Minnesota Vikings Depth Chart
- NFC North
- Stadium
- U.S. Bank Stadium
- Head Coach
- Kevin O'Connell
- Offensive Coordinator
- Wes Phillips
- Defensive Coordinator
- Brian Flores
- Special Teams Coach
- Matt Daniels
- Defensive Scheme
- 3-4
The Minnesota Vikings seem all but certain to get rid of running back Dalvin Cook this offseason, and The Miami Herald's Barry Jackson writes that he is "a real possibility" for the Miami Dolphins if he's released. The Dolphins could also choose to trade for Cook, who is currently training in South Florida while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. The 27-year-old is coming off his fourth straight 1,000-yard rushing season, but injuries have been an issue in recent seasons and he also had a career-low 4.4 yards per carry in 2022. All signs point to Minnesota giving the reigns to Alexander Mattison as their featured back in 2023 and moving on from Cook, so he's becoming a very shaky RB2 in fantasy. If he were to land in Miami, Cook would be joining an already crowded backfield that includes Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr. and rookie De'Von Achane.
Early spring practices have suggested that Minnesota Vikings running backs Ty Chandler and Pro Bowl kickoff returner Kene Nwangwu could battle for the No. 2 job in the team's backfield behind Alexander Mattison if they part ways with Dalvin Cook, as expected. Chandler spent most of his rookie season in 2022 on Injured Reserve. DeWayne McBride, a seventh-round pick this year who led the nation in rushing last year, is another intriguing prospect but has been rehabbing a minor injury this spring and has yet to take part in organized team activities. If Cook isn't on the team come training camp, Chandler figures to be the most likely backup to Mattison, but we'll have a better idea of how the Vikings backfield will shake out in another month or so.
Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook has rushed for more yards (5,993) than any in team history except Adrian Peterson (11,747) and Robert Smith (6,818), and he had his fourth straight 1,000-yard season in 2022 while also not missing a game for the first time in his career. He ripped off TD runs of 53 and 81 yards last year and had a top speed of 21.68 mph, the seventh-fastest speed of any ball carrier in 2022. However, he led the league with 62 carries that either lost or didn't gain a yard, and only 34.5% of his carries gained positive yards over expectation. With his injury history and high salary cap numbers the next two years, the Vikings have been planning to move on for some time now. Cook remains in Minnesota, but he's becoming an increasingly volatile RB2 investment in fantasy.
The Minnesota Vikings have been slowly transitioning away from running back Dalvin Cook and to Alexander Mattison, who was re-signed in March to a contract that guarantees him $6.35 million over the next two seasons. Mattison said he returned because of an "understanding how it's all laid out and how it's all going to work out." Head coach Kevin O'Connell recently lauded Mattison's demonstration of "that all-three-down kind of ownership that he's been capable of for a long time." Mattison is a physical inside runner, having averaged 1.91 yards per rush after contact, but only one of his 404 career carries has gone for more than 24 yards. All indications are that the Vikings would use Mattison as an every-down back if Cook is out of the picture, which would make him a steal in fantasy drafts at the moment.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is absent from voluntary organized team activities this week, according to reports. Head coach Kevin O'Connell discussed Jefferson's absence with reporters, stating that he has been speaking with the star receiver regularly and that he hopes to see Jefferson "as soon as possible." The Vikings have a mandatory minicamp on June 13 and 14. While Jefferson skipping OTAs is worth noting, his absence at the mid-June mandatory minicamp would be a much bigger deal. Jefferson is likely angling for a contract extension, as he will play the 2023 season on the fourth year of his rookie contract. As one of the top wideouts in the league, Jefferson should become one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL when he does finally ink an extension.
