Dalvin Cook Injury Update Suggests RB Will Play, Still Boosts Alexander Mattison Fantasy Outlook in Week 14

Talented running back Dalvin Cook suffered a shoulder injury during the Minnesota Vikings' "Monday Night Football" loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The injury kept him on the sideline for the entire second half, though reports noted it was more of a precautionary measure. This was reflected by a recent injury update, with Cook looking like he will play against the Detroit Lions in Week 14.

Vikings fans and fantasy owners alike held their breaths when Cook left the game and went back to the locker room, so a positive update on his shoulder injury is good news all around.

In Cook's absence, rookie Alexander Mattison took on the bulk of the workload, rushing for 22 yards on four carries and 51 yards on four catches. While Cook is fully expected to play on Sunday, it would not be surprising to see the rookie rotate in more often earlier in the game to keep Cook fresh.

Along the same thought process, if the game gets out of hand against a weaker Detroit team, we could see Cook rest down the stretch, which would make Mattison the rusher of choice.

The injury creates some uncertainty, and with a great shot at winning this game (they're 13-point favorites on FanDuel Sportsbook) the Vikings could certainly take a cautious approach with Cook.

He's been one of the league's most productive backs this season though, and unless we get word that he'll be limited, he remains a top fantasy play. Cook checks in at RB2 in our Week 14 PPR fantasy football rankings.

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