Fantasy Football 2018: Early NFC North running back rankings

1. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings

Dalvin Cook’s rookie season was cut short due to injury, but in four games he showed why he has superstar potential. In that time, he rushed for 354 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 90 yards receiving. If he had stayed healthy and continued at that pace, Cook would have finished the season with 1,416 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, along with 360 receiving yards.

Had he played the entire season, Cook could have made himself a top-5 draft pick in fantasy leagues for 2018. Instead, he’ll likely drop to the bottom of the first. His current ADP makes him the ninth-ranked running back, and 12th overall, according to Fantasy Football Calculator. Depending on the size of your league, he could even drop to the second round.

Sure, Cook is coming off a significant injury. That will be a concern to some people. But he got hurt early in the season. By the time the regular season begins, he will have had almost an entire year to get healthy.

Next: Top 30 moments in Green Bay Packers history

This year it might actually be more beneficial to land a lower draft pick. There are a number of big names at running back, from Le’Veon Bell to Kareem Hunt, Alvin Kamara and a returning David Johnson.

Don’t count out Cook. In what should be a high-powered Vikings offense, he could become of the the elite fantasy running backs in 2018.