Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em

Geno Smith (@Det) – Don’t give up on Geno Smith just yet. Smith and the entire Seattle Seahawks offense had a forgettable game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Smith threw for only 112 yards on the day and 1 touchdown. I don’t expect similar numbers when Seattle visits the Lions in week 2. In 2022, Smith torched the Lions for 320 yards and 2 touchdowns when the Seahawks won in a 48-45 shootout. Expect him to bounce back this week.

Sit ‘Em

Jimmy Garoppolo (@Buf) – Garoppolo is in for a tough afternoon when the Las Vegas Raiders visit the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Buffalo will be looking to put its miserable loss against the Jets behind them and will take out their frustrations on the Raiders. Garoppolo was efficient in the week 1 win against the Broncos but did have 1 interception and 1 fumble. I see him throwing a pair of picks against Buffalo’s defense in week 2.

Running Backs

Start ‘Em

Jahmyr Gibbs (vs. Sea) – Gibbs averaged 6.7 yards per touch in his debut against the Kansas City Chiefs. It was a small sample size as he only had 9 touches in the game but he looked explosive. Expect the Lions to ramp up his usage this week and Gibbs will get his first NFL touchdown against Seattle.

Sit ‘Em

Alexander Mattison (@Phi) – Mattison underwhelmed against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. He averaged just 3.1 yards per touch and if it wasn’t for a late receiving touchdown he would’ve been in the Dud category. Mattison will once again find yards hard to come by when the Vikings visit the Eagles. The Eagles have some concerns in their secondary but the front 7 is as good as it gets.

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em

George Pickens (vs. Cle) – Pickens was quiet in week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. He did have 7 targets on the day but was only able to turn that into 36 receptions yards. The Steelers will be without Diontae Johnson for several weeks which means it’s Pickens time to step up. I like the Steelers offense to bounce back this week and Pickens to find the end zone.

Sit ‘Em

Drake London (vs. GB) – London was one of the Duds of week 1 as he was completely shut out on Sunday. He only had 1 target which is concerning for the 2nd year pro expected to take the next step in his trajectory. He now faces a talented Packers secondary and will likely be shadowed by Jaire Alexander all game.

Tight Ends

Start ‘Em

Dallas Goedert (vs. Min) – Goedert was also shut out on Sunday versus a stingy Patriots defense. Don’t panic with Goedert yet as he is still the #1 tight end on the dynamic Eagles offense. I expect Philadelphia to intentionally get Goedert more involved on Thursday night. The last time he faced the Vikings, Goedert had 82 receiving yards on 5 receptions.

Sit ‘Em

Dalton Schultz (vs. Ind) – Schultz was another tight end who disappointed in week 1. The Texans brought in Schultz to be their TE1 but he didn’t look the part on Sunday. He had just 4 receiving yards on 4 targets and wasn’t much of a factor in Houston’s offense. I am sitting Schultz until I see better production.

Start of the Week

Zay Flowers (@ Cin) – Flowers was somebody I was high on all offseason and is my pick for Offensive Rookie of the Year. He did not disappoint in his debut as he hauled in 9 receptions for 78 yards. More importantly, he had 10 targets and also received 2 carries in the backfield. Don’t worry about OBJ taking targets away from Flowers as he looks to be the WR1 for the Ravens going forward.

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This is obviously huge news for Alexander Mattison as he will finally be the lead back in Minnesota. Mattison has a chance now to finish as a top-tier fantasy running back in 2023. Keep an eye out for our fantasy football rankings as when they are updated you will see a pretty big jump for Mattison. As for Cook, it all depends on where he lands. Let’s now look at 3 potential suitors for the star running back.

Miami Dolphins

Rumors of Dalvin Cook to the Dolphins have been circulating for months now. The Dolphins have no clear-cut #1 running back and this spot makes the most sense. Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr. and rookie Devon Achane round out the crowded running back room for the Dolphins. Achane was a 3rd round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft so the Dolphins have some investment there. Still, when you have a chance to grab one of the top running backs in the game you take it.

Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos are another team to keep an eye on as a Dalvin Cook landing spot. Denver has Javonte Williams coming back and they also signed ex-Bengal Samaje Perine this offseason. There are some factors here to consider. The first is Williams suffered an ACL tear back in October and it might take some time before he is ready. The other is Perine is more of third down running back and has never handled a heavy load. If Head Coach Sean Payton believes his team is a contender, expect him to make a move.

