Dalvin Cook News

The report didn't name the team offering the deal nor the return for the Cook. However, trade talk around Cook makes sense given that he will count $8 million toward the cap next season and Minnesota is about $15 million over the salary cap. The report says Cook does not want to take a pay cut. Cook underwent shoulder surgery in February which guaranteed $2 million in his salary for next season due to injury. The injury could affect his availability for the start of OTAs, but he's expected to be ready for the start of next season.

Cook started all 17 games for the Vikings in 2022, the first such full season of his career, despite continuing to manage a lingering shoulder injury initially suffered back in 2019. The 27-year-old rushed for 1,173 yards and eight touchdowns on 264 carries last season, with another 39 catches for 295 yards and two scores on 56 targets, though his 4.4 YPC was a career-low mark. Cook's shoulder surgery could impact his availability for the start of OTAs, but as long as he's fully healthy by the start of the 2023 campaign the four-time Pro Bowler will be in good position for another productive fantasy season as one of the Vikings' top offensive playmakers.

Cook had an eerily-similar line to his previous meeting with the Giants when he was held to 64 rushing yards on 14 carries in Week 16 of the regular season. The 27-year-old was able to record his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season with 10 total touchdowns in another strong fantasy campaign. Cook hasn't shown any signs of slowing down, and he should remain one of the key offensive cogs for an explosive Minnesota offense in 2023.

Cook's involvement was limited to the first half, as the Vikings decided to rest their offensive starters after halftime. While that situation opened the door for backup Alexander Mattison to rush 10 times for 54 yards and two touchdowns, Cook didn't have his best performance prior to being rested, as he was held under 40 rushing yards for the second straight week and lost his fourth fumble of the campaign. Nonetheless, Cook figures to reclaim his leading tailback role once Minnesota takes the field in the playoffs.

Minnesota is assured no worse than the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoffs regardless of how this weekend's games transpire, but since the Vikings will need a win over the Bears plus a Cardinals win over the heavily-favored 49ers to climb to the No. 2 seed, O'Connell may not have much incentive to expose key players to an injury heading into the wild-card round. While Cook and all of the Vikings' other starting skill-position players look poised to play at least one series, the uncertainty of whether they'll play much beyond makes it tough to rely on any in Week 18 season-long or DFS lineups.

The Vikings lost two offensive linemen to injuries early in the game, absences which contributed to Cook failing to get anything going on the ground. It was his worst performance since Week 2 against the Eagles, and with Minnesota having nothing but playoff seeding on the line in Week 18's matchup with the Bears, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Cook get some extra rest and cede touches to Alexander Mattison.