Dalvin Cook (hamstring) will not be active Week 3.

With the Vikings facing one of the worst teams in the league this week, Dalvin Cook being ruled out is a huge blow for his fantasy owners. Those savvy enough to grab Latavius Murray off the waiver wire will reap the rewards, as Minnesota should enjoy a positive game script for nearly all 60-minutes, setting him up for a massive workload. Murray was involved in the passing game during his time in Oakland, but the Vikings haven't used him in that capacity thus far. Now that Jerrick McKinnon is in San Francisco, that very well could change on Sunday. Mike Boone likely serves as Murray's backup and could see a good amount of work if the game gets out of hand.

Vikings running back Dalvin Cook missed another day of practice on Thursday.

It's a bad sign when players don't put in at least a limited practice on Thursdays, but it isn't necessarily a nail in Cook's Week 3 coffin. Until we have more information, make sure Latavius Murray is owned in your league. If Cook can't go, he instantly becomes an RB2.

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook told me the hamstring issue that cropped up late is just a cramp. He’s fine.

This report is certainly good news but we have to remember we can't always trust when a player says he's fine or is going to play in a game. Continue to monitor Cook this week leading up to Week 3.

The Giants have been coy about the plan for the other running backs, declining to discuss even the possibility of roles such as third-down back or short-yardage back. If Barkley is going to join the ranks of workhorses LeVeon Bell, Melvin Gordon, Todd Gurley and LeSean McCoy, it won't leave much opportunity for anyone else.

But Jonathan Stewart has been the clear No. 2 running back all training camp, not just filling in for short-yardage but spelling Barkley as needed. Shurmur didn't care much about resumes last year, when he played rookie Dalvin Cook and Jerick McKinnon over Latavius Murray with the Vikings.

Related players: Wayne Gallman, Jalen Simmons, Robert Martin

A few weeks ago, a beat reporter noted that Stewart hasn't looked great in the offseason, while Gallman has improved and seems like the better choice for the team's No. 2 RB. Looks like Simmons could also be battling for playing time, as the story said. However, this beat writer feels like Stewart may be able to negate some of Barkley's negative runs, a knock on the rookie to this point, especially around the end zone. Obviously, taking the ball out of Barkley's hands near the goal line will hurt his fantasy value if things do pan out that way.

Minnesota is five days away from opening preseason action against Denver, its first chance to test where the team stands and the areas that need honing in. While still early in the process with a new quarterback and offensive coordinator, elements of the install that once felt foreign are now starting to click.

“As far as learning the concepts we’ve been learning since minicamp and OTAs and going into training camp, it was a lot smoother because ... we have learned the concepts,” Stefon Diggs said. “So now we’re kind of like – you have a subject in class that you’ve been studying for a little while, you’re starting to get it and you’re starting to find the small nuances of it that you want (to make) little tweaks here and there and that kind of thing.”

Related players: Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook

There have been more good days lately, despite a hiccup now and then, which is to be expected with all the injuries on the offensive line, and including a new QB in Cousins. Diggs added the unit continues to work on timing.

The Vikings will be wearing full pads for Monday’s practice and RB Dalvin Cook showed no reticence about what lies ahead when he was asked if he’s set to take a hit.

“I’m ready to deliver it,” Cook said, via Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “That’s what I’m ready to do. That’s my mind-set, man. I’m going to go out there and play and be me. I know my knee is fixed. I know I’m healed up. Put the time in, go out there and play.”

Cook was given the green light for full practice heading into camp, the story said, and he was feeling comfortable enough about his recovery from a torn ACL that he ditched his knee brace. The story added there hasn't been any details about the team's plan for Cook in preseason games but he appears set to play Aug. 11.

While Dalvin Cook is ahead of schedule and is slated to be the centerpiece of the Minnesota Vikings’ offense, head coach Mike Zimmer appears to be happy with last year’s No. 1 runner Latavius Murray.

“Latavius had a great spring,” Zimmer said Tuesday. “He looks way better than he did at this time [last season]. Obviously at the beginning of training camp last year when he was hurt, but he was out there today and I said, ‘you’re running the ball really good.’ He’s seeing things well, he’s making good cuts, and I think there will be good competition.”

Related players: Mack Brown, C.J. Ham, Mike Boone, Roc Thomas.

The two have been splitting first-team reps the story said. There is still a battle for the No. 3 RB job set to take place between Brown, Ham, Boone, and Thomas.

Dalvin Cook’s workload ramped up this week, after he received the green light to participate in team drills at Vikings Organized Team Activity practices.

It was another step in the right direction for the Vikings running back, who suffered a torn ACL in early October at home against the Lions.

And while it has been eight months since his injury, Cook offered assurances and positive vibes Tuesday afternoon while speaking with the Twin Cities media.

“I’m still that same guy. You just have to pick up from where I left off,” Cook said. “I’m just going out there and playing football.

“I’m still Dalvin Cook. I haven’t left. The motivation is still there,” Cook added. “The talent is still there, just a little older – that’s it.”

The story went on to say in Tuesday’s session that was open to the media, Cook looked like his old self. He took a handoff and cut up the middle, showed some burst going out for a route and even stepped up in pass protection. We have Cooked ranked seventh among our RBs.