Minnesota Vikings Season Preview

The Minnesota Vikings look to improve from the 7-9 record that they posted last season. Adrian Peterson is back from his suspension, and he will give the offense a massive boost in production. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater won’t be a rookie anymore, so he should be a little bit more productive this season. The Vikings are a team to keep an eye on as they prepare to compete for that NFC North crown.

Quarterback

Teddy Bridgewater

Bridgewater finished last season ranked 22nd among quarterbacks with 250.35 fantasy points, while averaging 19.26 fantasy points a game. Bridgewater had 11 games last year where he scored 10 or more fantasy points, and he had 6 games where he scored 20 fantasy points or more. Bridgewater only had one week last year where he was a “bust”, and that was week 6 against the Detroit Lions where he scored 7.50 fantasy points. Bridgewater was a rookie last season, and there’s a good chance that he’s going to develop and be better than what he was last year. Bridgewater is going to have a better running game because Adrian Peterson will be back. He will have another year to get more acquainted with wide receivers Charles Johnson and Cordarrelle Patterson. The addition of Mike Wallace will give Bridgewater a deep threat to help stretch the defense. Bridgewater is going to go late in fantasy drafts this year, and he offers a high floor because he is going to have a limited amount of weeks where he will be a bust.

Running Back

Adrian Peterson

Peterson is a generational talent. He is a stud. He’s going to be worth drafting in the first round of your fantasy drafts this season. He’s going to be very productive once again. Bridgewater is the best QB Peterson has played with since Brett Favre. The Vikings have a very strong defense. The Vikings want to stifle teams with their defense and then grind them out with Peterson. The only way Peterson could be a bust for your fantasy team this year is if he gets injured, and you can’t predict that, so draft him with confidence this season.

Jerick McKinnon

Even after missing 5 games due to a back injury, Mckinnon finished the season with 95.80 fantasy points, which had him ranked 48th among running backs. Mckinnon is a highly athletic prospect who is more valuable in dynasty leagues than redraft leagues because there isn’t going to be much opportunity for him this year. The Vikings are going to run Peterson to the ground, and the only way Mckinnon can seize fantasy value is if Peterson goes down with an injury. McKinnon is a priority handcuff for Peterson. I’m not big on handcuffing running backs, but if the backup running back is highly talented, then I’m ok with using the roster spot. McKinnon is talented, and if Peterson goes down with an injury, Mckinnon can step in and give you some of the production that you lost.

Wide Receiver

Charles Johnson

After being cut by the Cleveland Browns, Charles Johnson was signed mid-season by the Vikings. Johnson became an intricate part of the offense during the latter part of the season. Johnson finished the season as the 87th ranked wide receiver with 95.40 fantasy points while averaging 8.30 points a game. During Johnson’s run at the end of the season he was able to string out 4 games with 10 fantasy points or more. Johnson is highly athletic, and he has decent size to back up his athleticism. Johnson is going to be playing the flanker position in the offense where he’s going to be soaking the underneath targets. Johnson has a price tag as a mid-round draft pick, but he has the upside of a top 10 wide receiver.

Mike Wallace

Wallace’s job in this offense is to stretch the field as the split-end. Wallace is going to use his speed to take the top off the defense, and he’s going to be running most of the deep routes. Last season with the Miami Dolphins, Wallace was 20th among wide receivers in fantasy with 214.30 fantasy points while averaging 13.94 fantasy points a game. Wallace had 11 games with 10 or more fantasy points last season. I see Wallace having a similar season next year, and I think he will be a solid flex play most weeks while providing WR1 upside.

Cordarrelle Patterson

There are reports that Patterson is working hard this offseason and that he is improving on his route running. Patterson was dismal last year, and it’s good to hear some positive news about him to let us know that he still has a pulse. Patterson is still too risky to spend any capital during your draft because he could have another bad season this year. I recommend placing Patterson on your watch list this season, and if he’s getting a lot of targets and being productive, then I would pluck him off waivers.

Tight End

Kyle Rudolph

Rudolph missed 9 games last season and finished the season ranked 38th among tight ends. Rudolph is a talented tight end, and he has the upside to finish the season in the top-12 at his position this year. Bridgewater will have another training camp under his belt, which means the quality of targets will be better. Rudolph will start the season off healthy this year, which is going to help his production. Rudolph is going to fall late in fantasy drafts, and is going to be a great value this year.

Defense/Special Teams

The Vikings DST finished last season ranked 12th in the league in fantasy production with 114 points. They had 5 games with 10 or more fantasy points. I look for the Vikings to improve from last season’s fantasy production. They have another year to get acclimated to head coach Mike Zimmer’s system. They spent a 1st round pick on corner back Trae Waynes, and they spent their 2nd round pick on MLB Eric Kendericks. I think the Vikings will be a sneaky play this year in fantasy.

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