Gets start at running back

Murray will start at running back with Dalvin Cook (hamstring) inactive for Sunday's game against Arizona.

Analysis: Even though Cook has missed two games due to injury and has been limited to 18 snaps in another one, Murray has yet to make a major impact. Murray has totaled just 106 yards on 30 carries (3.5 per attempt) and nine receptions for 60 yards while failing to find the end zone through five weeks. Still, that could change against a struggling Arizona defense that's 31st in rushing yards allowed per game.

Could split work with Cook

Murray could work in a timeshare with Dalvin Cook (hamstring) during Sunday's game against the Cardinals, as Cook is only expected to see the field for around 20-to-25 plays, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Analysis: Adam Schefter of ESPN essentially validated Goessling's report, relaying that Cook would likely only be available for about half the Vikings' offensive snaps, if that. While Cook noted after a limited practice Friday that his injured hamstring is feeling better, he acknowledged he's not quite 100 percent. As a result, the Vikings seem content to pick their spots carefully for Cook this week, paving the way for Murray to maintain a healthy snap count of his own. Even though Cook has missed two…read more

Records 56 scrimmage yards versus Eagles

Murray carried 11 times for 42 yards and caught two passes for 14 additional yards during Sunday's 23-21 win over the Eagles.

Analysis: Murray started in the absence of Dalvin Cook (hamstring) and led the team in touches. He averaged just 3.8 yards per carry on the ground, though, and finished with a lackluster fantasy performance despite chipping in as a receiver. Murray has had opportunities to step up this season as Cook as been in and out of the lineup, but he's averaging just 3.5 yards per carry and has yet to reach the end zone. Even if he starts next Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Murray shouldn't be expected to…read more

Held to 18 yards

Murray rushed for two yards on two carries and added 16 yards on two carries during Thursday's 38-31 loss to the Rams.

Analysis: Last season, Minnesota ran the ball 47.5 percent of this time. Through the first quarter of this season, they've been giving new quarterback Kirk Cousins a workout, running the ball just 26.5 percent of the time. That has given the backs fewer opportunities and they haven't made much of them as neither Murray nor starter Dalvin Cook has 100 yards for the season yet. Murray has some ability as a receiver in the Vikings' pass-heavier approach, but given the fact that Cook is also a catching…read more

Struggles to produce versus Bills

Murray carried twice for one yard and caught five of seven targets for 30 yards during Sunday's 27-6 loss to the Bills.

Analysis: Though Murray got the start in place of Dalvin Cook (hamstring), the Vikings surprisingly trailed all day and abandoned the running game rather early on. He saw his share of targets in the passing game, finishing second on the team in that category, but he finished with a relatively modest receiving output. Murray failed to take advantage of what looked like a favorable matchup on paper, although the game flow didn't exactly allow him to get going as a runner. Cook's injury doesn't seem likely…read more

In line for spot start Sunday

With Dalvin Cook (hamstring) ruled out, Murray will be the Vikings' starting running back Sunday against the Bills.

Analysis: After Cook was lost for the season with a torn ACL in 2017, Cook earned 11 starts, averaging 17.6 touches and 71.4 yards from scrimmage per game while scoring six touchdowns. This time around, Jerick McKinnon isn't present to steal touches, meaning Murray should be a bell cow in Cook's absence.

Finishes overtime period

Murray carried four times for 19 yards during Sunday's 29-29 tie with the Packers.

Analysis: Murray received just two touches during regulation, but he finished the overtime period with a pair of carries to set up a field-goal attempt which Daniel Carlson ultimately missed. His involvement increased after Dalvin Cook left with an apparent hamstring injury, though Cook said after the game he was merely dealing with cramps. With this in mind, Murray should once again serve as Cook's backup Sunday against the Bills, though he could see additional work if the score gets out of hand.

Has 42 yards in season opener

Murray had 11 carries for 42 yards in Sunday's win over the 49ers.

Analysis: Murray led the Vikings in rushing over Dalvin Cook (40 yards), but six of his carries came in the final six minutes of the game when the Vikings were clinging to an eight-point lead. Cook had 57 snaps on offense compared to 14 for Murray. Cook held a 19-to-5 touch advantage over Murray midway through the fourth quarter, showing no signs of any workload restriction in his first regular-season action since tearing an ACL in Week 4 last year. Murray should still get a steady role off the bench,…read more

Scores TD in Friday's game

Murray had 10 carries for 24 yards, including a one-yard touchdown, in Friday's preseason win over Seattle.

