Chicago Bears: Ranking NFC North running back groups
By Ryan Heckman
1. Minnesota Vikings
It is difficult to argue with the Minnesota Vikings taking the top spot on this list, considering Dalvin Cook rushed for a division-best 1,135 yards last season. Cook’s rushing total was also good for 10th in the NFL, and he did it in 14 games.
Cook is one of the true workhorse running backs in the NFL, and also couples his rushing ability with being able to catch the football. In 2019, Cook caught 53 passes for 519 yards (nearly 10 yards per reception), giving him a total of 1,653 yards from scrimmage.
He finished with 13 touchdowns last season, too, all on the ground.
Behind the 24-year-old Cook is the 21-year-old Alexander Mattison, who stepped right into the complimentary and backup role as a rookie last year. Mattison’s 2019 saw him average a healthy 4.6 yards per carry, totaling 462 yards on 100 carries.
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The Vikings love to run the football, and it’s because of the talent they have in the back field. There is a reason that if Cook went down, Mattison immediately becomes a top-tier fantasy football option. Not only can Cook do it all, so can Mattison.
One of the reasons Stefon Diggs wanted out of Minnesota was because he wasn’t getting the ball enough as a no. 1 option. That’s simply because there aren’t enough targets to go around. Why is that? Minnesota wants to run it down your throats, and more often than not, they can do so.