Dallas Cowboys

Dallas is a bit of a wild card on this list but there are signs the Cowboys may be interested in Cook. Earlier this offseason the Cowboys decided to release Ezekiel Elliott and move ahead with Tony Pollard. Although Pollard has shown a ton of potential the questions are there if he can handle a full-time role. Fantasy owners would not be happy with Cook entering the mix but the Cowboys offense would become a major threat next season. Never count out Jerry Jones to make a splashy move and bringing in Dalvin Cook would certainly be that.

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Evaluating Injury Concerns and Durability

One of the primary factors to consider is Dalvin Cook’s recurring injuries, which have hindered his availability and disrupted the team’s offensive consistency. Throughout his career, Cook has dealt with shoulder, hamstring, and knee injuries that have limited his contributions on the field. These injury setbacks raise questions about his long-term durability and whether the Vikings should explore alternative options to maintain a reliable and sustainable offense.

Assessing Financial Implications

The financial commitment tied to Dalvin Cook’s contract also plays a significant role in the decision-making process. As one of the league’s highest-paid running backs, Cook’s salary has a considerable impact on the team’s salary cap space. The Vikings have already invested substantial resources in Cook, and his contract extension binds him to the team for the foreseeable future. However, with limited cap space and other areas of need, the team must carefully evaluate their next move. Whether that’s allocating a significant portion of their budget to the running back position or addressing those other needs.

Exploring Alternative Options and Strategic Planning

Given the aforementioned factors, the Vikings should consider exploring alternative options in the backfield. This may involve leveraging Cook’s market value through a potential trade to acquire additional assets that address other team needs. Alternatively, the team could focus on Alexander Mattison who has already shown can be the lead back. By diversifying their offensive approach, the Vikings could mitigate risk and create a more balanced and sustainable team.

As the future of Dalvin Cook with the Minnesota Vikings hangs in the balance, the team faces a critical decision. While no doubt Cook has undeniable talent it’s crucial to thoroughly evaluate his injury concerns, financial implications and potential alternatives. The Vikings must weigh these factors against their long-term goals and determine whether it’s time to move on from Cook. The decision they make will shape the team’s trajectory and define their commitment to building a successful and resilient franchise.

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By: Jake Rajala

The Minnesota Vikings are arguably the most complex NFC team at the moment. The Vikings have an elite offensive trio, but they still failed to make the playoffs last season. The talent on the roster wasn’t superb enough to keep Mike Zimmer in the building and it’s clear they will truly look to be a real NFC contender with Kevin O’Connell moving forward.

With that enunciated, there will surely be barriers for the Vikings next season. Here are the three biggest obstacles for the Vikings right now.

• Aging secondary

The Vikings didn’t ink one of the golden free-agent cornerbacks, but they were able to retain Patrick Peterson. PP will be one of the top NFC North CBs, but it’s far from certain if the Vikings will unveil a more impressive pass defense than their 28th ranked pass defense with PP in 2021.

The Vikings royalty in Harrison Smith will soon require a youth teammate, as well. Smith had a mere one interception last season (second-worst int count in a single season). Malcolm Jenkins recently retired and it seems Smith could hang up his cleats in 2023 or 2024.

If the Vikings offense can be overly impressive, the Vikings may be able to escape a dreadful pass defense. The Bengals had the 26th ranked pass defense and the Chiefs ranked 27th in pass YPG allowed.

• Alexander Mattison

There will likely be numerous points in the season where the Vikings lean on Alexander Mattison to be effective. Mattison will either be the true x-factor, or he will be an average ball-carrier. Mattison had a career-high 719 total yards last season, but he also had a career-low of 4.3 yards per touch. The 23-year-old Mattison can be an underrated difference-maker for MIN.

• Consistent effort

It’s easy to believe that NFL players will give 100% effort in each matchup because they’re “professional athletes”. Although, it’s clear that NFL/sports teams fall victim to being upset by less talented squads frequently. Unfortunately, the Zimmer-led Vikings team was defeated by the Detroit Lions and they also lost “seven other games by eight or fewer points” in 2021. It’s important that O’Connell brings a more intense tempo in year one as the Vikings ring leader.

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