NFL Odds: Dalvin Cook Hold Out Impacts Betting Markets

The Minnestota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook is holding out for a new deal, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The Pro Bowler won't participate in team activities until he gets offered a "reasonable deal" which could damage the Vikings hopes for the season.

Dalvin Cook is currently +8000 to win MVP, which looked too short of a price even before this news broke. Quick thinking sports-books have already taken down totals markets based around Cook's rushing yards and touchdowns, worried that bettors would be onto a quick buck.

The Vikings are as short as -120 to make the playoffs, and +2800 to win the Super Bowl, with little change, indicating that bettors and books may be confident that a deal will be reached. The Vikings win total hasn't yet changed, with Minnesota winning over 8.5 games at -159, as opposed to +130 for them to go under.

We're still a long way out from the season, so expect these markets to avoid large movements until we reach the preseason games. If no deal is reached then there's every chance Dalvin Cook could decide to not play, with Alexander Mattison deputising for him.

That didn't work well for Melvin Gordon in his contract dispute with the Chargers last year, and given the value of running backs in the league currently, and the loaded FA class coming next year, we may not see Dalvin Cook in a Vikings uniform again.