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
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,
Week 16 DFS: Tight End Report featuring Travis Kelce

Week 16 DFS: Tight End Report Sam LaPorta (5/56/5) posted his second impact game over the past three weeks, giving him the top tight end fantasy score in Week 13 (29.00) and Week 15 (28.60). David Njoku (10/104/1) finished with
Week 14 DFS: Tight End Report featuring Travis Kelce

Week 14 DFS: Tight End Report Last year, there were three star tight ends led by the impact game by Sam LaPorta (9/140/1). Evan Engram (9/82/1) found the endzone for the first time in 2023, while Trey McBride (8/89/1) continued his impressive ride over the past six weeks. Only three other players scored more than 15.00 fantasy points. Here are the top five tight ends by scoring average after 13 weeks: T.J. Hockenson (15.63) Travis Kelce (15.36) Sam LaPorta (14.33) George Kittle (12.81) Evan Engram (11.55) Here are the top plays this week via the Week 14 DFS: Tight End Report. Also, check out the Week 14 DFS: QB Report. Top Tier Option Travis Kelce, KC (DK – $7,800/FD – $8,000) Since his impact game (12/179/1) in Week 7, Kelce has been a losing investment in the daily games. He scored between 11.80 and 16.40 fantasy points in four of his last five starts. That included an empty showing in Week 9 (3/14) vs. the Dolphins. The Chiefs have only looked his way 25 times over his previous four games, compared to 9.7 targets per game from Week 2 and Week 8. Last year, Kelce had eight catches for 112 yards vs. the Bills. Buffalo allowed fewer than 11.00 fantasy points to tight ends in PPR formats over 10 of their 12 contests, ranking them 10th in tight end defense (54/497/3). The Patriots (6/83/1) and Bengals (10/101/2) had surprising production from their tight ends against the Bills. The only top 10 TE faced this year was Evan Engram (5/44 on 10 targets). Patrick Mahomes must get Kelce more involved if they want to make a deep playoff run in 2023. Kelce needs to score more than 30.00 fantasy points to be in play based on his salary at DraftKings. He is batting 1-for-11 this year in this area and 3-for-20 in 2022. When at his best, Kelce can score multiple touchdowns with a high floor in catches and receiving yards. Mid-Tier Options T.J. Hockenson, MIN (DK – $6,000/FD – $7,400) Over the past four games with Joshua Dobbs behind center, Hockenson has 27 catches for 308 yards and two touchdowns on 40 targets. That was highlighted by his impact game (11/134/1) in Week 10. He has a floor of seven catches in half of his 12 starts while scoring more than 20.00 fantasy points in two other contests (7/66/2 and 6/88/1). Hockenson has at least eight targets in three-fourths of his games. The Raiders are 13th in the league vs. tight ends (64/602/3 on 78 targets), with their weakness in coverage coming in three games (BUF – 8/53/1, DET – 9/62/1, and KC – 9/121). Tight ends scored at least 10.00 fantasy points in eight of 12 matchups. The return of Justin Jefferson helps the Vikings’ passing game and spacing for Hockenson. But it also adds more competition for targets. Minnesota averaged 33.8 passes over the last five games, compared to 40 over their first seven contests with Kirk Cousins starting. Hockenson works close to the line of scrimmage (9.8 yards per catch), requiring an 8/90/1 game to be in play. He appears to be overpriced in Week 14 despite offering a high floor (15.88 FPPG in DraftKings scoring). George Kittle, SF (DK – $5,900/FD – $6,600) The 49ers threw the ball exceptionally well over their last five games (1,517/12) due to gaining 20 yards or more on 30 of their 102 completions. On the downside, San Fran has the best running back in the game while ranking last in the league in pass attempts per game (28.0). Their passing game creates only 19.6 completions per week. Kittle has been quiet in his last two starts (3/19 and 4/68) after posting more than 20.00 fantasy points in his previous three games (23.90, 20.60, and 22.90). His only other playable outcome came in Week 5 (3/67/3). The 49ers gave him more than six targets in only four matchups. The Seahawks held him to 4.90 fantasy points in Week 12. Seattle is about league average in tight end defense (63/659/2 on 84 targets), with three teams (CLE – 5/83/1, BAL – 13/122, and DAL – 7/89/1) having success. The Seahawks’ defense allowed nine touchdowns and three field goals over their last 23 possessions against the 49ers and Cowboys. Each week, one of San Francisco’s top three receiver options outside of Christian McCaffrey has a chance to come in. Kittle doesn’t have a great opportunity (5.6 targets per game) compared to the top tight ends in the game, but he has scoring ability (16 over his last 27 starts) while averaging 14.7 yards per catch. He plays in the right offense, but only a coin flip to shine if the 49ers play from the lead. Low-Value Options Cole Kmet, CHI (DK – $4,300/FD – $5,600) When comparing Kmet to George Kittle, he has six more catches and the same number of touchdowns (5). Unfortunately, he only has 482 receiving yards (253 fewer – a difference of 2.10 fantasy points per game) due to gaining only 8.6 yards per catch. His opportunity (68 targets – 67 by Kittle) is almost identical, but he has a much lower salary. Kmet has two impact games (7/85/2 and 6/55/2) and two other playable outcomes (15.20 and 17.90 fantasy points) for his price point. In Week 11, the Lions held him to three catches for 20 yards on four targets while Chicago played from the lead. He played well in his home start (4/74/2) vs. Detroit in 2022. The Lions slipped to 24th defending tight ends (58/579/6 on 85 targets) after getting beat by Tayson Hill (13/59/1 rushing with two catches for 15 yards) and New Orleans (5/49/1) in Week 13. From Week 7 to Week 12, tight ends only had 16 catches for 177 yards and three touchdowns on 28 targets. The Seahawks (9/132) and Falcons (11/88) had the most success in catches and receiving yards. Kmet doesn’t have a jump-of-the-page matchup, but he is fairly
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.
Week 6 DFS: Tight End Report

Week 6 DFS: Tight End Report The tight end position was an area of strength for fantasy teams in Week 5. Six players scored more than 19.00 fantasy points (George Kittle – 3/67/3, Dallas Goedert – 8/117/1, Travis Kelce –
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
Fantasy Football: Week 9 Start ‘Em / Sit ‘Em

Former No. 1 Fantasy Football Player in the World Mark Deming supplies you with his Week 9 starts and sits to help you dominate your league!
2019 Fantasy Football: Detroit Lions Expanded Team Outlook

In this Detroit Lions Expanded Team Outlook, Shawn Childs provides meticulous & in-depth Fantasy Football breakdowns of the entire franchise.
2019 Fantasy Football: Detroit Lions Team Outlook

In this Detroit Lions Team outlook, take a free peek at our comprehensive coverage from the Fantasy Football guru Shawn Childs.
