2017 NFL Power Rankings Week 2: Rams make major jump after crushing Colts

18. Minnesota Vikings (16) (Play Monday Night)

Watching the Minnesota Vikings play for the first time during the 2017 season without Adrian Peterson will take some time for fans to get used to, but at least the team has an exciting new duo to work with at running back thanks to Latavius Murray and Dalvin Cook. While Murray joined the Vikings after spending the early part of his career with the Oakland Raiders, the Vikings took advantage of the former Florida State star Cook still being available when they were on the clock in the second round of this year’s NFL Draft.

Only time will tell when it comes to how this new duo will play out for Minnesota, but based off the potential on display in the preseason despite a few other areas of struggle on offense, the combination of Murray and Cook seems like it’s going to payoff. Numerous teams avoided Cook in this year’s draft due to a few areas of concern, but the rookie seems determined to prove all of those doubters wrong now that he has an opportunity to make an immediate impact with the Vikings since he can be just as effective of a receiver.

But as much hype as there is surrounding the backfield, the one player facing a ton of pressure entering the new season is Sam Bradford at quarterback after Minnesota sacrificed a first-round pick in this year’s draft to land the veteran from the Philadelphia Eagles last year. Between the Vikings missing out on the playoffs last year despite a 5-0 start along with Bradford entering the final year of his contract, there’s a lot at stake for the former No. 1 pick.