Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray has a much stronger group of pass-catchers around him after his final season in Arizona fell apart. A foot injury limited Murray to five games in 2025, but Minnesota named him the starter on Aug. 11 after his competition with J.J. McCarthy. The job comes with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings at receiver, plus T.J. Hockenson at tight end. Jefferson was full-go throughout camp and started clicking with Murray late in the summer, while Jennings arrives after piling up 1,618 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Murray has already shown what his rushing can add when healthy. In 2024, he threw for 3,851 yards and 21 touchdowns while running for another 572 yards and five scores. He enters September at QB19 in RotoBaller's updated rankings, so fantasy managers aren't paying for a full rebound yet. Durability is still the concern, but this Minnesota group gives Murray plenty of room to beat that price
Hockenson recorded a touchdown reception from Kyler Murray during the Vikings' final training camp practice Aug. 26, Andrew Krammer of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports. Hockenson played just five snaps in the Vikings' preseason opener and was rested for the final two exhibition tilts, but he's been getting in reps with the first-team offense throughout camp. After a delayed start to the 2024 campaign while he completed his recovery from a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee, Hockenson mostly stayed healthy in 2025 but was a middling fantasy option at tight end with a 51-438-3 receiving line on 66 targets over 15 games. Though Hockenson should benefit from upgraded quarterback play in 2026 after drawing targets from the likes of J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer a season ago, the closest Murray has come to supporting two fantasy relevant pass catchers was in 2024, when tight end Trey McBride (111-1,146-2 line in 16 games) and wideout Marvin Harrison (62-885-8 in 17 games) both had some utility. Justin Jefferson is locked in as the clear top weapon in the passing game and should dominate the targets, but Hockenson could struggle to see consistent volume while he's vying with the likes of No. 2 receiver Jordan Addison and No. 3 receiver Jauan Jennings for the remaining looks that don't go to Jefferson
Hockenson played five snaps on offense and didn't show up in the box score otherwise during the Vikings' 13-10 preseason win over the Giants on Saturday. Hockenson saw the least amount of offensive snaps among Vikings tight ends Saturday, with Bryson Nesbit (25) leading the position group in that category. Hockenson is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he logged 51 catches (on 66 targets) for 438 yards and three touchdowns across 15 regular-season games. He hasn't been the same player since his career year in 2023, which ended in late December by a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee. The Vikings added wide receiver Jauan Jennings in the offseason to be the WR3 behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and while that may reduce Hockenson's target share, he's still the top tight end on the depth chart, with Josh Oliver and Ben Yurosek operating in complementary roles
The quarterback battle in Minnesota has reportedly come to a swift conclusion, as the Vikings have named Kyler Murray their new starter over former first-round pick J.J. McCarthy , per ESPN . This battle was expected to last into the preseason, but Kevin O'Connell has apparently called the contest four days before the Vikings are scheduled to take the field against the New York Giants . Murray was viewed as the favorite to win this job over McCarthy, who became the only first-round pick since 1970 to finish last in the NFL in completion percentage and TD-INT ratio in his first season. While Minnesota did rally to finish with a 9-8 record last year, the Vikings still missed the playoffs thanks to an underperforming offense. Murray was released by the Arizona Cardinals this offseason following seven years with the franchise. The former No. 1 overall pick won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2019, made two Pro Bowls, and took Arizona to the postseason once, but his play dipped in recent years. Murray has missed 30 out of a possible 68 games over the last five seasons, and his last winning season came back in 2021. In all, Murray went 38-48-1 during his time with the Cardinals. Still, it's possible Murray is rejuvenated by this change of scenery. In Minnesota, he finds multiple upgrades he did not have in Arizona. For example, Murray has a star wideout for the first time since DeAndre Hopkins . Justin Jefferson is one of the best pass-catchers in the game, and just became the third player to ever begin a career with six straight seasons of 1,000 yards receiving. He's not the only weapon either, as Minnesota has a solid supporting cast which includes Aaron Jones , Jordan Mason , Jordan Addison , T.J. Hockenson and Jauan Jennings . Murray also has the backing of a Brian Flores unit that finished No. 3 in total defense last season (282.6 yards allowed per game) and No. 7 in scoring defense (19.6 points allowed per game). If Murray can be an efficient distributor of the football, this Vikings team can return to the postseason. This is a developing story
Jauan Jennings, now with the Minnesota Vikings, is a late-round draft target despite a dip in yardage last season. His nine touchdowns and previous high yardage (77 catches, 975 yards) indicate upside, especially given his injury history. While not a top option behind Jefferson and Addison, Jennings provides a physical presence and has proven capable of producing when given an expanded role. His current ADP of 173.9, below his RotoBaller ranking of 147th, makes him a worthwhile gamble
T.J. Hockenson's draft cost has decreased, making him a viable option as a second tight end. Despite a down year in 2025 (TE22 PPR) compared to his 2023 TE4 finish, offensive line struggles and a crowded receiving corps in Minnesota impacted his production. However, he's shown flashes in camp, and his current ADP of 162.1 presents an opportunity to potentially regain his old form
