The Minnesota Vikings have had an up-and-down season. And nothing proved that more than Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers...
Alexander Mattison's Vikings Fantasy Outlook After Dalvin Cook's Injury
Nov 28, 2021
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 10: Alexander Mattison #25 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after a first down run during the second half at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 10, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Minnesota Vikings star Dalvin Cook was carted off the field during the third quarter of Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers. Backup Alexander Mattison will see an uptick in fantasy value until Cook is available to return to the field.
#Vikings RB Dalvin Cook tore his labrum while dislocating his shoulder yesterday, sources said the MRI revealed. But the ailment is not season-ending. The hope is this is like 2019, when the team rests Cook a few games to have him healthy for a playoff run.
Cook has been one of the most productive fantasy running backs in the league this season when healthy, as he has registered 734 rushing yards, 138 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
If the Florida State product is forced to miss time, Mattison will step into the starting role and become one of the hottest commodities in fantasy.
Last season, Cook enjoyed a career year with 1,557 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground, plus 44 receptions for 361 yards and one score.
Injuries have been an issue for Cook throughout his career, though, and that was the case once again in 2020 when he missed two games.
Mattison started the two games Cook was out and appeared in 13 games total, registering 434 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns to go along with 13 grabs for 125 yards and one receiving touchdown on the season.
Now, in the middle of his third NFL season, Mattison has racked up 48 rushing yards, 142 receiving yards and one touchdown entering Sunday. Though Mattison has seen a limited role to this point, he was able to find the end zone in Week 12:
With Cook struggling through injuries over the first few years of his career, the Vikings decided to take the Boise State product in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft as an insurance policy.
That turned out to be a prudent decision, as the 23-year-old has been productive in a backup role to this point in his career.
While Mattison isn't as big of a threat as Cook in the passing game and doesn't have as high of a ceiling, his floor is higher than most running backs in fantasy for as long as he gets starter reps.
The running game is as big of a part of Minnesota's offense as any team in the league, meaning whoever has the starting job is a must-start player in fantasy.
Mattison should be owned in all leagues even when Cook is healthy because of the value he brings when Cook is out, and it stands to reason that he could produce low-end RB1 or high-end RB2 numbers until his teammate returns.
Vikings' Dalvin Cook Reportedly Suffered Dislocated Shoulder Injury; Will Have MRI
Nov 28, 2021
Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) runs against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook suffered a dislocated shoulder during Sunday's 34-26 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Head coach Mike Zimmer told reporters after the loss the running back will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury.
Cook was carted off the field after suffering the injury late in the third quarter:
Vikings teammates went over to show their support to RB Dalvin Cook before he was carted off the field with an injury. pic.twitter.com/xBHnAbreUn
Cook was immediately ruled out by the team after exiting the game.
Injuries have been a concern throughout Cook's career. He suffered a torn ACL as a rookie in 2017, dealt with a hamstring issue in 2018 and has never played more than 14 games in a season.
When healthy, the 26-year-old is one of the best running backs in the league.
The two-time Pro Bowler ran for 1,557 yards and 16 touchdowns while adding 361 yards and another score through the air during the 2020 campaign. He also ran for 1,135 yards with a career-best 519 receiving yards in 2019.
Cook has followed with 872 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns through eight games in 2021.
While Minnesota doesn't have anyone else in the backfield who can replicate the Florida State product's impact, look for Alexander Mattison to see more playing time if Cook is sidelined.
Everson Griffen Placed on Reserve/Non-Football Illness List After Incident at Home
Nov 26, 2021
Minnesota Vikings's Everson Griffen looks on prior to an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
The Minnesota Vikings announced defensive end Everson Griffen was placed on the NFL's
reserve/non-football illness list Friday.
Griffen called police in the early
morning hours Wednesday saying someone was inside his home. He also
made posts on social media that raised questions about his
well-being.
He remained in his house for several
hours before the Minnetrista Public Safety Department confirmed he
came outside "without incident and is now getting the care that
he needs."
