{"id":47448,"date":"2018-08-18T07:00:05","date_gmt":"2018-08-18T11:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=47448"},"modified":"2018-08-18T07:00:05","modified_gmt":"2018-08-18T11:00:05","slug":"dalvin-cook-and-latavius-murray-as-a-quality-duo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2018\/08\/18\/dalvin-cook-and-latavius-murray-as-a-quality-duo\/","title":{"rendered":"Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray as a Quality Duo"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/nfl-teams\/vikings\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Minnesota Vikings<\/a> have one of the most interesting backfields in the entire National Football League. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/C\/CookDa01.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dalvin Cook<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/M\/MurrLa00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Latavius Murray<\/a> have the potential to be the best running back duo in the league if they stay healthy.<\/p>\n<h2>Cook\u2019s Impact<\/h2>\n<p>Despite coming off a torn ACL, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/C\/CookDa01.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dalvin Cook<\/a> is expected to be the primary running back this season. Before going down in week four last season, Cook led the league with 353 rushing yards. He was on pace to win Offensive Rookie of the Year before a bad cut ended his campaign. 2018 provides Cook with a chance to bounce back and regain his form.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">&quot;My knee is ready to go, I&#39;m ready to play, and that&#39;s behind me.&quot; &#8211;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/dalvincook?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@dalvincook<\/a> on recovering from last year&#39;s injury<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/VikingsCamp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#VikingsCamp<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Vikings\/status\/1030127571583655936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 16, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The second-year back has yet to play in the preseason, but he is determined to play in the regular season opener. Reports from camp are that Cook looks explosive and is cutting as if he was never injured. He will be an important playmaker in Minnesota\u2019s offense in 2018. However, he understands that it is a team effort and he wants <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/M\/MurrLa00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Latavius Murray<\/a> to help carry the load. When asked about the situation, Cook said \u201cI\u2019m not joking. We are a one-two combo and we want to be the very best duo we can be.\u201d While Cook will be the feature back and the focal point of the run game, Latavius Murray will get plenty of touches.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Vikings?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#Vikings<\/a> RB Dalvin Cook said to me when came on field for practice this week, &quot;1-2.&#39;&#39; Said he &amp; Latavius Murray trying to be the best running back combo in the league. &quot;I don&#39;t want to say it yet (that they&#39;re the best) But that&#39;s our goal. We&#39;re trying to be the best we can be&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/christomasson\/status\/1030128453322985473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 16, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Dalvin Cook is arguably already one of the best in the league at making defenders miss. He is elusive in space and can cut quickly to turn upfield. There were moments last season where he looked unstoppable, and that will continue in 2018 with an even more explosive offense around him.<\/p>\n<h2>Murray\u2019s Role<\/h2>\n<p>Latavius Murray is the perfect complement to Dalvin Cook. Cook is a smaller, quicker running back with big-play potential. Murray is a large bruiser who thrives in short yardage situations. Murray is 6\u20193\u201d and 230 pounds but still has enough speed to burst through the line. He is the perfect back to have near the goal line and spell out Cook when he needs a breather. Murray has vowed to compete with Cook for the starting job, but his role in the backfield is well-understood. When Cook was absent last season, Murray filled that same role with <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/M\/McKiJe00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jerick McKinnon<\/a><\/strong> taking more of Cook\u2019s spot. Cook will be the feature back, but Murray will have an important role in the offense. Offensive coordinator <strong>John DeFilippo<\/strong> values multiple running backs in his offense.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Latavius Murray breaks through the middle and scores his 1st TD of 2017. \ud83d\udca8<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fdONDbwWDk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/fdONDbwWDk<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; LeadingNFL (@LeadingNFL) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LeadingNFL\/status\/922179867398905856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 22, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Murray will occasionally bust a long run and show his top-end speed.<\/p>\n<h2>DeFelippo\u2019s Gameplan<\/h2>\n<p>Although DeFilippo was not the play-caller in Philadelphia, their offense used a ton of running backs. In 2017, the Philadelphia Eagles had six different running backs with at least one rushing attempt. The running backs also combined for 53 total receptions in that offense with Defilippo as the quarterbacks&#8217; coach. As the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns in 2015, Defilippo incorporated multiple running backs again. Only two guys shared the bulk of the carries, but they were split evenly in the offense. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/C\/CrowIs00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Isaiah Crowell<\/a> <\/strong>received 204 total touches, while <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/J\/JohnDu00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Duke Johnson<\/a><\/strong> had 165 touches. The two combined for 1, 853 total yards and seven touchdowns. That bodes very well for the duo of Cook and Murray for the 2018 season.<\/p>\n<p>The Eagles used <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/C\/ClemCo00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Corey Clement<\/a> <\/strong>out of the backfield numerous times in the Super Bowl. DeFilippo loves implementing running backs in the offense, as seen below.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/NoPhlyZone5\/status\/1022507189855023104<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Nick Foles throws a DIME to Corey Clement for a TD.