It seems like running backs never win the MVP award. It’s a rare occurrence when it actually happens. The last one to do it was Adrian Peterson in 2012 with the Minnesota Vikings. A running back hasn’t won the award since. Why can’t it happen again? Why can’t it happen this year? Dalvin Cook doesn’t just deserve to be in the MVP conversation. You can make a very good argument that Cook deserves to win it. Dalvin Cook is your 2019-2020 MVP? Don’t count it out.
Dalvin Cook is leading the NFL in rushing yards with 991 coming into the Week. Hopefully, you were smart enough to lay down some cash on that bet like I told you to before the start of the season. In terms of “Valuable” Cook is as qualified as a candidate as it gets. The Vikings are 7-3 with Kirk Cousins. Yeah… exactly. I saw what the Vikings were the last two years with a non-healthy Dalvin Cook. It was called a non-playoff team. Now the Vikings are one of the top tier teams in the NFC again and Dalvin Cook has made the entire difference.
Don’t get me wrong. I love Christian McCaffrey. However, Dalvin Cook is the best running back in the NFL. Cook is averaging 4.9 yards per carry with 3.31 yards after contact. Cook has also forced 37 missed tackles which is a crazy good number. Say what you want about McCaffrey, Cook is working behind a makeshift offensive line. Average tackles, a rookie center, and god awful Pat Eflein who may be the worst offensive lineman in the history of football. Did I mention his quarterback is also Kirk Cousins? Dealing with enough stacked boxes? Cook is carrying the Vikings offense by himself.
I mentioned that Arian Peterson was the last running back to win the MVP award. Now, what if I told you that Dalvin Cook was outperforming that 2012 Peterson season. Now I have your attention?
Cook has been more impactful than that 2012 Peterson season. Especially in the passing game where it felt like he’s been killing people in the screen game all year. If Cook has a strong finish to his season, why shouldn’t he win the MVP? Especially when the Vikings are in the hunt with a below average quarterback and offensive line. At the end of the day, maybe Russell Wilson is too good not to give it to him. Either way, it’s time to start recognizing just how great Dalvin Cook has been this year.
