5 most overhyped Vikings heading into the 2020 season

Dalvin Cook – RB

News broke recently that Vikings running back Dalvin Cook is planning on holding out if he isn’t offered a reasonable deal by the team. Many news outlets and Twitter accounts immediately began with the “sky is falling” scenarios. They stated that without Cook, Minnesota’s offense is nothing and their season will be a wash without No. 33 carrying the rock.

While some of this is true, as Cook is definitely a dynamic player, the team has proven it can function without him. Cook has missed 22 games in his career. He was out for two games a season ago and he played hurt in a couple of others. While the Vikings missed their star back, they used the next-man-up method and the offense continued to move the ball.

There were also plenty of games last year where Cook was ineffective. After a hot start in 2019, Cook only eclipsed the 100-yard mark just once after Week 6. He had games where he ran for 35, 41, 71, 26, 29, 62, and 27 yards. The Vikings actually went 4-3 in those games and they showed they can win games even when Cook is shut down.

Yes, Cook is an explosive player and a key component of Minnesota’s offense. However, the season isn’t over if he holds out.

The Vikings have plenty of other weapons on offense and they will find other ways to move the ball effectively. The thought that the season is over if he holds out is way off the mark.