mr roboto said:
Vikings fan here - not sure the bolder will be correct long term.
It wasn't correct in the first place.
Davlin Cook has 26 rushing attempts and 12 targets in two games. That is 36 opportunities and he is 3rd on the team in targets.
Murray has 15 rushing attempts no targets so far. Still he has had more opportunity than any other Vikings player besides Cook, Theilen and Diggs. With Cook out, his opportunities are obviously going up.
Mike Boone and Roc Thomas were inactive for the first two games. Zimmer said both will be active for this game. I think Boone is a better overall RB who can catch the ball run inside the tackles, block and break tackles. Roc Thomas is more of COP with good burst and some moves in space.
Boone is more similar to Murray in play style than Thomas, so it might be Thomas playing more in relief of Murray. Also Boone is listed as questionable with a groin injury, so maybe they won't use Boone much because of this.
Both of these guys can catch and Murray can catch. Some are predicting a blow out for the Vikings as the Bills are in disarray, while I think that would be great if it happens, I am not counting on it. If that does happen though, then Boone and/or Thomas should get some playing time in this game. Both are good players, too good to risk them being swooped up by other teams, so the Vikings kept 5 RB (including Ham) instead of 6 WR. The Vikings just cut Coley and Treadwell has a broken finger.
Just no reason to think the RB will not be utilized as receivers, and targets to WR may actually be scaling back in this game.