2025 Minnesota Vikings Fantasy Preview

2025 Minnesota Vikings Fantasy Preview The Vikings had a tremendous 2024 season, far exceeding expectations. But after an early playoff exit, GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah aggressively spent to reinforce a roster that won 14 games. Head coach Kevin O’Connell retained coordinators, Brian Flores and Wes Phillips, maintaining a quarterback-friendly offense and a blitz-heavy defense (48.7% blitz rate, 1st in NFL). Key departures like Sam Darnold and Danielle Hunter were offset by signing Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, and re-signing Aaron Jones, while drafting five players to address trenches and skill positions. Momentum is strong, with J.J. McCarthy’s recovery (no limitations post-meniscus tear) and a top-5 offense (PFF grade: 88.2). In three seasons with Minnesota, Kevin O’Connell’s offense has ranked 6th, 5th, and 6th in passing. O’Connell coaxed a 4,319-yard, 35-score campaign out of Sam Darnold, who was expected to be the backup. With Darnold now in Seattle, O’Connell turns the reins of his high-octane offense over to 2024 first-rounder J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy missed his first season due to a meniscus tear but projects to be an excellent fit in the offense. He has solid touch and accuracy and was adept at progressing through reads at Michigan. He’s in the perfect offense to make an immediate impact and will be a solid QB2 with QB1 upside. Aaron Jones, re-signed ($10M), leads with 1,351 all-purpose yards (PFF grade: 86.9). Jones stayed healthy and produced six RB1 performances. Despite turning 30, Jones’s metrics aren’t showing any noticeable declines. He’s firmly in the middle-round RB2 territory. Jordan Mason, acquired from San Francisco (789 yards, 5.2 YPC), adds a bruising backup (PFF grade: 78.3). The $19.3M invested (3rd in NFL) supports a run-heavy approach (4.7 YPC, 9th in NFL), with Jones’ 5.1 yards after contact and Mason’s power offering a good contrast to the passing attack. Justin Jefferson (1,622 yards, PFF grade: 92.1) and Jordan Addison (893 yards, 10 TDs) form an elite duo. Jefferson slipped from 20.4 PPR points per game to 18.4 in 2024. Yet, he still posted overall WR2 numbers. Hard to rank him anywhere else but there. Addison’s numbers also decline a hair, but he matched his rookie TD totals. Second-round pick Tai Felton adds speed (4.39 40-yard dash) and will push Jalen Nailor for WR3 duties. TE T.J. Hockenson missed half the season recovering from a knee injury. However, he still posted eye-opening metrics, leading all tight ends with a 35.6 percent target rate and ranking 3rd in yards per route run (2.61). Hockenson is a locked-in TE1 with top-3 potential. Fantasy Grade: A- QB McCarthy, J.J., MIN [QB1] Sleeper What might have been. J.J. McCarthy’s preseason injury resulted in a career-defining season for Sam Darnold. The Vikings have finished 6th,5th, and 6th in passing in Kevin O’Connell’s three seasons on the sidelines, averaging 4,295 passing yards and 31.7 TD passes. O’Connell let Darnold walk, showing tremendous confidence in his 2024 first-rounder. McCarthy looked terrific before the injury and excelled in Michigan’s pro-style offense. He’s accurate, adept at progressing through reads, and ran a 4.57. McCarthy has an excellent supporting cast and plays in a fantasy-friendly scheme with a coach who is a QB whisperer. One of 2025’s top breakout candidates. ADVICE: Must-have sleeper with top 10 upside. RB Jones, Aaron, MIN [RB1] Bust On the surface, Aaron Jones thrived in Minnesota, turning a career-high 255 carries into the best rushing season (1,138) on his resume. Jones stayed healthy and also hauled in 51-of-62 targets, ranking 8th. However, Jones will be 31 in December and there are signs he’s slowing down. His yards per carry, yards after contact per attempt, and Elusive Rating have all declined for three consecutive years. Additionally, Jordan Mason is a real threat to take carries away from Jones, especially in the red zone. Also, Minnesota is breaking in a promising but unproven signal-caller. ADVICE: Regression candidate after last season’s RB1 finish. RB Mason, Jordan, MIN [RB2] Sleeper Jordan Mason, now with the Minnesota Vikings, is a 2025 fantasy sleeper with RB3 potential. In 2024, he rushed