Over the last few years, the running back position has changed drastically. The NFL has transitioned from hard-nosed power backs like Adrian Peterson and Frank Gore to shifty, quick backs with good receiving skills. Although the days of true run-first teams are long gone, a successful running game can make or break a football team’s season. This is very evident with the Seattle Seahawks, who have struggled to make a deep playoff run since the loss of Marshawn Lynch.
This was also the case for the Minnesota Vikings prior to this season. In 2016, the Vikings ranked last in both rushing yards per game and yards per attempt, due to a porous offensive line and inconsistent running back play. The Vikings bounced back this season, thanks to the emergence of rookie running back Dalvin Cook and former offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur.
With Shurmur leaving for the New York Giants’ head coaching job, new offensive coordinator John DeFilippo will hope to build from last year’s success. Let’s look at the Minnesota Vikings’ running backs, and how they could continue to improve in 2018.
Dalvin Cook
Dalvin Cook impressed many in the beginning of the 2017 season. The rookie from Florida State gained over 400 yards from scrimmage during his first four games. Cook also averaged over five yards per carry in three of those games, with the exception being a 169-yard performance against Tampa Bay. Cook looked like a true three-down back, showing good speed, vision, and ball skills.
Unfortunately, Cook’s promising rookie season was cut short in Week 4 by an ACL tear in his left knee. The injury sidelined Cook for the remainder of the season and may limit his availability during the Vikings’ offseason programs. However, Dalvin Cook and the Vikings are anticipating the knee to be fully healed by the start of training camp next August. Assuming he is fully healthy, Cook will be the starting running back in Minnesota and will be vital to the team’s success in 2018.
Latavius Murray
After Dalvin Cook’s season-ending injury, Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon split reps as the Vikings’ starting running back. The Minnesota Vikings signed Murray last offseason to a three-year, $15 million deal. When Murray signed with the Vikings, he was expected to be the starting running back. However, the emergence of Cook forced Murray into a backup role.
After Week 4, Murray was mainly used on first and second down as a true running back, while Jerick McKinnon was utilized on third down passing situations. As the season progressed, however, Murray slowly began to get more snaps, averaging nearly 20 carries a game in the last six games of the regular season.
In total, Murray gained 842 yards and 8 touchdowns, averaging 3.9 yards per carry. Murray will be entering his second year on his contract signed last March and is expected to make around $6.3 million, with a base salary of $5.1 million. This means the Vikings could potentially release Murray to clear up cap space, although this is unlikely.
Jerick McKinnon
In 2017, Jerick McKinnon split reps with teammate Latavius Murray as the Vikings’ starting running back after a Week 4 injury to Dalvin Cook. In that time, McKinnon enjoyed one of the most productive seasons of his career, gaining nearly 1,000 yards from scrimmage.
Unfortunately, McKinnon’s production in 2017 also went through several highs and lows. McKinnon followed up 100-yard games with unproductive ones, and was eventually outperformed by Latavius Murray. By the end of the season, McKinnon was mainly used as a receiver out of the backfield on third downs. Since 2017 was the last year on McKinnon’s rookie contract and Dalvin Cook will be returning in 2018, McKinnon will most likely become an unrestricted free agent on March 14th.
C.J Ham, Bishop Sankey & Mack Brown
C.J Ham played every game for the Minnesota Vikings this season as their starting fullback. The converted running back helped pave the way for Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon in 2017, helping the Vikings rank as the NFL’s 7th-best rushing offense. Fullbacks rarely get to carry the football, and Ham only ran seven times in 2017 for 13 yards and a touchdown. Ham is currently under contract through next season and is expected to compete as the team’s starting fullback again during the offseason.
Neither Bishop Sankey or Mack Brown played during the 2017 season, and both players’ contracts expire this offseason. Sankey was a former second-round pick by the Tennessee Titans in the 2014 draft, and has not been able to live up to expectations so far in his career.
Mack Brown is a former undrafted free agent that has played in small stints for the Houston Texans and Washington Redskins. So far in his career, he has rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns, all with the Redskins.
What to Expect
Heading into the 2018 NFL season, the priority for the Minnesota Vikings’ running backs group will be the health of Dalvin Cook. In his limited playing time in 2017, Cook was a dynamic playmaker out of the backfield as a modern three-down running back. Given that he is fully healthy and has returned to his pre-injury form, Cook will be the bona-fide starter in Minnesota.
The Vikings have several possible moves they can make in the running backs room. Releasing Latavius Murray would save the Vikings over $5 million in cap space, but this is very unlikely, since the team already has over $40 million in cap space. The Vikings may also re-sign Mack Brown to a one-year deal to allow him to compete for a backup role with the team.
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