2024 Minnesota Vikings Fantasy Preview
The Vikings took a step back in Kevin O’Connell’s second season, dropping from 13-4 to 7-10. In his third season at the helm, OConnell must contend with breaking in a brand new franchise signal caller, running back, and quickly develop auxiliary weapons for Minnesota to return to the NFC playoff picture. If the 2024 NFL Draft is an indicator, the Vikes are in good shape.
Firstly, everything fell right into place for O’Connell and Company. They held tight and were able to select J.J. McCarthy to replace Kirk Cousins under center. The No. 10 pick was widely considered the most pro-ready quarterback in this deep 2024 class made for O’Connell’s offense.
McCarthy is highly accurate with a strong arm, underrated athleticism, and has experience in a pro-style offense. Minnesota has ranked inside the top 4 in pass attempts in each of O’Connell’s seasons as head coach. McCarthy is in a good scheme behind an excellent pass-blocking unit. He has the potential to hit the ground running and be an effective fantasy asset right away.
Secondly, in the backfield, Aaron Jones adds stability. Jones turns 30 this season and isn’t the player he once was. But he still ranked as the RB25 in fantasy points per game last season and can be a solid contributor as a receiver. Ty Chandler started to assert himself down the stretch last season and will also mix in the new committee backfield.
Justin Jefferson missed seven games but ranked fourth in fantasy points per game. Jefferson exceeded 10 targets in seven of his 10 contests and is already the betting favorite to lead the NFL in that category in 2024. The only concern for the dynamic superstar wideout is building a new rapport with a rookie signal caller.
2023 first-rounder Jordan Addison was terrific as a rookie, posting a 70/911/10 line on 108 targets. Like his teammate, Addison’s 2024 fantasy value is dependent on a rookie passer who will undoubtedly be helped by one of the league’s top tandems.
With the Vikings being such a good source of volume the WR3 battle is worth monitoring. Brandon Powell, Trent Sherfield, and Jalen Nailor will compete for a role that saw K.J. Osborn post top-60 fantasy numbers last year.
TE T.J. Hockenson tore his right ACL and MCL on Christmas Eve. As terrific as Hockeson was, ranking second among all tight ends in targets (127) and receptions (95), he’s recovering from a devastating injury that occurred late in the year. That makes him a risk/reward proposition in 2024.
Finally, the Vikings are top-heavy but have a very fantasy-friendly offense and schedule. However, there is a lot of risk associated with relying on a first-year signal caller.
Quarterbacks
QB J.J. MCCARTHY – SLEEPER (UNDERVALUED)
J.J. McCarthy checks all the boxes to be a successful NFL quarterback immediately. He’s accurate, has experience thriving in a pro-style offense, is a winner, and landed in a great situation. Since hiring Kevin O’Connell, the Vikings have ranked third and fourth in the NFL in passing attempts. Minnesota also boasts a pair of elite young wideouts, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, a pass-catching back and top-5 tight end. McCarthy is well-versed in going through progressions and ranked fifth in FBS last season in adjusted completion rate. He should be an excellent fit in O’Connell’s system and could be a sneaky pick to post solid QB2 numbers right away. ADVICE: Late-round sleeper target.
QB SAM DARNOLD – DEEP-LEAGUE ONLY
ADVICE: There is a chance that Darnold will open the season as Minnesota’s starter, so he warrants some attention in deep Superflex leagues.
Running Backs
RB AARON JONES – SOLID/SAFE PICK
The Packers gave up on Aaron Jones but fantasy managers shouldn’t. Jones battled hamstring and knee injuries last season but became an integral part of Green Bay’s playoff push. He averaged 22.6 touches per game in the Packers’ final five, producing 18.2 fantasy points. Jones still showcased excellent speed and remains a solid receiver out of the backfield. He should lead Minnesota’s 1-2 punch with Ty Chandler. And Jones has already circled those two games against the Packers on his calendar. If he can stay healthy, Jones will contend for RB2 numbers in a Minnesota offense that has ranked top 10 in each of Kevin O’Connell’s seasons on the sidelines. ADVICE: RB2 who will have some boom weeks.
