CBS Sports Names Top Vikings Player Heading into 2021
Dustin Baker
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Authored by Pete Prisco, CBS Sports released its Top 100 NFL Players for 2021 rankings, an annual occurrence for the sports-reporting outfit.
Take note that this is not the “NFL Top 100” that is formulated by NFL players — that edition will be released by NFL Network later this summer.
For the Vikings, Dalvin Cook was the cream of the crop, ranking 19th overall on the Top 100. Cook seeded one spot ahead of Chicago Bears EDGE rusher Khalil Mack and one notch below Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman, Zack Martin.
Prisco briefly summarized the Vikings tailback, “He finished second in the league in rushing with 1,557 yards and also rushed for 16 touchdowns. His yards-per-rush average of 5.0 shows how impressive he is as a big-play runner.”
The other Vikings players filling out the list included Justin Jefferson (#45), Danielle Hunter (#75), Harrison Smith (#77), Kirk Cousins (#93), and Adam Thielen (#97).
Inexplicably, linebacker Eric Kendricks failed to make the cut, instead landing in the “Honorable Mention” category. Per Pro Football Focus, Kendricks was the third-best LB in all of land during 2020, so a total snubbing by Prisco is baffling.
As for Cook, the Florida State alumnus gashed opposing teams for 17 touchdowns inside the pandemic season. He was also the driving force that led Minnesota back from a stinky 1-5 record that daggered the team early in the season. The Vikings traveled back to a .500 standing before collapsing in games versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, and Chicago Bears. Had the Vikings won just one of those contests, Mike Zimmer’s team would have visited New Orleans — again — for a first-round playoff matchup. In Minnesota’s place, the Bears ventured down to The Bayou. They were slaughtered by the Saints in the wildcard round. It was the Nickelodeon game.
The only running back ahead of Cook on this Top 100 listing was Derrick Henry. The Titans bellcow halfback checked in just outside the Top 10 at #11. It makes sense — over the last two seasons, Henry is superior to Cook in nearly every major rushing metric aside for anything to do with receiving the football.
Cook and the Vikings will embark to Cincinnati for a date with the Bengals in Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season in about three months.