Top 10 Minnesota Vikings of 2022: Where does Justin Jefferson rank?

No. 10: Dalvin Cook – RB

Dalvin Cook was coming off of the best season in his career entering 2021, but he was unable to sustain the elite success he had in 2020.

In 2020, he had top-10 ranks by PFF in each of the following categories: rushing grade, yards after contact/attempt, missed tackles forced, and elusive rating.

His rushing grade, yards after contact per attempt, and elusive rating in 2021 all fell outside the top-25, signifying a drop-off in production in some metrics that the best running backs hope to shine in.

However, he still forced the eighth-most missed tackles on rushes last year, and he had the fifth-most rushing yards behind only the 16th-ranked run-blocking unit per PFF.

Cook has one of the more beautiful highlight tapes in the league currently and is still a force in the open field. He still has the skills to be one of the league’s best backs if he can just stay healthy.

Unfortunately, he turns the unlucky age of 27 in August, and recent running backs have seen their production fall off heavily after that age mark.

Will a new coaching staff try to keep Cook more fresh so he can still have a positive impact late in the season? Vikings fans should hope that is the case for their 10th-best player entering Kevin O’Connell’s first season as a head coach.