Vikings general manager Rick Spielman
thanked local police and mental-health professionals for their help. He also noted the
team has contingent plans in place to handle any mental-health
concerns that may arise.
"All I know is that when we got
the call this morning, that we immediately—our No. 1 concern was
because of Everson, Tiffany and his family, how much we love them,"
Spielman said Wednesday. "And how much they are a part of this
family."
Griffen was taken to a mental health
facility after coming out of his home, per Ben Goessling of the Star
Tribune. He received four weeks of
treatment for his mental health in 2018.
The Vikings view the defensive end's
absence as "indefinite," according to Andrew Krammer
of the Star Tribune.
Griffen was a fourth-round pick of
Minnesota in the 2010 draft. He spent the first 10 years of his
career with the Vikes before splitting the 2020 campaign between the
Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions.
The 33-year-old four-time Pro Bowl
selection returned to the Vikings as a free agent in August. He's
made nine appearances for the team during the 2021 season.
Minnesota's next game is scheduled for
Sunday, when it visits the San Francisco 49ers. Griffen was ruled out
of that contest.
Vikings' Everson Griffen Leaves Home, Is Getting Care After Troubling Instagram Posts
Nov 24, 2021
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 14: Everson Griffen #97 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on November 14, 2021 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen has left his home and is receiving care following a series
of posts on social media that raised concerns about his well-being and required intervention from the team and law enforcement.
Griffen posted a video of himself holding a gun and saying someone was trying to kill
him at his house. He also made an Instagram story saying he was in danger and
showed text messages he sent to his agent, Brian Murphy, raising the
same concerns.
Minnetrista police also issued a statement saying Griffen has refused to come out of his home and that they were working to resolve the situation.
Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer responded to a question Wednesday about the defender's availability for Sunday's game against the San
Francisco 49ers by saying, "That's not our concern [right now]."
"He's been with us for a long
time. Works hard," Zimmer told reporters.
Griffen, 33, spent the first 10 years
of his NFL career with Minnesota after being selected in the fourth
round of the 2010 draft. He split the 2020 season between the Dallas
Cowboys and Detroit Lions before rejoining the Vikings in August as a
free agent.
The Arizona native has played in nine
of the Vikes' 10 games this season. He played 73
percent of the defensive snaps in Sunday's win over the Green
Bay Packers.
He's a four-time Pro Bowl selection who
was voted second-team All-Pro in 2017.
Vikings' Justin Jefferson: 'Definitely Trying to Follow' Randy Moss, Get Gold Jacket
Nov 22, 2021
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) runs up field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Justin Jefferson looked like Randy Moss while torching the Green Bay Packers secondary to the tune of eight catches for 169 yards and two touchdowns during the Minnesota Vikings' 34-31 victory on Sunday.
It's only fitting, then, that he wore a T-shirt of the Vikings great before the game and said he is trying to emulate Moss after the win.
"I admire him so much," Jefferson said, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "Classified as one of the best if not the best receiver in history. Definitely trying to follow behind him. Definitely want that gold jacket."
Jefferson has done quite the job following in Moss' footsteps considering Sunday marked his 11th career game with at least 100 receiving yards.
Florio noted that ties Moss and JuJu Smith-Schuster for the second-best total in a player's first two seasons in the Super Bowl era. Only Odell Beckham Jr. had more with 15, and Jefferson still has seven more games to catch the former New York Giants star.
It was more of the same for Jefferson after he finished last Sunday's win over the Los Angeles Chargers with nine catches for 143 yards.
The LSU product has 63 catches for 944 yards and six touchdowns on the season and appears to be well on his way to his second Pro Bowl in as many years. He wasn't the only game-changing wide receiver to haul in a touchdown during the win over the Packers, as Adam Thielen finished with eight catches for 82 yards and a score.
It was a critical win for the Vikings beyond the rivalry with Green Bay.
They are now 5-5 and two games behind the 8-3 Packers in the loss column in the NFC North race. What's more, they moved into sixth place in the NFC playoff picture and are in position to make the postseason after missing out last season.
