Former Viking Apparently Demoted in New York
Dustin Baker
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Fantasy football managers — rejoice.
The New York Jets are finished limiting the offensive snaps of their RB1, meaning a smaller workload for the RB2 is afoot.
Former Viking Apparently Demoted in New York
That scenario directly affected Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook, a twosome forecasted for formidable dealings one month ago. Yet, after four games, Hall is poised to take a truer RB1 load, with Cook, a former Minnesota Viking, as the odd man out.
“From an opportunity standpoint, there is no pitch count with him anymore,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh said Wednesday about Hall’s role in the offense.
Through Week 4, Hall had tabulated 32 carries for 210 rushing yards, whereas Cook fetched 30 carries for 74 yards, a vast variance. Hall tore his ACL in 2022, and New York was evidently steadfast about gradually easing him back into the gameplan. Now, Saleh’s Jets are ready to rip off the Band-Aid.
Hall was asked after a 30-10 flogging by the Cowboys in Week 2 why his team lost, and he replied, “I mean, I only had four touches.”
Thereafter, Hall notched 18 rushing attempts in Weeks 3 and 4, still a measly allotment for a talented and young RB1. Somewhere behind the seasons, New York’s coaching staff decided that more of Hall and less of Cook was desirable.
“That’s why we struggled. But it is what it is. We just got down early today and kind of just abandoned the run. I feel like with any team that type of stuff happens, that’s how it is. You feel like you’ve got to get back in the game and stuff like that. It just slips away. So that’s what it was,” Hall added in September.
Cook departed the Vikings in June as the franchise’s third-leading rusher in franchise history (5,993 yards) behind Adrian Peterson (11,747) and Robert Smith (6,818). His 47 rushing touchdowns rank fourth behind Peterson (97), Chuck Foreman (52), and Bill Brown (52). And his rushing yards per game (82.1) are second, only trailing Peterson (95.5).
He reportedly had a robust free-agent market during the summer, especially from the Miami Dolphins, a team linked to Cook for about five months before his Jets agreement, but 2023 has not played out favorably for the 28-year-old. The Vikings cut Cook loose last offseason because of a mammoth $14.1 million cap hit, a decision that looks unbelievably wise four weeks into 2023.
Of course, Cook can still play a role in the Jets offense, but a signal to more Hall carries probably insinuates a 75%-25% (or so) split rather than 50%-50% to date.
The Jets offense ranks sixth-worst in the league per DVOA entering Week 5, which is what one might expect from an Aaron Rodgers-less group.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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