards per carry) and two touchdowns. He also had 40 receptions for 305 yards and two touchdowns.

In his first three games, he did not look explosive, which was expected given his return from a huge injury.

In Week 9 against the Detroit Lions after missing five of the past six games, he showed some of his game-breaking ability, running for 89 yards on 10 carries, which included a 70-yard run. He also showcased his skills during a 26-yard touchdown reception he had during Week 12 in a win over the Green Bay Packers.

His health will be among the keys to Minnesota having a successful 2019 season.

Under offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, they did not run as much as head coach Mike Zimmer wanted. That reportedly played a role in Zimmer cutting ties with him after 13 games.

Right before Zimmer made the move to let him go, he mentioned that his team did not run the ball enough in the previous game and all season.

Latavius Murray showed to be a very good backup to Cook, but was not the game breaker that Cook has shown he can be. The offensive line also took a huge step back last season.

Here is a look at how Minnesota’s running game looked last season and in 2017:

2018

• 1,493 total rushing yards and 93.3 yards per game (30th in the league)
• 4.2 yards per carry (tied for 21st)
• 357 total rushing attempts and 22.3 attempts per game (27th)

2017

• 1,957 total rushing yards and 122.3 yards per game (seventh in the league)
• 3.9 yards per carry (tied for 22nd)
• 501 total rushing attempts and 31.3 attempts per game (second)

There were many reasons this team went from 13-3 to 8-7-1 last season. Offensive line play, turnovers, tougher schedule and play calling were among the reasons, but the lack of rushing game also played a critical role.

Given that Minnesota trailed in more games, it was understandable why they abandoned the running game more, but they definitely had moments where they gave up on it too early.

In Kevin Stefanski’s first game as the offensive coordinator, they really opened up the running game. Cook rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. Murray rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries in Minnesota’s 41-17 win over the Miami Dolphins.

Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs are one of the best if not the best wide receiving duos in the league. Kirk Cousins developed nice chemistry with his receivers in year one in Minnesota. A healthy Cook and an improved offensive line (certainly can’t be worse this year) will make this offense that much tougher to stop.

They do not need to run quite as much as they did in 2017 given their passing game, but they definitely need to run more than they did last year.

The Vikings offense was ranked 20th overall in the league last season and their 22.5 points per game were 19th.

With how good their defense is, having an offense in the top 15 will even be a nice boost. It has a good chance to be in the top 10.

This will also be Cook’s third season in the league. He has a very bright future ahead. Can he stay healthy though? That’s the question.

Minnesota did select Boise State running back Alexander Mattison (102nd overall) in the third round to replace Murray. Only time will tell what kind of player he will be, but it is hard to imagine he will be as good as Cook already if he needs to step in as the starter for the Minnesota Vikings.