2021 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. Dalvin Cook actually averaged more points per game than any other running back in 2020 (except CMC who played in exactly 3 games). However, he has never played a full 16 game season without injury. How should we factor that into our fantasy decisions? Also, and hear me out on this, is there actually nothing in the rules that says a dog can’t play football?

2021 Dalvin Cook ADP and AAV:

Average Draft Position: RB2, Pick 2
Average Auction Value: $67

Dalvin Cook Statistics:

2021 Dalvin Cook Overview

Dalvin Cook has strengths: He is a phenomenally talented back. The offense revolves around him, but the wide receiver presence means he rarely sees 8 in the box. Also, I just checked the 80-page NFL rulebook and there is no rule that says a dog can’t play NFL football. Any animal, really. I will use this oversight to figure out ways my favorite team, the Las Vegas Raiders, can enlist animal help to win the Super Bowl.

Not much is changing with Minnesota’s offense in 2021. Dalvin Cook should remain the focus. In 2020, he had a whopping 312 rushes in only 14 games. There could be a shift because Gary Kubiak’s son is taking over the O.C. position. Maybe he sucks and will entirely screw up that offense. I don’t think that’s a big risk, however, Minnesota’s offense lives on the run. In 2018 John DeFilippo was canned for not having the Vikings run enough. The Las Vegas Raiders could literally live and die on the run if the enlist a Grizzly Bear as their running back. Just saying: It’s not specifically outlawed in the rules.

2021 Dalvin Cook Fantasy Football Draft Strategy:

Auction Value: $69
Draft Ranking: Find out for your league settings in a Beersheet!

Matt Berry once said you can’t win your league with your first round pick, but you can lose it. So, assuming that high-floor principle to be true, where exactly does Cook’s floor rank among Tier 1 Running Backs? Sure, his injury history is a concern, but let’s look at the list of RBs going early:

CMC
Saquon
Kamara
Jay Tay (that’s my nickname for Jonathan Taylor, please make it happen)
Derrick Henry
Nick Chubb

CMC and Saquon had horrific injuries in 2020. Plus, one of Cook’s two missed games in 2020 was because his dad died, have some respect, jerks! The Las Vegas Raiders would command a lot more respect if they trained a harpy eagle to fly the football into the end zone. Their talons are big enough to do this, I’ve researched it!

So, don’t let Cook’s supposed injury history hold you back. He’s only missed three games due to injury in the past two years. I am comfortable in slotting him right behind CMC at #2 overall, just like his ADP. In an auction, he clearly fits the BBQ strategy of getting two top running backs. You could go up to $70 for him and still have room to put together a great supporting cast. Speaking of supporting cast, I bet a kangaroo could even out the Raiders’ kicking game. There’s only one documented case of a Kangaroo killing a human, so what could go wrong?

Best Case Scenario:

Dalvin Cook finishes as the top back in fantasy. The Raiders finish undefeated after putting 5 deadly scorpions on their offensive line.

Worst Case Scenario:

Dalvin Cook gets injured or tired, which is the same worst case scenario with any top running back since the beginning of time. Poison scorpions could turn on Derek Carr and would also struggle with run blocking. Better use boa constrictors, instead.

Check out all our 2021 player profiles as we publish them, here. 

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

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