It’s 2024, yet we must focus on Dalvin Cook returning to the NFL and, thus, the waiver wire. The Dallas Cowboys didn’t believe their running back room was solidified, so they entered the free agent pool and decided that Cook was their answer.
At age 29, Cook is clearly on the decline, and we have to question how much he can bring to his new team and our fantasy rosters. Currently, Cook sits at 25% rostership on Sleeper, which means we can bolster our roster if we deem him a strong candidate.
Let’s break down what Cook brings to the fantasy landscape in 2024.
Should Dalvin Cook Be Added on the Fantasy Waiver Wire in Week 1
Cook left Minnesota to join the New York Jets last season. He entered the season with a shoulder injury that he was rehabbing, but he never truly returned to his younger form on the football field. Cook only rushed the ball 67 times for 214 rushing yards. TruMedia recorded his longest run as 14 yards (161st best), while he only produced 3.2 yards per rush last season. He only helped the offense progress on their drives with ten total first-down rushes, the 94th-best in the NFL.
With an offense that struggled under Zach Wilson and had limited passing options, Cook wasn’t called upon within their scheme. The lack of usage makes us believe that Cook’s time as a fantasy asset has passed him by in this career stage.
He has entered Dallas, where we have Rico Dowdle, Duece Vaughn, and another aging running back in, Ezekiel Elliot. The Cowboys have a great offense, but we have to understand that his hierarchy in the running back room is questionable, and his hierarchy within the Cowboys’ offense is laughable at best.
The Dallas Cowboys were a pass-first team. In 2023, they ran the ball at the 14th-highest clip and produced the 14th-most rushing yards as a team, with 1920 rushing yards. As a team, the Cowboys averaged only 4.10 yards per carry, and this year, with a weaker offensive line, we expect the number to continue the downward trend that makes fantasy football fans cringe.
This backfield feels like the organization wants the younger running back Rico Dowdle to win this starting role within this potent offense. They do not face an easy matchup against the Cleveland Browns in Week 1. The Browns’ defense allowed the 11th fewest rushing yards in the 2023 season.
Now, the Browns defense does allow for explosive runs. They gave up 9.0 % of rushing attempts that resulted in 15+ yards, the most in the league. They also led the league in 20+ rushes allowed. Although that stat gives us some hope, the Browns defense is a lockdown unit for the majority of the game against the position.
They even stop running backs (and the entire team) in the passing game. The Browns allowed the fewest receptions to other teams last season, with 307 total. This matchup is a tough Week 1 battle for the Cowboys, and with Cook missing most of camp, he will be more of a depth piece than a starter. We can find a more substantial option to help us in Week 1 and beyond.