Minnesota Vikings wise to sideline Dalvin Cook against Buffalo Bills
The Minnesota Vikings decision to sit star running back Dalvin Cook for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills will prove to be a wise one.
Latavius Murray will take the majority of the snaps at running back for the Minnesota Vikings versus the Buffalo Bills as hamstring soreness will sideline second-year star, Dalvin Cook. The move must be considered cautionary with the lowly Bills in town.
Oddsmakers have installed the Vikings as a heavy 16.5 point favorites over the Bills. Those are the updated numbers since Cook has been ruled out.
Instead of exposing Cook to further injury in a winnable game, the Vikings will continue to let him rest up for their Thursday night showdown against the Los Angeles Rams. Having Cook to face the Rams is far more important for the interim and long-term.
Cook has struggled thus far this season bouncing back from a torn ACL. His rushing totals are a sub-par 78 yards with 26 carries. Cook has not hit paydirt for the Vikings yet either.
Cook’s nagging hamstring injury could be the reason why he has not played up to his potential. Having a lengthy slate of days off will help Cook as the stingy defense of the Rams will offer few running lanes. The upcoming game is the crown jewel of what may go down as a defining two-week stretch.
Nothing against the Bills, or their faithful fans. They have endured several signs of ineptitude during the first few weeks of the NFL season. This matchup is widely regarded as a cakewalk for the Vikings. An easy game will be needed with the Vikings’ brief turnaround and cross-country road trip to Los Angeles.
What awaits the Vikings is a showdown with one of the teams they will be seeking to have home-field advantage over in the playoffs. The Vikings need all of their offensive weapons healthy in what will be a statement game against the Rams on Thursday night. In the meantime, Murray is a suitable replacement at running back as Cook rests up.
Murray is an underrated talent, good enough to lead the Vikings to a win Sunday. His carries are expected to go up significantly, especially if the game against the Bills gets out of hand quickly. Because of his importance in the Vikings’ offense, even Murray could get lifted in the second half and sit alongside Cook.
The Bills are next on the schedule for the Vikings, however, the real contest is Thursday night against the Rams. This is why the Vikings are choosing to sit Cook. It is a wise move by the VIkings who have to think about January.