Analysis: Murray bounced back after struggling in his previous preseason game with two fumbles. Dalvin Cook got two carries in Friday's game, showing he's set to return from last year's torn ACL. It's not clear if the Vikings will ease Cook back into action and use Murray more at the early points of the season, but Murray could carve out a goal-line role in any scenario.

Struggles in Saturday's preseason game

Murray had six carries for 12 yards and fumbled twice (losing one) in Saturday's preseason loss to Jacksonville.

Analysis: After an explosive performance in the first preseaon game (four carries for 48 yards), Murray struggled Saturday against a better defense. His fumbles likely are not a worry since he's never had a history of turnovers. His playing time early in the season will likely depend on whether the Vikings want to ease Dalvin Cook back into action after returning from an ACL injury.

Still eyeing starting job

Murray is hoping to push Dalvin Cook (knee) for a starting job, Chris Tomasson of The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. "We're here to compete against each other and that's what I'm going to do,'' Murray said. "I'm going to leave it up to the coaches to make that decision who plays or whatever but we both want to compete and make each other better and help this team win.''

Analysis: It's no surprise Murray doesn't want to hand over the starting job, though he'll probably end up doing just that if Cook looks anything like he did last season. The second-year back was held out of the preseason opener despite participating in contact work at practice the past two weeks, but he's expected to make an in-game appearance at some point before the regular season. Murray took advantage of the opportunity with four carries for 48 yards on the Vikings' opening drive in Saturday's win…read more

Explosive in preseason opener

Murray rushed four times for 48 yards during Saturday's preseason opener against the Broncos.

Analysis: Murray ripped off back-to-back 20-plus yard rushes on the opening drive and was the primary reason the Vikings were able to cruise down the field for a touchdown on the first-string offense's lone drive of the game. While the running back is nonetheless looking at a demotion in the near future when Dalvin Cook (knee) is ready to play, Murray will likely maintain a significant role in the Vikings offense and could still hold fantasy relevance in preseason contests while Cook works his way back…read more

Murray restructured his contract with the Vikings, Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Analysis: Most of the contract restructures at this time of year merely convert base salaries into signing bonuses, pushing the cap hit into future seasons to free up room for the current year. Murray may actually have taken some form of pay cut, as his $5.1 million non-guaranteed base salary for 2018 feels a bit pricey for a guy who averaged 3.9 yards on 216 carries and 6.9 yards on 15 receptions last season. The Vikings do have a need for his services, given that Jerick McKinnon is signing with San…read more

Uncertain to return to Minnesota in 2018

Vikings general manager Rick Spielman suggested Wednesday that Murray isn't guaranteed to return to the team in 2018, Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "We've discussed a lot of things," Spielman said when asked if the Vikings were set with Dalvin Cook (knee) and Murray as the team's primary running backs next season. "We're very excited, Dalvin continues to rehab. We're very excited about the progress he's making and anxious to see what we are with him in the fold along with whatever combination is there."

Analysis: Though Spielman didn't say explicitly that Murray wouldn't be retained, it's clear the Vikings are still weighing whether the 28-year-old is worth bringing back at a cap hit of $6.35 million for 2018, which would make him one of the higher-paid running backs in the league. While Murray gave the Vikings quality production upon stepping in as the primary back once Cook suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Week 4, finishing with a team-high 842 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, it may be…read more

Murray rushed six times for 18 yards while bringing in both of his targets for 11 yards during Sunday's 38-7 loss to the Eagles in the NFC championship game.

Analysis: Murray struggled to find holes in the Eagles' tough run defense and his usage was blunted once the Vikings were forced to abandon the run game. He now finishes the postseason having averaged an inefficient 2.7 yards on 25 carries after averaging 3.9 yards on 216 carries during the regular season. Under contract with Minnesota for another two seasons, Murray is set to return in 2018 as the clear No. 2 runner on the depth chart behind Dalvin Cook (knee), as teammate Jerick McKinnon will be an…read more

Murray rushed 19 times for 50 yards and one touchdown while catching both of his targets for 17 yards during Sunday's 29-24 NFC divisional-round victory over the Saints.

