Minnesota Vikings: 3 Bold predictions vs. Raiders, Week 3

2. Cook will continue stellar start to season

Another bold prediction for the Minnesota Vikings as they take on their first AFC opponent of the season is that Vikings running back Dalvin Cook will continue to build onto his stellar start to the 2019 campaign.

Through two weeks, Cook has looked very impressive within the Minnesota offense to provide it with yet another weapon on that end of the field to go alongside quarterback Kirk Cousins, wide receivers Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs and company.

In the loss to Green Bay last Sunday, Cook recorded a career-high 154 yards and one touchdown on 20 carries throughout the game. In the second quarter, Cook broke out for a 75-yard run to get Minnesota on the board for the first time in the contest. The running back also finished with a total of three catches for 37 yards out of the backfield.

Going back to Week 1 against Atlanta at home in Minneapolis, Cook opened his third year in the NFL with 111 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 21 carries on the ground. Through two weeks, he is already up to 265 yards rushing with three touchdowns.

One thing that Oakland has been able to do well this season defensively is holding opposing running backs in check for the most part, limiting Kansas City to 31 yards rushing and no touchdowns on 22 carries in Week 2 and allowing Denver to tally 95 yards and no touchdowns on 23 rushing attempts in Week 1.

On Sunday in Week 3, however, Cook will once again get an opportunity to lead the Vikings defense into the matchup against the Raiders, and it will be important for the young running back to continue to have success in the ground game.

There haven’t been many other running backs in the NFL that have had a more impressive start to the season than what Cook has been able to put together for the Vikings through two weeks. On Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis, he will continue to build onto that impressive start when Oakland comes to town.