5 Vikings players who have been key to their turnaround in 2020
By Dean Jones
Dalvin Cook – RB
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Dalvin Cook has been the primary reason behind the Vikings’ recent turnaround. The running back leads the league in rushing yards despite missing one game through injury and he has already proved more than worthy of the financial commitment given to him by Minnesota this offseason.
Cook might not have reached the 100-yard mark at the Bears in Week 10. But the Vikings continued to ride their star player to the tune of 30 carries in a hard-fought victory on “Monday Night Football”.
This is a trend that will continue throughout the campaign, providing Cook stays healthy. He looks like a man possessed running the ball of late and his presence in the backfield makes everyone on the team a little bit better.
Minnesota’s offensive line must take great comfort in knowing they have a player behind them that can make big yardage from even the smallest gap. Cook’s superb running ability also opens up other areas of the offense and the former Florida State sensation is the unquestioned favorite to take home the league’s rushing title in 2020 given the strength of opposition he’ll come up against between now and the end of the campaign.
Cook is already at 1,143 all-purpose yards and 13 touchdowns this season, which is an average of 142.8 per game and is the primary reason behind his exceptional 87.2 grade from Pro Football Focus.