6 most notable games of Dalvin Cook's Vikings Career
By Ben Donahue
The Minnesota Vikings officially released Dalvin Cook on Friday. What were some of Cook's best games from his six seasons in purple?
After six years, running back Dalvin Cook is no longer a member of the Minnesota Vikings. Despite the fact that he started every game in 2022, and good running backs are difficult to find in the NFL, the Vikings will look to Alexander Mattison to carry the rushing load next season.
Now that Cook is heading to an unknown destination, let's look back at his six best games in Minnesota.
Game No. 1
Week 1 vs. New Orleans Saints in 2017
Cook was selected by the Vikings with the 41st overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Florida State. Additionally, Cook was just the third running back taken at that point in the draft, behind Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey.
During training camp of his rookie year, Cook’s primary competition was from Jerick McKinnon and Latavius Murray. Cook won the starting job to begin the season.
In his first game as a pro in Week 1 against New Orleans, Cook showed Vikings fans what he was capable of when he ran for 127 yards on just 22 carries. His yardage total set a new Minnesota rookie rushing record for a debut game, previously held by Adrian Peterson.
As fate would have it, Peterson was playing for the Saints that day and rushed for a mere 18 yards in Minnesota’s 29-19 win.