for 789 yards (5.2 YPC) and three touchdowns in 12 games, ranking 6th among RBs in YPC (min. 100 carries). His three games with 20+ carries yielded 100+ yards, showcasing workhorse potential. Despite limited touches, Mason ranked 9th in breakaway runs (12) and 4th in explosive play rate. He’s to the top gear that Jones lacks. At 25, Mason’s youth and 4.53 40-yard dash contrast with Aaron Jones’ age-31 wear. Mason is a threat to steal snaps, potentially splitting touches. ADVICE: His 1B role makes him a high-value handcuff with standalone flex appeal. WR Jefferson, Justin, MIN [WR1] Despite quarterback instability, Jefferson continues to produce at an elite level. He has surpassed 1500 receiving yards in multiple seasons and remains a focal point of the Vikings’ offense. He tied Ja’Marr Chase for the most WR1 weekly finishes (12). Jefferson’s production did drop slightly after T.J. Hockenson returned from injury, but QB JJ McCarthy will likely lock into his all-world WR this season. His route-running and hands make him QB-proof, ensuring consistent fantasy production. Jefferson plays the X receiver and slot, so the Vikings can move him around on mismatches. ADVICE: High-floor WR1 regardless of quarterback play. Mid to late first-round draft target. WR Addison, Jordan, MIN [WR2] Addison got a lot of production out of a 20.1-percent target share (64th), mainly because of his touchdown prowess. His 14.2 PPG (PPR) showed TD-driven value, but struggles against man coverage and seven games with single-digit fantasy points are concerns. A potential 1-3 game DUI suspension adds more risk. With Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson commanding targets and rookie QB J.J. McCarthy’s unproven arm, Addison’s volume may stagnate. Still, his 77/1,098/12 pace post-injury in 2024 suggests he’ll remain a TD-dependent WR3 with weekly boom/bust potential. ADVICE: Strong WR3, but Addison relies on touchdowns, making his prognosis uncertain with a new signal caller. WR Felton, Tai, MIN [WR3] Super Sleeper ADVICE: Felton (6-1, 185) is a burner with slot/perimeter flexibility and ranked third among
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2024 Minnesota Vikings Fantasy Preview

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Fantasy Football Injury Report

Fantasy Football Injury Report: Week 6 Week 5 will go down as one of the most devastating weeks in recent memory. In the Fulltime Fantasy Discord, Snake deemed it Tragic Tuesday. Our Fantasy Football Injury Report: Week 6 catches you up on the latest news. Also, we offer advice on how to approach these injuries before your waiver wire bids are due. Also, a great starting point for staying updated on the latest injuries is to bookmark our NFL Injury Report. Finally, FullTime Fantasy Members will get the latest NFL injury news and advice live each Sunday and Thursday in the FullTime Fantasy Discord. Click below to join us today! Now, let’s break down all the latest fantasy-relevant injury news in this week’s Fantasy Football Injury Report: Week 6. We will continually update this list. Week 6 Byes: Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers Justin Jefferson (WR) Minnesota Vikings – The most devastating blow to come out of a terrible injury slate was the news that consensus 1.01 Justin Jefferson would be placed on IR with a hamstring injury. This is a devastating blow for the 1-4 Vikings as well as millions of fantasy rosters. Jefferson will miss a minimum of four games. The earliest JJ could return would be Week 10 versus New Orleans. However, Minnesota’s season appears to be a lost one. The Vikings don’t have a bye until Week 13. If Jefferson doesn’t progress through rehab, there may not be a ton of motivation to rush him back. K.J. Osborn should inherit Jefferson’s ‘X’ role, making him a top waiver wire priority. The #Vikings plan to place WR Justin Jefferson on injured reserve because of the hamstring injury he suffered in Sunday’s loss to Kansas City, per sources. The exact timeline is TBD based on how he responds to treatment. But Jefferson is out at least four games. pic.twitter.com/hBAYZHZqlV — Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 10, 2023 De’Von Achane (RB) Miami Dolphins – Second in the NFL in rushing and third in fantasy scoring, rookie De’Von Achane