6 free agents the Vikings need to re-sign for the 2021 season

Ameer Abdullah – RB

There was a time that keeping Ameer Abdullah on the roster was a bit confusing. But the running back has carved out a bit of a niche for himself as a change-of-pace running back and kickoff return specialist.

Of course, Abdullah wasn’t asked to do a lot this year. With Dalvin Cook taking a majority of the Vikings’ snaps at running back and Alexander Mattison being next in line for carries, there wasn’t much room for anyone else in that department.

However, it was the receiving game out of the backfield where Abdullah shined in 2020. He only caught eight passes last season, but he cashed in on them by gaining 58 yards, including two first downs and two touchdowns.

Abdullah’s two best games of the season came against his former team, the Detroit Lions. He showcased his shiftiness as a pass-catcher and found the end zone in both matchups against the Lions. He only had 100 total yards in 2020, but with Cook and Mattison being on Minnesota’s roster, it can be hard for any other running back to see the field very often.