5 Bold Predictions: Minnesota Vikings vs. Cleveland Browns – Week 4
By Chris Schad
Cook will return to his workhorse role
Alexander Mattison was the star of the Vikings’ backfield last week, racking up 171 total yards in the victory over the Seahawks. A performance like that could lead to more playing time, but that’s not the case in Mike Zimmer’s offense.
“Really what we’re looking for with Alexander is another bellcow,” Zimmer said of Mattison’s role. “You know we have Dalvin, but you’re looking for a guy that can carry the load.”
With Cook practicing throughout the week, there’s a good chance he’ll return on Sunday, relegating Mattison back to the bench. It’s an interesting strategy considering what will be happening on the other sideline (more on this in a second).
What we do know is that the Vikings want to give the ball to Cook by any means necessary. With an average of 28 touches in his last 11 games, Cook will get a full workload even if he’s less than 100 percent. That’s a risky long-term strategy, but with Zimmer needing a victory, he’ll trust his star running back to get the job done.