will miss multiple weeks with a knee injury. At the time, the injury didn’t appear serious. However, the club has indicated Achane is a candidate for IR, which would keep him out a minimum of four games. Jeffery Wilson, who was just activated, is the best replacement target for Achane managers. UPDATE: Achane is on IR. Justin Jefferson to IR and De’Von Achane might be right behind him Worst Tuesday morning EVER — Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) October 10, 2023 Anthony Richardson (QB) Indianapolis Colts – A Grade 3 sprained AC joint will keep Richardson sidelined for a month. The rookie signal-caller banged his shoulder on the turf as he was tackled from behind. Richardson immediately motioned to his right (throwing) shoulder. Richardson previously missed half of Week 2 and all of Week 3 with a concussion. Gardner Minshew will start in his place for at least the next three games. James Conner (RB) Arizona Cardinals – Another season, another lengthy absence for stand-out RB James Conner. Conner injured his knee on a long run and will miss multiple weeks. Expect the Cardinals to employ a committee backfield. Emari Demercado is the best bet to target on the waiver wire. As for Conner, volume dictates that he is a strong hold or ‘buy low’ candidate. Update: Arizona placed Conner on IR. Subsequently, you can boost your Demercado bids. The #Cardinals are placing RB James Conner (knee) on injured reserve, per source. He’s out at least four games. pic.twitter.com/bsYY73JUkq — Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 10, 2023 Travis Kelce (TE) Kansas City Chiefs – The Chiefs are due to play Thursday, which gives Travis Kelce little time to heal his ankle. Kelce originally went down with no contact. However, he returned to the game and caught a touchdown. That quelled Achilles’ concerns. However, there have been no updates on the status of the ankle injury. However, Kelce practiced on Tuesday. That’s a good sign. Jahmyr Gibbs (RB) Detroit Lions – Gibbs was a surprise add to the injury list. He hurt his hamstring late last week and missed Detroit’s victory. And, Gibbs could miss 1-2 more weeks. Tee Higgins (WR) Cincinnati Bengals – A rib injury kept Higgins out last week. We will know more about his Week 6 availability as the week progresses. Javonte Williams (RB) Denver Broncos – Williams sat out Week 5 and was a limited participant in Monday’s practice. He was a game-time call last week. However, he was close to playing. Williams is set to return in Week 6. We’ll have more in Discord as the week progresses. Khalil Herbert (RB) Chicago Bears – First, the Bears lost Roschon Johnson to a concussion. Second, Khalil Herbert was felled by a high-ankle sprain. Herbert is expected to miss 2-4 weeks. However, Johnson must clear the league’s concussion protocol before he can practice. Finally, D’Onta Foreman should be added on waivers. Foreman hasn’t played since Week 1. However, he may be the only healthy back Chicago can play against Minnesota. Tank Dell (WR) Houston Texans – A concussion forced Dell to miss the second half of Houston’s last-second loss in Atlanta. Subsequently, Dell will have to clear the NFL’s concussion protocol before he can return to action. John Metchie would see an increased role if Dell misses Sunday’s home tilt with New Orleans. Deshaun Watson (QB) Cleveland Browns – The Browns list Watson as day-to-day with a shoulder injury. Watson was a surprise scratch last week. If Watson misses Week 6, P.J. Walker will start on Sunday. However, it might be wise to simply avoid whoever is under center against the 49ers. Dalton Kincaid (TE) Buffalo Bills – Kincaid is in the NFL’s concussion protocol. The Bills had an awful trip abroad, losing to the Jaguars and getting decimated by costly injuries. Furthermore, the Bills don’t play until Sunday Night Football, which complicates Kincaid’s fantasy availability. Aaron Jones (RB) Green Bay Packers – Jones sat out Monday’s loss with a bothersome hamstring. This came
2023 Minnesota Vikings Outlook

2023 Minnesota Vikings Outlook The 2023 NFL season is right around the corner and that means fantasy football drafts are underway. Before you assemble your championship dynasty, redraft, or high-stakes squad, FullTime Fantasy members will have an in-depth, player-by-player preview

