Falcons vs. Vikings NFL Week 6 Vegas spread, betting odds: Dalvin Cook not seriously hurt but may sit Sunday

The Minnesota Vikings got good news regarding an MRI on star running back Dalvin Cook on Monday. He left Sunday night's loss in Seattle in the third quarter with a groin injury, but Coach Mike Zimmer said the MRI "went pretty well." Cook is expected to be rested for this Sunday's game vs. Atlanta with the Vikings then on their bye week, but he should be ready by Week 8. Minnesota is -3.5 on the NFL odds vs. the winless Falcons.

Cook leads the NFL in rushing with 489 yards and seven rushing TDs (at least one in each game). Only three running backs — Dallas' Ezekiel Elliott, Las Vegas' Josh Jacobs and Cincinnati's Joe Mixon — have more than Cook's 104 touches this year.

He signed a five-year extension worth $63 million with $28.2 million guaranteed on the eve of the season. Cook had by far his best season in 2019 in rushing for 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns while also catching 53 balls for 519 yards and being named a Pro Bowler for the first time. The former FSU star's main problem has been staying healthy. He was limited to four games as a rookie, 11 in 2018 and 14 last year.

If Cook does sit out in Week 6, the Vikings would turn primarily to 2019 third-round pick Alexander Mattison, who no doubt will be a popular Fantasy football pick up this week. Mattison rushed 20 times for 112 yards in the loss to Seattle but failed to convert a crucial fourth-and-1 late that helped lead to Seattle's comeback. The Vikes also have Mike Boone at tailback.

"He's been in that role before," Coach Mike Zimmer said of Mattison taking on a featured role if Cook is out (although Mattison has never officially started a game). "I don't think that'll change [the offense] at all."

It was actually fairly remarkable that Minnesota did lose against the Seahawks as they held the ball for nearly 40 minutes and had 31 first downs on 83 offensive plays compared to Seattle's 18 first downs and 314 yards on 52 offensive plays. The Seahawks didn't have a single third-down conversion.

Minnesota opened the 2019 season with a 28-12 home win over the Falcons, who in Week 6 will be playing their first game since firing coach Dan Quinn. Cook had 111 yards and two TDs on 21 carries in that one. The Vikings lost both games Cook missed in 2019. 

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