Jauan Jennings signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings after an injury-plagued season with the 49ers. If the Vikings' offense improves, Jennings could be a valuable late-round pick in 2026 fantasy drafts. With questions surrounding the quarterback position and other receiving options, Jennings has an opportunity to carve out a significant role in the offense
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson is no longer being drafted as a weekly difference-maker, which is probably where his 2026 appeal starts. He caught 51 of 66 targets for 438 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games last season, his lowest yardage total since his rookie year. Minnesota's offense was a mess around him. Three quarterbacks started, the line cycled through 26 combinations, and Hockenson's routes were reduced because he had to stay in and help in protection. The setup is better, not clean. J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray will split first-team work early in camp, while Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings leave plenty of competition for targets. Hockenson remains the Vikings' lead receiving tight end after restructuring his contract, though he played only 69% of the offensive snaps last year. RotoBaller lists him at TE22 with an ADP of 161.6. That is late enough to take a chance, but managers should pair him with another tight end rather than count on a full return to form
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson did not suddenly stop being an elite dynasty asset because 2025 went sideways. The touchdowns vanished. He scored only twice, and Minnesota cycled through J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer while Jefferson finished with 84 catches for 1,048 yards on 141 targets. It was his worst full season, yet he still cleared 1,000 yards for the sixth time in six years. One season earlier, he posted 103 receptions, 1,533 yards, and 10 scores. The quarterback question remains, with McCarthy and Kyler Murray headed for a camp battle, while Jauan Jennings joins Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson in a deeper group of pass-catchers. None of that changes the larger point. Jefferson turned 27 in June, remains under contract through 2028, and sits fourth in RotoBaller's dynasty wide receiver rankings. He will cost plenty. For a contender with depth to spare, though, this is the rare moment to see whether a frustrated manager will move him. Rebuilders should hold unless the return includes another cornerstone asset
It’s getting closer, folks. We’re about three weeks or so from the start of training camp for the Minnesota Vikings, and that means the lists are getting more and more prevalent around the sports media world. We’ve gotten a set of roster rankings to chew on, and if you’re trying to find the purple on it, you’re going to have to do a bit of scrolling before you find our favorite team. ESPN has ranked the rosters of all 32 teams from best to worst, and they have our squad ranked at #22. That’s not really where we’re accustomed to seeing them, to be honest, and it’s a bit of a shock to see them that low. Let’s break down what they have to say about the Vikings, shall we? Biggest strength : Pass catchers. Receivers Justin Jefferson , Jordan Addison and newcomer Jauan Jennings and tight end T.J. Hockenson form a terrific group of targets for whoever wins the QB job. Even in a down season (no fault of his own), Jefferson delivered his sixth consecutive season with 1,000-plus receiving yards in 2025 and remains arguably the league’s best wide receiver. Addison produced 875-plus receiving yards and nine-plus TDs in his first two seasons before the QB woes of 2025. Jennings broke out in 2024 with the 49ers and has a 132-1,618-15 receiving line over the past two seasons. Hockenson’s stats have been down the past two seasons, but the 29-year-old remains one of the league’s best two-way tight ends. It’s hard to argue this one. Jefferson and Addison were already one of the league’s best duos, and adding a player of Jennings’ caliber to be WR3 just gives the team an embarrassment of riches at the wide receiver position. Hockenson hasn’t been quite the same player since his knee injury, but he still has the ability to be an above-average tight end and can still present as a significant red zone thread. Josh Oliver , who isn’t mentioned in the ESPN breakdown, has also been a lot better than advertised as a pass catcher, in my opinion, and his blocking ability allows him to stay on the field and get more opportunities than a more traditional blocking tight end might otherwise get. Biggest weakness : Running back. It was a bit surprising that Minnesota did little to address this position after its running backs finished 30th in both rushing yards and scrimmage yards last season. Aaron Jones Sr . has been solid throughout his career, but he’s entering his age-31 season and ranked dead last among 65 qualified backs in forced missed tackle rate. Jordan Mason is an effective rusher (career 5.1 YPC) but isn’t a receiving option (28 career receptions). Undersized sixth-rounder Demond Claiborne was the team’s only offseason addition of note. Again, it’s a bit hard to disagree here. I know that Aaron Jones has been a warrior during his time here, but he’s starting to slow down a bit and really can’t be counted on to be a lead guy anymore. He’s going to work in tandem with Mason, who is a very good power runner and should be the primary goal-line option. Of course, given that this team seems to be allergic to running the ball inside the 10-yard line, that really doesn’t mean as much as it might on most teams. It’s going to be interesting to see what Claiborne brings to the table in this offense. He should get plenty of opportunities, and the team clearly liked him a lot in the pre-draft process. Hopefully he can force his way onto the field early. X factor for 2026 : Interior offensive line. Will Fries struggled last season at guard after signing a big free agent contract , with a sixth percentile pass block win rate. But he boasts upside, as does fellow guard Donovan Jackson , Minnesota’s first-round draft pick in 2025. Blake Brandel played 347 snaps at center last season in his first time playing the position in the NFL. He is expected to start there again in 2026. How those three players improve could play a big role in how much offensive success the Vikings have this season. Seriously, this could have been a copy-and-paste from any year for a
[... truncated ...]
Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.
