Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings

Dalvin Cook has been one of the most talented running backs in the past couple seasons, and has been a fantasy monster, when he plays.

The key to Cook is the “when he plays,” because he has had issues staying on the field during his entire NFL tenure. Cook has only suited up for 29 of a potential 48 regular season games in his three year career, but credit to him, only missed two matchups last year.

Due to his durability, or lack-there-of, the Minnesota Vikings front office has been hesitant to sign him to a new deal, as Cook enters free agency at the end of the upcoming season.

Not only have they yet to work out a deal, but Cook has threatened to follow the lead of Melvin Gordon, and sit-out the year till he gets a new contract.

That didn’t work overly well for Gordon, as he essentially received a “prove it” deal from a division rival, and will still enter free agency in 2022.

Cook has been a better back in the past three years, and is also a couple years younger, so it may turn out different for him. Either way the off season works out, Cook will have pressure on him this season.

He’ll either have to end his holdout, and prove he is worthy of a big contract extension, or if they can agree to a deal, he’ll have to play up to whatever the deal he signs is.

Extra pressure could also be added if Alexander Mattison is capable of doing what Austin Ekeler did. We’ll see if Mattison can prove the theory that nearly anyone can dominate at the running back position, or if all he shows is that they need to ink Cook.

Following Cook’s season will be interesting. We’ll see if he becomes another high paid player, or if he gets lost in the rotation of running backs.