As long as Jefferson continues to play like he has of late, the Vikings figure to be a factor the rest of the season.
Packers' Aaron Rodgers Reaggravated Toe Injury vs. Vikings: 'Another Painful Week'
Nov 21, 2021
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Aaron Rodgers suffered more than just a loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon.
The Green Bay Packers quarterback told reporters after the game that he reaggravated his toe injury during the first half of Sunday's 34-31 loss to the Vikings when his toe was stepped on in the first half.
“It’s going to be another painful week next week, and then hopefully feel better over the bye," Rogers said.
Rodgers added that his injury is “a little worse that turf toe," per ProFootballTalk's Josh Alper. However, he certainly didn't seem limited in the second half of Sunday's game, completing 10-of-11 passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns.
In total, Rogers completed 23-of-33 passes for 385 yards and four touchdowns against Minnesota. He also had two carries for 21 yards.
Rodgers was injured at some point during his COVID-19 quarantine, but returned to the Packers' lineup last week against the Seattle Seahawks. He threw for 292 yards and ran for eight yards in a 17-0 victory over the Seahawks.
The Packers are hopeful Rodgers' injury will improve during the team's Week 13 bye, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero previously reported. However, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport added that the veteran will most likely have to deal with the injury through the remainder of the season.
The reigning NFL MVP has only missed one game this season after testing positive for COVID-19. 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love threw for 190 yards, one touchdown and an interception in a 13-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 7.
When Rodgers is healthy, the Packers are Super Bowl contenders. The 37-year-old entered Sunday's game with an 8-1 record, completing 66.4 percent of his passes for 2,186 yards and 17 touchdowns against just four interceptions.
However, it's become quite clear that Rodgers, and several other Green Bay players, need the rest entering the final stretch of the season. The Packers are set to return home for a Week 12 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams before hitting their bye week.
Aaron Rodgers, Packers Upset by Kirk Cousins, Vikings on Last-Second FG
Nov 21, 2021
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 21: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings reacts after a touchdown in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 21, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Vikings had made a habit this season of creatively losing games. On Sunday, they managed to hold on and steal a close win instead.
In a crucial NFC North matchup, the Vikings beat the Packers 34-31, with Greg Joseph hitting a game-winning field goal as time expired.
It didn't come easy. The Vikings appeared to be in the driver's seat late in the fourth quarter, when Kirk Cousins connected with Justin Jefferson on a 23-yard touchdown pass with just 2:17 remaining.
The Vikings still had the opportunity to move into field-goal position and were bailed out when a Cousins interception was overruled on replay and deemed an incomplete pass. A 26-yard pass to Adam Thielen and a 12-yard run from Dalvin Cook later, and Joseph lined up to hit the clinching kick.
This wasn't just a nice rivalry win for the 5-5 Vikings. It also pulled them to within 2.5 games in the NFC North behind the 8-3 Packers. It was key for the Vikings in the wild-card race, keeping them in the running in what has become a jumbled group of teams in the loaded NFC.
The Vikings are now 4-5 in games decided by eight points or less. They'll need to keep winning matchups like this if they're going to sneak into the playoffs.
Key Stats
Kirk Cousins, MIN: 24-of-35 for 341 yards and three touchdowns
Justin Jefferson, MIN: Eight catches for 169 yards and two scores
Dalvin Cook, MIN: 22 carries for 86 yards and a touchdown; three receptions for 29 yards
Aaron Rodgers, GB: 23-of-33 for 385 yards and four scores
Davante Adams, GB: Seven catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns
AJ Dillon, GB: 11 carries for 53 yards; six catches for 44 yards
Justin Jefferson Is A Cheat Code
It's easy to forget that Justin Jefferson is only in his second season. He just has a savvy veteran's knack for making big plays for the Minnesota offense.
Look no further than his two touchdowns Sunday:
It's Griddy time in Minnesota.@Vikings lead 23-10. #SKOL
The dude is special. The Vikings found themselves a superstar.