Analysis: Murray surprisingly wasn't able to get much going against a Saints run defense that allowed the fifth-most yards per carry during the regular season. Teammate and fellow tailback Jerick McKinnon, who carried eight times for 34 yards and a score, was much more effective with his touches. Tougher sledding is sure to come in next week's NFC championship game against an Eagles team that's allowed just 3.8 yards this season, but it can't be ignored that Murray has averaged over four red-zone carries…read more

Murray had 20 carries for 111 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's win over Chicago. He also had one reception for three yards.

Analysis: Murray finishes the regular season with eight rushing touchdowns. He has eight in his last ten games after getting a larger workload after the season-ending injury to Dalvin Cook in Week 4. He should be set to get a heavy workload again in Minnesota's playoff game at home after a bye.

Murray notched 21 carries for 69 yards and caught his sole target for six yards during Saturday's 16-0 win in Green Bay.

Analysis: Murray's 22 touches outpaced all of his teammates by a long shot. As evidence, his four first-down runs were exactly half of Jerick McKinnon's entire workload (seven carries, one reception). Murray has now churned out 20-plus rushes in three of the last five games, a span in which he's averaged 76 yards from scrimmage per contest and two touchdowns. Due to the pounding taken during that stretch, he may be given a respite Week 17 if the Vikings lock up the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs by the…read more

Murray rushed 20 times for 76 yards and a touchdown while adding a 28-yard catch on his lone target in Sunday's 34-7 drubbing of the Bengals.

Analysis: Murray got the scoring started with a one-yard plunge in the first quarter and was clearly the go-to rushing option over Jerick McKinnon (nine carries for 24 yards). While McKinnon made his mark with over 100 yards as a receiver, Murray remains the better bet for short-yardage scores. The former Oakland running back now has six rushing touchdowns in his past eight games.

Murray said he still deals with general soreness in his surgically repaired ankle, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Analysis: This is at least the second time this season that Murray has mentioned the lingering effects of his March ankle surgery. Of course, it was a much bigger concern when he talked about the ankle in early October, at which point he'd taken only 14 carries for 38 yards in four games. He's since emerged as the more reliable half of a split backfield with Jerick McKinnon, averaging 3.9 yards per carry on 15.7 totes per game (60.9 yards) since Dalvin Cook suffered a torn ACL in Week 4. Given that…read more

Murray rushed nine times for 14 yards and caught both of his targets for six yards in Sunday's 31-24 loss to Carolina.

Analysis: Murray got two more touches than Jerick McKinnon, but gained 35 fewer yards from scrimmage. The former Raiders running back came in with 323 yards and four touchdowns on the ground over the previous four weeks, so this performance should be viewed as an outlier rather than a precursor of more struggles to come.

Murray carried 16 times for 76 yards and caught all three targets for an additional 21 yards during Sunday's 14-9 win over the Falcons.

Analysis: Murray gashed the Falcons on several occasions, including a 30-yard gain where he bounced off multiple defenders before going to the ground. His contributions in the passing game marked his best performance of the season in that regard and he out-touched Jerick McKinnon yet again. Murray has averaged 80.8 rushing yards per game over the last four, with four touchdowns during that span as well. He's emerging as a solid weekly contributor and will look to continue his recent success next week…read more

Finds end zone in win

Murray rushed 20 times for 84 yards and a touchdown during Thursday's 30-23 win over Detroit.

Analysis: Somewhat quietly, Murray has now compiled 399 rushing yards and five scores through his past five games. He continues to split snaps and carries with Jerick McKinnon, but the timeshare hasn't significantly hindered the fantasy value of either back. After all, a two-man committee in a high-volume rushing attack still provides plenty of opportunities. Additionally, Murray's value is buoyed by his usage near the goal line, as he's now up to 27 red-zone carries through the past eight games.

Murray rushed 15 times for 95 yards and two touchdowns while also hauling in his only target for one yard in Sunday's 24-7 win over the Rams.

Analysis: Murray and Jerick McKinnon notably came within just one carry of a 50/50 split of rushing touches, but the former was clearly the more effective of the two. The five-year veteran equaled his best yards per carry figure of the season (6.3) while also logging his third and fourth rushing scores in the last four contests. Murray has yet to reach the 20-carry mark in any game this season, but the 27-year-old appears to finally be at full health following offseason ankle surgery if his recent…read more