Minnesota Vikings: 3 Observations on season at Week 12 bye
1. Dalvin Cook should be in the MVP conversation
The biggest observation and bright spot within the Minnesota Vikings squad as they enter their bye week in Week 12 of the regular season this weekend is Vikings running back Dalvin Cook and his performance up to this point in the year.
Cook, who is in his third season in the NFL and with the Vikings following being drafted in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, is off to an incredibly impressive start to the 2019 campaign through 11 weeks of action.
The play of Cook up to this point should push him in into the MVP conversation, although the rest of the league appears to have their eyes wrapped around Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson or Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes as two likely players that will claim that award.
The statistics for Cook and what he has been able to accomplish up to this point in the 2019 campaign while being able to finally stay healthy for the first time in his career after suffering a few different injuries in the first two years of his professional career have been awfully impressive.
The young running back has already tallied career-best numbers up to this point this season, recording a career-high 1,017 yards rushing along with a career-best 11 rushing touchdowns on the ground to lead the Vikings running attack and helping balance the offense alongside the potent passing game.
In 11 games, Cook is averaging 4.8 yards per carry on a total of 214 rushing attempts, while also hauling in 45 receptions and 455 yards receiving in the passing game as Minnesota’s primary running back out of the backfield.
Next. 2019 NFL picks, score predictions for Week 12. dark
Entering the Week 12 slate of games around the NFL, Cook ranks third in the league in total rushing yards, while also ranking first in rushing attempts, tied for first in rushing touchdowns, third in yards per game (92.5) and is fourth in rushing attempts per game (19.5).
Cook has been really impressive so far this season for Minnesota, and he will continue to be a large part of what the Vikings do on the offensive end of the field for the remainder of the year.