Davante Adams Isn't A Popular Guy In Minnesota
Throughout his career, Adams has terrorized the Vikings. In fact, no other receiver in NFL history has torched the Vikings quite like Adams, who set a record with his first touchdown reception Sunday:
Adams remains one of the top wideouts in football and Rodgers' favorite target. In Minnesota, however, he's persona non grata. And for good reason.
What's Next?
The Packers face one of their tougher tests of the season when they host the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox. The Vikings will travel to San Francisco when they play that same date and time, also on Fox.
Packers' Davante Adams Says Vikings' Justin Jefferson Reminds Him of 6-Year NFL Vet
Nov 18, 2021
Seattle Seahawks' Quandre Diggs stops Green Bay Packers' Davante Adams after a catch during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
It took Davante Adams three seasons to turn into Aaron Rodgers' favorite target. Justin Jefferson did the same for Kirk Cousins less than two years into his career, and Adams says he sees a star when watching the Viking receiver work.
"I see a six-year vet when I watch him play," Adams told reporters of Jefferson. "He reminds me of, I don't even know how to...I haven't seen anybody come in in a while and play like the way that he's playing right now. He really strikes me as somebody that has it figured out, whatever that means. 'Cause I wasn't playing that fast in my first and second year.
"Last year, he already looked like he'd been playing for four years at that point, so he's kind of aging like a dog right now, and I mean in its purest form because he's a dog out there and I respect what he's doing and it's really fun to watch. I truly hope that it doesn't look like what's it's been looking like the last couple weeks against us, but it's definitely fun to watch."
Jefferson made the Pro Bowl and set an NFL rookie receiving record with 1,400 yards in 2020 and picked up right where he left off this season. He's hauled in 55 passes for 775 yards and four touchdowns over the Vikings' first nine games.
Adams didn't top the 1,000-yard mark until his fifth NFL season and is still yet to reach 1,400 yards through the air. While most would still rank Adams as the better overall receiver, the margin isn't much, and Jefferson appears destined to be among the game's best for the next decade.
Dalvin Cook on Lawsuit Alleging Domestic Violence: 'I'm the Victim in This Situation'
Nov 10, 2021
Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook runs with the ball against the Baltimore Ravens during overtime of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Baltimore. The Ravens won 34-31 in overtime. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook maintained his innocence during a Wednesday press conference amid a lawsuit filed by an ex-girlfriend that says he abused her during an argument.
"I just want everybody to know I'm the victim in this situation and the truth and the details about the situation will come out at a further time," Cook told reporters.
A civil lawsuit filed Tuesday alleges Cook physically assaulted the woman, who identified herself as US Army Sgt. Gracelyn Trimble, at the running back's home in November 2020. Trimble alleges she attempted to break up with Cook and went to his home to gather her belongings when he "grabbed her arm, and slung her whole body over the couch, slamming her face into the coffee table and causing her lower forehead and the bridge of her nose to bust open," per Rochelle Olson and Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune.
The suit alleges Cook later beat Trimble with a broomstick and threatened her.
Cook's lawyer released a statement alleging that Trimble's account of the altercation is a fabrication. David Valentini says Trimble broke into Cook's home and assaulted him, along with two people who were at the home at the time, and has since been attempting to extort him, per Olson and Goessling.
"While Mr. Cook and Sgt. Trimble had a short term relationship over several months, she became emotionally abusive, physically aggressive and confrontational, and repeatedly attempted to provoke Mr. Cook," Valentini said.
Cook and Trimble continued to see one another until May of this year. Neither party contacted the police, per Cronin.
"I try to walk that straight line, but bumps and bruises come through life and it's how you handle it," Cook told reporters. "I've been through a lot of tough things in my life, and I've got my head up high knowing that the truth will come out. I hate being a distraction to the team, but I know those guys got my back 1,000 percent. Just going to take this thing day by day, and I know my team's here for me and I'm there for them day by day."
The NFL is conducting its own investigation under the league's personal conduct policy. Cook will be allowed to continue playing and will not be placed on the Commissioner's Exempt list because no criminal charges were filed.
