Dalvin Cook Fantasy football ranking: 2020 outlook, projections, ADP, value, predictions, stats

Dalvin Cook earned himself an injury-prone label in his first two pro seasons, but he suited up 14 games and finished as Fantasy's RB3 in 2019. Where should he be in your 2020 Fantasy football rankings, and what Dalvin Cook Fantasy football outlook can you expect?

The Vikings moved on from longtime star wideout Stefon Diggs this offseason, which could indicate that Dalvin Cook will continue to benefit from one of the league's most run-heavy schemes in 2020. Minnesota also invested a second-round pick into athletic swing tackle Ezra Cleveland, who fills a major need for them.

The 2020 Dalvin Cook Fantasy football value remains strong, as he's set for another 300-touch campaign. He's undoubtedly a first-round candidate in most formats, but how high should he be in your 2020 Fantasy football rankings? Here's what you need to know:

So which players are poised for breakouts, which sleepers do you need to jump on, and which busts should you avoid at all costs in your Fantasy football league? Join SportsLine now to get early 2020 Fantasy football rankings, plus see which WR is going to come out of nowhere to crack the top 10, all from the model that out-performed experts big time last season.

Dalvin Cook Fantasy ADP & ranking (via SportsLine's projection model)

No. 16.8 ADP
No. 4 RB (non-PPR)
No. 4 RB (PPR)

Dalvin Cook Fantasy projections (via SportsLine's projection model) 

275 carries, 1,187 rushing yards, 11.1 rushing TDs; 
67.6 targets, 52.4 receptions, 464 receiving yards, 0.52 receiving TDS
230.7 Fantasy points (non-PPR); 283.1 (PPR)

Dalvin Cook 2020 Fantasy outlook 

We're still waiting for the first 16-game season from Dalvin Cook, but he at least suited up for a career-best 14 contests in 2019. Even though he played two fewer games than most of his peers, Cook led the NFL with 21 carries from within the five-yard line and finished as the RB3 in Fantasy.

When re-examining Cook's 2019 season, some context is necessary. Cook played over 70 percent of the offensive snaps prior to the team's Week 12 Bye. In Week 13, Cook left the game with a shoulder injury that caused him to be held below 50 percent of the snaps in Weeks 13, 14, and 15, before sitting out the final two games of the season. Prior to the Week 12 injury, Cook was the unquestioned RB2 behind Christian McCaffrey. At that point in the season, McCaffrey led the way with 302.6 PPR points, followed by Cook's 256.2, with Austin Ekeler (218.1) and Aaron Jones (211.3) as the only other backs above the 200-point mark.

Here was Cook's volume profile up to that point in the season, with his rank among NFL running backs in parentheses:

• 19.5 carries per game (1st)
  
• 3.6 red zone carries per game (2nd) and 1.7 carries from within the five (1st)
• 4.8 targets per game (7th)
• Nine games with 20-plus touches. McCaffrey had eight, and the next closest was Leonard Fournette with six.

Minnesota had the NFL's fourth-lowest pass-to-run ratio (51.7 percent) in 2019, and their 60 percent run rate when in the red zone led the entire NFL. After beefing up their offensive line and moving on from Stefon Diggs, the Vikings project to again be among the absolute most run-heavy offenses in the NFL in 2020.

That scheme resulted in Dalvin Cook benefiting from the second-most Fantasy-friendly role of any RB in 2019. You are likely going to have to possess a top-five pick in your Fantasy draft to acquire Cook's talents in 2020, but his 2019 showcased just how dominant of a Fantasy force he can be when healthy. His reliance on high touchdown totals and good health make Cook a bit riskier than your traditional early first-round Fantasy pick, but the upside is immense.