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
Monday Playoff Preview

Monday Playoff Preview The 6-game NFL Wild Card Weekend continues Sunday with a full day of games. FullTime Fantasy‘s Sunday Playoff Preview breaks down the slate from a fantasy football and sports betting perspective. And just because the fantasy regular season has ended doesn’t mean the fun is over. FFWC Playoff Fantasy Football is a great way to extend the fantasy fun and win amazing prizes! Minnesota Vikings (14-3) at Los Angeles Rams (10-7) Time: 8:00 Eastern from Glendale, Arizona Line: Vikings -2.5 Total: 47.5 Money Line: Minnesota -145, Los Angeles +125 Vikings Offense This is another rematch of a regular-season game. In Week 8, the Rams defeated Minnesota 30-20 at SoFi Stadium. For the Vikings to even the score, they can’t allow Matthew Stafford to sit in the pocket and pick them apart for another four scores. Sam Darnold was fine in that game, throwing for 240 yards and two touchdowns. Vegas is predicting Darnold will be better in the rematch. His Week 19 passing yard prop is 265.5 yards and he’s -168 to be OVER 1.5 touchdowns. The Rams allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to quarterbacks, so this looks like a plus matchup for Darnold and company. RB Aaron Jones was held to 58 yards on 19 rushes in Week 8. However, he did catch a pair of passes for 37 yards. Jones’s yardage prop of 82.5 with +125 odds of finding pay dirt looks promising but the Rams were above-average against running backs in the regular season. LA allowed only 10 total RB touchdowns in 17 games. Cam Akers will mix in behind Jones and will have some drives to himself. Additionally, Jones was dealing with a quad injury down the stretch that could result in more opportunities for Akers. However, Jones is not listed on the injury report. Los Angeles wasn’t as good against the pass, which bodes well for Minnesota’s receivers. Justin Jefferson caught eight for 115 yards in Week 8. Meanwhile, the Rams allowed an opposing receiver to surpass 90 receiving yards nine times in the regular season. Additionally, LA surrendered 20 touchdown receptions to the position. Our RDA* projections favor another huge outing for Minnesota’s superstar WR1. Jordan Addison didn’t do much (2/22/0) in the previous game. However, Addison has been hot, scoring seven of his nine touchdowns since Week 11. He also averaged 8.25 targets per game during that stretch. Our RDA* projections view Addison as a solid option in this slate, projected to catch 4.2 balls for 58.7 yards, and a 50/50 shot at scoring. We don’t have much interest in Minnesota’s ancillary wideouts. However, TE T.J. Hockenson looks like a good target. In PPR leagues, the Rams allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, who averaged a healthy 15.2 fantasy points per game. Rams Offense Although this is a Rams’ “home” game, the NFL moved it to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, due to the destructive wildfires in and around the LA area. Since getting picked apart by Matthew Stafford in Week 8, the Vikings have shored up their pass defense. In fact, the Vikings allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to enemy signal-callers in the final five weeks of the regular season. This game’s 47.5-point total looks inviting. However, our RDA* projections are cool on Stafford. Only the Ravens allowed fewer rushing yards than Minnesota, so it’s a lousy matchup for RB Kyren Williams. However, Williams led all running backs with an 87% snap share, assuring he’ll have ample opportunities to contribute on the ground, via the pass, and in short yardage. He’s -125 to score and has a scrimmage yard prop of 97.5 yards. WR Puka Nacua returned to the lineup against Minnesota in Week 8 and made an immediate impact. As good as the Vikings have been against the run, they’ve struggled versus the pass. Minnesota allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers. Additionally, we see a favorable game script for Nacua, who comes in as our No. 1 wide receiver in this slate. Cooper Kupp’s play tailed off down the stretch. He only had three targets in each of LA’s final three contests and never topped 30 receiving yards. Kupp caught five balls for 51 yards and a score against this secondary in Week 8. However, our RDA* projections (5/62/.33) are quite a bit higher than Vegas projects. WR3 Demarcus Robinson had a DUI arrest this week. There’s no indication if that will impact his role in this game but we recommend avoiding the Rams’ ancillary receivers. That includes the tight end position. Tyler Higbee is still working his way back and should lead the way. However, the Rams don’t feature the position prominently and will use multiple players. Higbee is the best bet to score if you’re looking to save money in DFS. FullTime Fantasy’s Playoff Fantasy Football Contests Play 1 or play all 3! YOU decide! Emil Kadlec Memorial Playoff Pick ‘Em — A FREE Single-Entry Contest. Maui Madness Playoff Pick’Em — ($25 or a 5-pack for $100) Playoff Draft World Championship $229 with NEW and improved league prizing! Maui Madness is still accepting entries until Conference Championship Weekend. The contest determines the winner by using your highest two weekly scores. While most fantasy football leagues have already concluded, that does not mean the fun is over. In fact, the best is yet to come for one skilled fantasy player! That person who can build the best fantasy lineup for the playoffs will win the grand prize of: A Trip for Four to Maui! The Grand Prize includes: • Resort Accommodations for 6 nights in Maui’s Five-Star Kaanapali Alii Resort (2BR-2BA) • Airfare for Four anywhere in the continental U.S. (up to $1000 for each person roundtrip airfare* • Grand Prize package worth an estimated $10,000! *certain date restrictions may apply 1 ENTRY = $25 5-PACK = $100 (that’s a $25 savings!) Find full scoring here.
Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 8

Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 8 Welcome to the midway point of the 2024 NFL season which is flying by. Kicking things off in Week 8 is an NFC showdown between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams. The FullTime
2024 Minnesota Vikings Fantasy Preview

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,
NFL DFS Monday Night Football: Vikings vs. 49ers
NFL DFS Monday Night Football: Vikings vs. 49ers This article will help you build your NFL DFS Monday Night Football lineups for tonight’s 49ers-Vikings matchup. The 2023 Week 7 NFL Sunday ends with Monday Night Football. Two high-powered offenses will square off as the 2-4 Minnesota Vikings host the 5-1 San Francisco 49ers. Vikings vs. 49ers Date, Time, and Where to Watch Date: October 24, 2023 Game Time: 8:20 pm ET Where to Watch: ABC/ESPN Vikings vs. 49ers Odds Spread: Vikings +7 (-110), 49ers -7 (-110) Total Odds: O/U 43.5 (-110) Moneyline Odds: Vikings (+260), 49ers (-325) Today we analyze from a DFS perspective the fantasy player projections from Shawn Childs. WHO IS SHAWN CHILDS? Quite simply, Shawn is the brains behind many of the metrics and projections at FullTime Fantasy. He has an extensive history in the fantasy industry, including being enshrined into the NFBC Baseball Hall of Fame. Shawn was previously the No. 2 most accurate DFS ranker and boasts several big DFS wins including over $200,000 last season at Draftkings. Shawn has the proven history and versatility you won’t find ANYWHERE else. Let’s dive right into the projections typically reserved for FullTime Fantasy Members, by team and by position: 49ers vs Vikings Projections There aren’t a ton of great value plays on tonight’s slate. It’s pretty top-heavy and we would implore you to stick with the trustworthy 49ers. RB Christian McCaffrey is active. But his prohibitive salary and injury status make him a bit risky. It’s tough to squeeze him into a Captain’s spot, so we’ll be looking to add a more balanced lineup. With Deebo Samuel sidelined, Brandon Aiyuk may make for the best Captain. We would also recommend a stack with Brock Purdy. And to add some cap space, Brandon Powell looks like a decent value at his cheap price tag considering Justin Jefferson is still sidelined. Obviously, feel free to mix and match all of the higher-value players for your contest selections tonight. For a contrarian build, our projections determined that George Kittle and Jordan Addison are the only other players who can be considered for the captain spot. If you pass on Christian McCaffrey or Brandon Aiyuk in the captain slot and go with Kittle or Addison, you may be able to slot in both quarterbacks. Happy Lineup Building! Finally, are you a Die-Hard Fantasy Football Player? CLICK HERE to Start Your Road to the 2023 Fantasy Football World Championships.
Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 2

The opening week of the 2023 NFL season was filled with surprises. A good percentage of those were poor ones. That includes both participants in tonight’s games. Hopefully, both squads can turn it around, but we’ll dig deep in our
NFL Week 1 Buccaneers at Vikings: DFS & Fantasy Preview

NFL Week 1 Buccaneers at Vikings: DFS & Fantasy Preview Betting Line: Vikings – 6 Over/Under: 45.5 The Tampa Bay Buccaneers waltz into Minnesota with a sharp decline in quarterback play after the retirement of Tom Brady. Baker Mayfield has
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
2020 Fantasy Football: Minnesota Vikings Team Outlook

In this 2020 Minnesota Vikings Team Outlook, Senior Expert Shawn Childs provides an in-depth Fantasy Football breakdown of the entire franchise.
Fantasy Football: Week 8 TNF Preview – Redskins vs Vikings

This Week 8 Thursday Night Football Preview from fantasy football expert Dr. Roto examines tonight’s matchup between the Redskins & Vikings.

