Rookie SWOT: Dalvin Cook

Jeff Miller Posted On May 21, 2017

Editor’s Note: As our coverage of the 2017 NFL Draft and its impact on fantasy football continues, we bring you our 2017 Rookie SWOT series. These articles will feature video highlights, combine reviews, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, short-term expectations, long-term expectations and rookie draft advice for over 30 of the best dynasty league prospects from this year’s draft. We’ll mix them in with team-by-team draft reviews because, you know, that’s kind of what we live for.

Make sure you’re ready for your dynasty league rookie draft by staying up on all these articles, checking out our rookie draft guide, rookie rankings, rookie draft cheat sheet and post-draft mocks. There are simply no better resources out there for dynasty fantasy football enthusiasts.

Name: Dalvin Cook

Born: August 10, 1995

Position: Running Back

Pro Team: Minnesota Vikings

College Team: Florida State University

Draft Status: Round 2, 41st overall

Combine Review

Height: 5’10”
Weight: 210
Hand Size: 9.25”
40 Time: 4.49
Bench Press: 22 reps
Vertical Jump: 30.5”
Broad Jump: 116”
Short Shuttle: 4.53
3 Cone Drill: 7.27

Video Clip

Strengths

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Elusive
Explosive
Fantastic vision. Perhaps the best in the class
Excellent creator who doesn’t need the play to be well-blocked to pile up yardage
Highly skilled, versatile pass-catcher ready to catch 50+ balls out of the gate
Does not gear down to make cuts in the open field
Very difficult to tackle one-on-one
Threat to score on every single touch

Weaknesses

Fumbles way too much
Durability concerns
Unrefined, albeit willing, pass blocker
Poor combine, I guess

Opportunities

The Vikings have already stated their backfield is an open competition. Cook should have no problem dusting the overrated Jerick McKinnon and facing off against the freshly signed Latavius Murray. Speaking of overrated, Murray has proven himself nothing more than a hulking change of pace type who doesn’t have the consistency to be an NFL starter. He is also nursing an ankle after off-season surgery, which doesn’t bode well for his showdown with Cook come training camp. If Cook doesn’t disappoint with the pads on, a place he excels, the former Seminole should open the season as the unquestioned three down starter.

Threats

If Murray, the bigger back of the two, is more able to grind out yards behind the poor Minnesota offensive line, it could cause issues for Cook’s market share. The rookie was amazing at creating behind a similarly porous line in Tallahassee, but the ACC is not the NFL.

Cook could find himself benched if his fumbling issue rears its ugly head early on. Injuries are another concern, as Cook has battled numerous soft tissue ailments. An early injury and a string of good games from Murray would dampen his outlook in the short-term.

Short-term Expectations

Barring anything unexpected, Cook should open the season as the primary ball carrier in Minnesota. With a bad offensive line and occasionally unproductive pass game, it is hard to expect Cook to roll up too spectacular of a season, but 225-250 touches and a top-12 PPR finish at his position isn’t at all out of the question.

Long-term Expectations

Nobody who does rankings at DLF is higher on Cook than I am (he is my RB9). If he can get past the fumbling issues and stay healthy his rookie season, there is legitimate top-five upside going into 2018. As bullish as I am on Cook, I will admit the floor isn’t as high as I’d like for reasons already mentioned.

Even harder for me to admit, I am open, even if the door is barely cracked, to the possibility his poor combine showing is evidence Cook doesn’t have the athleticism to deal with NFL defenders. With all that said, he is comfortably in my top ten with the expectation he is at least a very good NFL player for the foreseeable future.

NFL Player Comparison

I see a lot of Jamaal Charles. He isn’t quite as fast or explosive on paper as Charles, but Cook has that same slashing play style with an incredibly high play speed and the ability to create something from nothing.

Rookie Draft Advice

I know this is going to cause consternation for some of y’all, but Cook is currently my 1.03 behind only Corey Davis and Joe Mixon. The 1.02-1.05 is incredibly close, with Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey lagging only a short distance behind due to questionable scheme fits. Of the four backs, it comes down to picking your own flavor. My preference is two scoops of Cook and some crushed pistachios for a bit crunch.

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Jeff Miller

Honorary Contributor at Dynasty League Football

A video game dealer by day, fantasy author by night, and super handsome guy all the time, Jeff is here to answer the questions nobody asked. Also: dated pop culture references and the misuse of uncommon words.