Stat No. 7
"In his age-24 season, Dalvin Cook outperformed the age-24 season of Barry Sanders in almost all statistical categories."
Barry Sanders (1992)
- 16 games
- 341 touches
- 1,352 rushing yards
- 4.3 yards per attempt
- 29 receptions
- 225 receiving yards
- 1,577 yards from scrimmage
- 10 touchdowns
Dalvin Cook (2019)
- 14 games
- 303 touches
- 1,135 rushing yards
- 4.5 yards per attempt
- 53 receptions
- 519 receiving yards
- 1,654 yards from scrimmage
- 13 touchdowns
Cook is certainly not a more accomplished running back than Sanders. But the Vikings running back did have a better age-24 season than the Hall-of-Famer.
It is vital to remember that when Sanders was 24, he was a part of a Detroit Lions team that was particularly bad in 1992 and finished with a 5-11 record. The 2019 Vikings ended their season with a 10-6 record and the success of each team does factor in with the production from both of these backs, to an extent.
As a matter of sheer productivity, 24-year-old Cook did hold his own against 24-year-old Sanders. And in most statistical categories, the Minnesota running back was better, if only for a season.
All statistics from Pro-Football-Reference.com unless otherwise stated.