Dalvin Cook left Sunday's game after injuring his left shoulder. It's the same shoulder he hurt in Week 13 against Seattle that held him out of about half of that game, and again, he missed the remainder of last Sunday's game after going down in pain. Cook played the next week after originally aggravating the injury in Week 13, but heading into Week 16 Cook's status will be in doubt with fantasy championships on the line, creating potential sleepers and waiver wire opportunities with Vikings handcuffs Mike Boone and Alexander Mattison.
For injury updates on banged-up RBs Jordan Howard, Kerryon Johnson, and Damien Williams, click here; for news on ailing WRs DJ Chark, Mike Evans, and JuJu Smith-Schuster, go here; for more on injured TEs Evan Engram, Greg Olsen, and Gerald Everett, go here; for updates on Chris Godwin, go here. For more fantasy news, follow us on Twitter @SN_Fantasy.
WEEK 16 NON-PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Dalvin Cook injury update
The Vikings are obviously in the thick of things playoff-wise, so they'll want to play Cook if he's available. But if there's risk of him hurting his shoulder again, which has now seemingly happened three times over the course of the season (and twice in the span of three weeks). Last time we were told it was just a "pain management thing" for Cook, but the pain seemed to be worse this time around.
MORE WEEK 16:
Waiver pickups | FAAB planning | Stock watch | Snap counts | Fantasy playoff tips
(Update: Mike Zimmer told reporters that Cook's shoulder "feels good today" and answered that he could play through the injury.)
WEEK 16 PPR RANKINGS: Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end
Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer told reporters after Sunday's game that Cook didn't sustain the same type of injury to his shoulder in Week 15 as he did in Week 13. He didn't let on what Cook's recovery timeline might be.
MORE WEEK 16: Top waiver pickups
Who is the Vikings handcuff RB? Mike Boone, Alexander Mattison worth waiver pickups
Apparently, Cook just has a wonky left shoulder. That brings into play his backups for a Week 16 Monday night matchup with the Packers' shaky run defense. Alexander Mattison (ankle) missed Week 15 - if he makes it back, he'd be the favorite to get carries and would be a fantasy starter. If Mattison and Cook are both out, it will be Mike Boone leading the offense in carries after he toted the ball 13 times for 56 yards and two scores in Week 15. Mattison and/or Boone should be priority waiver adds this week, especially for Cook owners, and whichever Vikings back gets the start against Green Bay is an RB2 for fantasy purposes.