Player

Dalvin Cook

RB (retired)

Per-game efficiency strips away game-count bias and reveals that Cook's 2020 was arguably more dominant than Henry's headline season — he was just as explosive with far fewer carries. That context reframes how we should evaluate his peak.

FanIQ Research · May 10, 2026 · 6 facts, every one from the play-by-play

In 2020, Cook's 137.0 scrimmage yards per game led the NFL — more per game than Derrick Henry's historic 2,000-yard season.

Rare

2020 scrimmage YPG leaders (min 10 games)

Player	Rush Yds	Rec Yds	Games	YPG
Dalvin Cook	1,557	361	14	137.0
Derrick Henry	2,027	114	16	133.8
Alvin Kamara	932	756	15	112.5
Aaron Jones	1,104	355	14	104.2
Nick Chubb	1,067	150	12	101.4

Why it matters. Per-game efficiency strips away game-count bias and reveals that Cook's 2020 was arguably more dominant than Henry's headline season — he was just as explosive with far fewer carries. That context reframes how we should evaluate his peak.

In 2020, Cook scored 16 rush TDs in just 14 games — a 1.14 rush-TD-per-game pace that ranks among the best 14-game stretches since 2010.

Anomaly

Cook's 2020 game-by-game rushing TDs

Week	Rush Yds	Rush TDs
1	50	2
3	181	1
4	130	2
8	163	3
9	206	2
11	115	1
14	102	1
15	132	1
16	73	1

Why it matters. TD rate in high-workload seasons separates goal-line specialists from genuine weapons. Cook's ability to score at 1.14 TDs per game while also posting 137 scrimmage YPG means he was both an efficiency leader and red-zone finisher — a rare dual threat in that 2020 season.

After his MIN release in 2023, Cook produced just 234 rushing yards across 16 regular-season games with 3 teams — a YPC collapse from 4.67 to 3.09.

Anomaly

Cook regular-season rushing: MIN vs post-MIN

Era	Team(s)	Games	Carries	Rush Yds	YPC
MIN prime (2019-22)	MIN	58	1,075	5,024	4.67
Post-MIN (2023-24)	NYJ/BAL/DAL	16	75	234	3.09

Why it matters. Cook's entire identity as a home-run RB was built around MIN's zone-blocking scheme and his specific chemistry with that offense — his post-MIN collapse shows how scheme-dependent elite RB production can be, even for a 4x Pro Bowler.

96.2% of Cook's regular-season rushing yards came in Minnesota — 5,993 of 6,227 total.

Split

Career regular-season rushing yards by team

Team	Seasons	Carries	Rush Yds	YPC
MIN	2017-2022	1,282	5,993	4.67
NYJ	2023	67	214	3.19
BAL	2023	8	23	2.88
DAL	2024	8	20	2.50

Why it matters. The 96.2% concentration figure quantifies how completely Cook's value was tied to Minnesota's system and roster — teams that signed him post-2022 effectively paid for a reputation, not a production guarantee.

Cook's 137 scrimmage YPG in 2020 is top-10 all-time since 2010 — ahead of McCaffrey's 2019, Murray's 2014, and Gurley's 2017.

Top scrimmage YPG seasons since 2010 (min 12 games)

Player	Year	Games	Scrimmage Yds	YPG
Le'Veon Bell	2016	12	1,884	157.0
Christian McCaffrey	2019	16	2,392	149.5
Adrian Peterson	2012	16	2,314	144.6
DeMarco Murray	2014	16	2,261	141.3
Todd Gurley	2017	15	2,093	139.5
Dalvin Cook	2020	14	1,918	137.0
Derrick Henry	2020	16	2,141	133.8

Why it matters. Placing Cook's peak in the context of the all-time per-game list reveals he belongs in the elite tier of RB single-season performances, not just 'great Vikings player' — a crucial distinction for evaluating his legacy.

Cook is MIN's #2 all-time rusher with 5,993 regular-season yards — ahead of Robert Smith, Chester Taylor, and Chuck Foreman, all by a wide margin.

Comparison

MIN all-time rushing leaders (regular season, DB)

Player	Rush Yds	Carries	YPC
Adrian Peterson	11,750	2,420	4.86
Dalvin Cook	5,993	1,282	4.67
Michael Bennett	3,174	713	4.45
Chester Taylor	2,789	655	4.26
Robert Smith	2,536	516	4.91

Why it matters. Cook's place on the MIN franchise leaderboard is often undersold because AP's 11,750 yards towers over everyone — but the gap between Cook and the 3rd-place player is nearly as large as the gap between Cook and Peterson, underlining how dominant the duo were compared to all other MIN backs.

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