Dalvin Cook Fantasy Football Week 16 Scouting Report

Dalvin Cook
RB
, Dallas Cowboys

Age: 29
Weight: 210 lbs
Height: 5' 10"
College: Florida State

ADP: 239
Depth Chart Ranking: 4

Pts	RuYds	RuTD	Rec	RecYds
3	20	0	1	10

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Scouting report

by Spencer Babbitt

· Jul 08, 2022 · 3:46 PM EDT

MIN RB Dalvin Cook - 2022 Fantasy Football Outlook

2022 Fantasy Upside
Dalvin Cook has simply been one of the best backs in both real and fantasy football for the past three seasons. Despite missing games due to injury in all three of those seasons, Cook has logged three straight 1,000 yard campaigns and averaged over 12 rushing TDs per year in that span. Cook has also established himself as a dynamic pass catcher out of the backfield. Although Cook's receiving production took a step back in 2021, this is a running back who posted 519 yards receiving in 2019 and 8.2 and 6.7 yards per target in 2019 and 2020, respectively. While Cook may see a reduction in overall rushing volume with Mike Zimmer replaced by Kevin O'Connell, a more aggressive offensive philosophy and increased pass rate would likely benefit Cook as he would face fewer stacked boxes and could reclaim the prolific receiving production he posted before last year. While Alexander Mattison has established himself as a solid backup option, Cook will in all likelihood remain a workhorse this season as he has not notched fewer than 283 touches in a season since an injury-plagued 2018. Cook remains firmly in the RB1 tier heading into 2022.

2022 Fantasy Downside
There aren't many fantasy downsides with Cook, but it should be noted that he has never once played a full season in the NFL and he almost certainly will pick up some sort of nagging injury due to his large workload. Cook also runs the risk of reduced rushing volume this year with Zimmer's conservative, run-first offensive philosophy turning into a thing of the past in Minnesota. It remains to be seen whether O'Connell and his staff will give Cook the same type of workload he has historically received when healthy, or whether they will distribute some more of the work to Mattison or the passing game.

2022 Bottom Line
Cook remains a premier RB1 option for fantasy purposes heading into the 2022 season. He has an established track record as a workhorse back, and is effective in the passing game. The arrow is pointing up on the Vikings offense as a whole, and Cook should be one of the primary beneficiaries if the unit takes a step forward this season. Draft Cook confidently in the first round and don't look back.

by Frank Ammirante

· Dec 31, 2021 · 11:41 AM EST

MIN RB Dalvin Cook - Week 17 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 17 at Packers

I expect that we'll see a healthy dose of Dalvin Cook given the cold weather conditions in this game. We've seen how high Cook's ceiling can be (205 yards vs PIT). He goes up against a Packers defense that ranks 9th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game allowed to running backs, but the high volume keeps him as an RB1. Let's also remember that this defense just got gashed by Nick Chubb.

by Frank Ammirante

· Dec 24, 2021 · 12:15 PM EST

MIN RB Dalvin Cook - Week 16 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 16 vs. Rams

Dalvin Cook is coming off a down week against the Bears where he finished as RB22, but he had three Top-12 finishes in three of his previous four games. He's an every-week RB1 given his high volume, regardless of matchup. Cook has high touchdown equity and looks like a good bet to find the endzone in this projected shootout.

The Rams rank 19th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game allowed to running backs, but they are giving up only 3.7 yards per carry, which ranks 2nd in the NFL. We could see another inefficient performance on the ground from Cook, but his volume and touchdown equity keep him in play as an RB1.

by Frank Ammirante

· Dec 17, 2021 · 10:48 AM EST

MIN RB Dalvin Cook - Week 15 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 15 at Bears

Dalvin Cook is coming off a monster game against the Steelers where he rushed for 205 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. He looked completely healthy and back to normal, so we can fire him up as a high-end RB1 in this spot. This projects as a positive game script with the Vikings as 3.5-point road favorites.

The Bears rank 15th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game, so they're a bit better in run defense. However, Cook is too good of a running back to worry about in this spot. Expect the Vikings to continue to lean on him in another must-win game with huge playoff implications.

by Frank Ammirante

· Nov 26, 2021 · 11:58 AM EST

MIN RB Dalvin Cook - Week 12 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 12 at 49ers

Dalvin Cook has provided solid production since returning from injury, finishing as RB12, RB7, and RB7 in his last three weeks. However, we haven't seen that massive ceiling game that we've grown accustomed to from Cook. This is because the Vikings' passing game has been so good this season. It's also due to some bad luck in touchdown output, as Cook has been vultured on numerous occasions this season.

Cook goes up against a 49ers defense that ranks 7th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game to running backs, so this is a tough matchup. This makes this game project as more of a floor week for Cook unless we see it turn into a shootout, which seems unlikely given San Francisco's slow pace on offense.

by Frank Ammirante

· Nov 19, 2021 · 10:17 AM EST

MIN RB Dalvin Cook - Week 11 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 11 vs. Packers

Dalvin Cook currently ranks fifth in expected fantasy points per game. Since returning from injury, he's finished as RB8, RB33, RB12, and RB7 in half-PPR formats. Cook takes on a Packers defense that ranks 13th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game to running backs, so it's not that easy of a matchup.

However, the Vikings should be able to remain competitive in this game as 2.5-point home underdogs. We could also see them lean on Cook, especially if Cousins struggles against this tough pass defense. Fire up Cook as an elite RB1 in this spot, as he has a chance for a spike week here.

by Frank Ammirante

· Nov 11, 2021 · 12:01 PM EST

MIN RB Dalvin Cook - Week 10 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 10 at Chargers

Dalvin Cook rushed 17 times for 110 yards against the Ravens last week. He also caught all three of his targets for 12 yards. We haven't gotten a ceiling game from Cook since Week 1, where he finished as RB6 in half-PPR formats. It might be time for one in a game that projects as one of the highest-scoring on the slate.

Cook is in an absolute smash spot against a Chargers defense that ranks 24th in aFPA to running backs. Los Angeles is 32nd in rush DVOA, allowing 4.86 yards per carry (32nd). It's likely that we'll see the Vikings attempt to exploit this weakness, especially since running the ball would help keep this prolific Chargers' passing game off the field. Cook is an elite RB1 in this spot.