RB TY CHANDLER – FANTASY HANDCUFF
Ty Chandler’s considerable sleeper appeal took a big hit when the Vikings signed Aaron Jones. But there still may be enough meat left of the bone for Chandler to have some value. Jones has always been used in a timeshare and tends to be more effective in the 14-17 touch range. That leaves plenty of opportunities for Chandler to carry over his solid play down the stretch. In Minnesota’s final five games, Chandler averaged 12 fantasy points per game, ranking as the RB23 during the period. ADVICE: Chandler could have more of a weekly role than many project and it’s fairly easy to handcuff him with Aaron Jones.
Wide Receivers
WR JUSTIN JEFFERSON – STUD (LOW RISK)
On the surface, Justin Jefferson had a disappointing season. However, Jefferson missed seven games and didn’t have Kirk Cousins for half the season, yet still produced the fifth-most fantasy points per game at WR. Jefferson actually had the top yards per route run (2.91) and ADOT (13.5) numbers of his career but his yards after catch and catch rate plummeted due to erratic QB play. Jefferson remains an elite talent but his 2024 value hinges on his ability to quickly develop a rapport with J.J. McCarthy. considering the Vikings have been top-4 in passing attempts in both of Kevin O’Connell’s seasons, Jefferson remains an elite, Tier-1 WR. ADVICE: Top-5 wideout in all formats.
WR JORDAN ADDISON – SOLID/SAFE PICK
Jordan Addison had a strong rookie season, hauling in 70 receptions for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns with a 17% target share. His reliable performance translated to an average of 11 fantasy points per game, earning him the WR28 overall ranking. However, his 2024 fantasy outlook is clouded by uncertainty at the quarterback position following Kirk Cousins’ departure. On the bright side, the injury to T.J. Hockenson could elevate Addison’s role in the offense early in the season. His value is dependent on J.J. McCarthy’s ability to immediately step in and support two or three players’ fantasy values. A risky proposition. ADVICE: Outstanding talent but value is clouded by relying on a rookie quarterback.
WR BRANDON POWELL – DEEP-LEAGUE ONLY
ADVICE: Powell is projected to open the season as Minnesota’s WR3. He’s unlikely to be targeted at the same rate that K.J. Osborn was in that role, but Powell has made strides in each of his three seasons and could have a few credible performances in an offense that has been top-5 in pass attempts in consecutive seasons.
Tight Ends
TE T.J. HOCKENSON – GAMBLE (HIGH RISK)
Hockenson is among the best pass-catching tight ends in football. However, a Christman Eve ACL tear clouds his 2024 availability. Before he got hurt, Hockenson was leading all tight ends in target share and had topped double-digit fantasy points in 12-of-14 games. When healthy, Hockenson is among the elites, but his injury occurred in Week 16, which makes Hockenson a candidate to open the season on the PUP list. Fantasy managers willing to gamble on Hockenson’s lofty upside will be forced to invest in another tight end to potentially play in the first half of the season. That’s a roster consideration that can be problematic in shallow leagues. ADVICE: Among the best tight ends in football but a risky investment due to knee injury.
TE JOSH OLIVER – LOW POTENTIAL
Oliver could see a handful of starts in the early part of the season. He also might simply split reps with Johnny Mundt, but the Vikings throw a lot of passes to their tight ends. Whoever fills in for T.J. Hockenson if Hock is unable to return to open the season has some decent streaming value and is essentially free in fantasy drafts.
Place Kicker
PK WILL REICHARD – BYE WEEK FILL-IN
A sixth-round rookie out of Alabama, Reichard has a powerful leg and is in prime position to open the season as Minnesota’s starter. Reichard would take over for the inconsistent Greg Joseph and have a decent path to top-15 fantasy numbers in a Vikings’ offense that is very kicker-friendly. Subsequently, he’s a late-round value.
Defense/Special Teams
MINNESOTA VIKINGS – BYE WEEK FILL-IN
Minnesota was better against the run (8th) than pass (24th), which is not a surprise in the NFC North. The Vikings made a lot of improvements from 2022, improving to 16th in overall defense and 13th in points allowed. They totaled 43 sacks, 11 fumble recoveries, 11 INTs, and scored a pair of DST touchdowns. This is a group moving in the right direction, making the young Vikings a solid defense close to contending for DST1 numbers.
Other 2024 Fantasy Football Previews
Cleveland Browns
Pittsburgh Steelers
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
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