Minnesota Vikings: Projected starters for the 2020 NFL season
By Adam Carlson
Quarterback
This is a no-brainer. With what the Minnesota Vikings are paying Cousins and his play during the last two seasons, it would be shocking to see anyone other than “Captain Kirk” behind center for several years.
Sean Mannion is absolutely no threat to Cousins when it comes to the depth chart. Not only has he never thrown a touchdown as a pro, but his play in Week 17 against the Chicago Bears last season left much to be desired.
Past Mannion on the depth chart is second-year passer Jake Browning and rookie Nate Stanley. Those two have quite a bit to prove as they fight for either a spot on the team’s 53-man roster as the third quarterback or on the practice squad.
Running back
- Dalvin Cook
- C.J. Ham
Cook has proven himself to be a dynamic player, running hard and catching the ball out of the backfield very effectively. In fact, the Vikings seem to have centered much of their offense around running the ball to open up a play-action pass game to keep opponents on their toes.
As good as Alexander Mattison looked last season, he should be seen as a capable backup and trusted to share carries when Cook needs a break. Mike Boone and Ameer Abdullah round out the running backs, and each one is likely to make the roster.
Meanwhile, the fullback spot will belong to Ham. Despite not many teams using a full-time fullback anymore, the Vikings seem committed to having a lead blocker for their running back and someone in the backfield to help block in the passing game.
Having two players coming out of the backfield makes extra sense considering the struggles the Minnesota Vikings offensive line has endured the past couple of years. Any extra time Cousins can have in the pocket will come in handy.