<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VwRTHnZ5YV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/VwRTHnZ5YV<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; LeadingNFL (@LeadingNFL) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LeadingNFL\/status\/960332932148678656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">February 5, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/C\/CousKi00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kirk Cousins<\/a><\/strong> is also new to the offense, so it is important to note how he uses running backs in the passing game. Last season, Cousins completed 85 passes for 874 yards to his running backs. He spreads the wealth and there will be plenty of opportunities for everyone in the offense. For Minnesota, Latavius Murray caught 15 passes and Cook caught 11 in his limited action. The Vikings already have a banged-up offensive line, and the pressure will force Cousins to throw quickly. That being the case, Cook and Murray will have to be ready out of the backfield to catch the ball and make a play.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">With Kirk Cousins under center.. Chris Thompson and Samaje Perine accounted for 60+ receptions, 700+YDs, 10+YPC, 5TDs in 2017&#8230; <\/p>\n<p>*Enter Dalvin Cook Stage Left* <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/QGQcHWExN7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/QGQcHWExN7<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Luke Inman (@Luke_Spinman) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Luke_Spinman\/status\/973827674543095808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">March 14, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Fantasy Implications<\/h2>\n<p>Dalvin Cook is currently listed as one of the top running backs in fantasy football. He is expected to go in the early second round of drafts, despite the injury. His average draft position in NFL leagues is 16.67, placing him as the tenth highest running back.<\/p>\n<p>Latavius Murray is the 50<sup>th<\/sup> running back with an average draft position of 146.83. Murray will be picked up late in drafts or even on the waiver wire, but his value is much higher than he is given credit. In the second half of 2017, Murray was one of the best fantasy running backs in the league. In his final eight games, he ran for 593 yards and seven touchdowns. If he played at that pace for an entire season, he would have finished second in the league in rushing and led the league in rushing touchdowns. Obviously, he will not have those numbers in a shared backfield, but he proved he brings value.<\/p>\n<p>This season, the Vikings will play the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/nfl-teams\/rams\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Los Angeles Rams<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/nfl-teams\/bears\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chicago Bears<\/a> (twice), and <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/nfl-teams\/49ers\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">San Francisco 49ers<\/a>. Murray had some of his best performances last season against the Rams and Bears, including two of his three best games in terms of rushing yards. He ran for 95 yards and two scores against the Rams in week 11. In week 17, he finished with 111 yards and two more touchdowns. The 49ers matchup bodes well for Minnesota as San Francisco will be without <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/F\/FostRe00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Reuben Foster<\/a>. Foster is suspended for the first two games of the season, and their rush defense is already middle of the pack. The Vikings have a favorable schedule for the backfield to succeed.<\/p>\n<h2>Important Numbers from 2017<\/h2>\n<p>Jerick McKinnon, who left Minnesota for\u00a0the 49ers, was also a great fantasy running back. He ran for 570 yards but caught 51 passes for 421 yards for the Vikings last season. He finished the season as the 14<sup>th<\/sup> ranked running back in fantasy with 209.3 points in a PPR format. 105.1 of those points came as a result of the passing game, which accounted for 50.2 percent of his total share.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=ThomCh03,ThomCh24,ThomCh05&amp;search=Chris+Thompson&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chris Thompson<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/P\/PeriSa00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Samaje Perine<\/a> both finished in the top 50 fantasy running backs, thanks to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/C\/CousKi00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kirk Cousins<\/a>. Both players scored a large chunk of their points in the passing game. Perine scored 48.2 of his 113.3 points (42.5 percent) in the passing game. Thompson tallied 114 of his 167.9 points (67.9 percent) as a receiver. In total, running backs accounted for 419 of <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/nfl-teams\/redskins\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Washington\u2019s<\/a> 748 touches, or 56 percent, last season.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/MySportsUpdate\/status\/912115163515555840<\/p>\n<p>That goes to show how Kirk Cousins raises the fantasy value of his running backs, and the same will be true for Cook and Murray in 2018. In Minnesota, running backs received 531 of the team\u2019s 858 total touches, good for 61.9 percent.<\/p>\n<p>All trends point towards Cook and Murray both having great value in fantasy in 2018. Dalvin Cook will live up to the hype and be the team\u2019s main weapon, but Murray will be right behind him. Cook is likely going to dominate the middle of the field, between the 20-yard lines. Murray will be more of a threat in the red zone to power the ball in for the score when needed.<\/p>\n<p>Main photo:<br \/>\n<a id=\"JWl8mtwJQMFeGycXEGIZ6Q\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/856333530\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'JWl8mtwJQMFeGycXEGIZ6Q',sig:'itDYcx1C2AbIwxQWzJIcARCBI4DqeTlZe00Vqm-qGwI=',w:'594px',h:'426px',items:'856333530',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray are set to be one of the best running back duos in the NFL. Cook is the feature back, but Murray still adds value.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2720,"featured_media":47488,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[54,2,26],"tags":[2342,1586,61,403,118,40,1913],"class_list":["post-47448","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorials","category-featured","category-vikings","tag-chris-thompson","tag-dalvin-cook","tag-football","tag-kirk-cousins","tag-latavius-murray","tag-nfl","tag-samaje-perine"],"modified_by":"David Latham, Managing Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47448","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2720"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47448"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47448\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47488"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47448"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47448"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47448"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}