2020 Dalvin Cook Fantasy Football Player Profile

As we gear up to the start of the NFL season, Football Absurdity is going to bring you a comprehensive breakdown of every notable player that will be available in fantasy football drafts. We only look at the past three seasons for a player. Once again, Dalvin Cook abandoned us when we needed him most. Are we taking the dive back into the deep end, once again, with Dalvin Cook in 2020?

Dalvin Cook ADP and AAV:

Standard Scoring ADP: RB3, #3 overall
PPR Scoring ADP: RB4, #5 overall
Average Auction Value: $60

Dalvin Cook Statistics:

Dalvin Cook Overview:

Dalvin Cook had his breakthrough campaign last year, totaling 1,654 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns… and he did it in just 14 games last year. That also marks the third time in three years that Dalvin Cook missed at least two games with injuries. Cook missed twelve games in 2017 and five games in 2018. His games missed seems to be trending to zero, but we all know better than that when it comes to Dalvin Cook.

Here’s the thing, though. The guys around him all have injury concerns: CMC, Zeke and Derrick Henry’s crazy workloads, and Kamara & Saquon had injuries of their own in 2019. This might lead you to move away from a running back, which might not be the worst idea. However, if you believe in prior injuries being an indicator of future injuries, or workload being an indicator of future injuries, then Dalvin Cook sits among peers, not as an outlier. He’s an extremely talented running back who has had the rest of the league catch up with him in the injury red flag department.

Dalvin loses Kevin Stefanski but keeps the man behind the curtain, as Gary Kubiak goes from a special consultant (shadow offensive coordinator) into the big boy chair. Not much should change for Dalvin Cook in 2020 from a play-calling perspective. He might even get more looks and touches than ever before as he does the unthinkable: plays sixteen games.

Dalvin Cook currently stated that he would hold out for a better contract, but I’m not worried. It’s unlikely Cook actually holds out, given the current COVID-19 crisis that is going to cause salary cap trouble in 2020. Then again, the whole league is probably sitting out 2020 so this is a moot point.

Dalvin Cook Draft Strategy:

Dalvin Cook Auction Value: $50
Draft Ranking: Find out for your league settings in a Beersheet! (coming late June)

If you believe in the talent, go for it. I personally have Dalvin as my #5 running back.  But there’s a big caveat to this in your draft strategy.  You have to go get Alexander Mattison, as well. Mattison, on a per-touch basis last year, was just as efficient as Dalvin Cook. Plus, at 5’11” 220 to Cook’s 5’10” 209, it’s hard to tell them apart. The dreads don’t make it any easier. Mattison is a priority handcuff for a reason. Like I highlighted, Cook is yet to get through a season in his first three years. Last year it would have been a good idea, but Mattison got hurt too. You can’t predict that, but you can safeguard against the inevitable Cook injury.

That’s my personal philosophy, given there’s little drop off is one of those “unload your FAAB” acquisitions if something happens to Cook. I’m generally not in favor of handcuffs, but Mattison is an exception.

Best Case Scenario:

Sixteen games, a touchdown per game and he joins the Mile From Scrimmage Club.

Worst Case Scenario:

Dalvin Cook has missed 40% of his career games so far. Let’s just leave that there.

[Statistics are sourced from pro-football-reference.com and airyards.com]