Dalvin Cook is the next contestant on Running Back holdouts!
If you follow us here at GCF you clearly would know that running backs are always getting screwed. NFL organizations understand that the life span of a RB is very short. They also understand after a backs rookie contract, there is a slight chance they will be as productive the following 2-3 seasons. Knowing this is the case, several teams are willing to let star backs walk into free agency and are unwilling to lock them up long term.
This has led to star backs holding out while they are still considered “young” in the football world. We have seen this in recent years with Ezekiel Elliot, Le’veon Bell and Melvin Gordon. The holdout doesn’t always pan out the way a player wants but for others we have seen them benefit greatly.
The most recent star holding out is Dalvin Cook and its got be really thinking. As crazy as it may sound, does Minnesota really want to commit to Cook long term?
Dalvin Cooks style of play is everything you want in a back, there is no denying it. His 2019 numbers speak for itself. Last year in fantasy football, Cook finished 5th in PPR leagues at his position and averaged the 3rd most points per game for running backs. He was extremely efficient in the running and passing parts of the game. Fantasy owners were extremely pleased, until the end of the year when the injury bug caught up to him (again).
Cook is clearly a force but his injury history has dragged him down since stepping foot in the league. Cook missed 17 of 32 games in his first seasons. Last year he missed the last 2 games which was extremely disappointing to fantasy owners in playoff matchups. This could of been due to the high workload given to him as he was the staple in the Vikings offense. He possibly could of been tired out considering he never has had a full season of health. Is a person who misses so much time worth locking up to a long term deal? There is also another factor Minnesota can look to, which they will be using as leverage.
Enter Alexander Mattison. The worlds favorite handcuff back in fantasy football last year. Not only was he productive as the 2nd back in the Viking system but he’s really really good. Mattison was fortunate enough to face on average the most defenders in the box last year at 7.3. That didn’t scare the young fella because pressure bust pipes. He ended the year averaging 4.6 yards per carry and the Vikings were excited to see his efficient rookie season . While I don’t think Mattison is a better running back then Cook, I do feel if the opportunity rose where Cook went down with a serious injury, Mattison would take the reigns of starting running back duties and ride it into RB1 territory. Dalvin Cook also knows that Mattison is under contract for another 3 years in his rookie deal. This is also leverage Minnesota can lean on.
With the factors of Dalvin Cooks injury history and Alexander Mattisons talent, is this enough to let Cook holdout the season and walk to another opponent? While it certainly could happen, my gut tells me the Vikings lock him up. Minnesota needs Dalvin Cook just as much as Dalvin Cook needs Minnesota. He’s a great fit for their system and is the anchor of the offense. At some point you need to take care of your star player and now is the time. You can dwell on the past with injuries but you also need to look to the future with players ceilings. Running backs nowadays are fairly easy to find in draft classes but not many with the playmaking abilities of Cook. My prediction, a contract is resolved before the season starts and Cook continues to wear purple and gold for the next few years. Continue to draft him in the first round of your Fantasy leagues as of now…