Minnesota Vikings News

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Myles Gaskin  • RB  •  Vikings

Myles Gaskin Elevated To Vikings Active Roster For Week 1 Against Giants

The Minnesota Vikings have elevated running back Myles Gaskin to the active roster for Sunday's game against the New York Giants. Gaskin, who led the team with 128 rushing yards on 27 carries during the preseason and added four receptions for 16 yards, brings valuable experience with 41 NFL games and 17 starts. His impressive performance in training camp caught the coaches' attention, making him an essential depth addition behind Aaron Jones and Ty Chandler. Gaskin also returned three kickoffs for 55 yards in the preseason and could be utilized as the Vikings and Giants navigate the new kickoff rules. While Gaskin may not be a fantasy asset this week, it's reassuring to know he will be the next option if anything happens to Jones or Chandler.
4 hours ago   
Jordan Addison  • WR  •  Vikings

Jordan Addison Cleared For Week 1

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) is no longer on the team's injury report and is cleared to suit up against the New York Giants on Sunday. The second-year wideout was carted off the practice field in mid-August with a high-ankle sprain but returned to practice in full on Friday. After taking advantage of Justin Jefferson's extended absence in 2023 (70 catches for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns), Addison's production is expected to take a dip in 2024 with Sam Darnold quarterbacking the team. Addison should be viewed as a boom/bust WR4 against the Giants.
Yesterday   
Jordan Addison  • WR  •  Vikings

Jordan Addison Says He's Definitely Playing In Week 1

Minnesota Vikings second-year wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) said he is definitely playing in the Week 1 regular-season opener this Sunday against the New York Giants after recovering from a high-ankle sprain. Addison was officially limited in Thursday's practice for the second straight day this week. Meanwhile, Jalen Nailor, who is also dealing with an ankle injury, appeared to be more limited than Addison on Thursday. The 22-year-old Addison initially suffered his ankle sprain on Aug. 14. The 23rd overall pick last year out of USC benefitted from a lengthy absence from Justin Jefferson and finished with a 70-911-10 line in 17 games. Most fantasy pundits are expecting him to take a step back in Year 2, though, with a downgrade in QBs from Kirk Cousins to Sam Darnold. With him nursing an ankle injury to boot, fantasy managers should consider Addison a WR4/flex in Week 1 if he's active.
2 days ago   
T.J. Hockenson  • TE  •  Vikings

Vikings Targeting Week 7 Return For T.J. Hockenson?

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that the Minnesota Vikings are loosely targeting a return around Week 7 for injured tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee), who is still recovering from a torn ACL and MCL that he suffered late last year. Hockenson has opened the 2024 season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, as expected, meaning he has to sit out at least the first four games of the season. Fantasy managers expecting Hockenson to be full-go by Week 5 should think again, though. The 27-year-old should be stashed in an IR spot in all fantasy leagues, but it's more likely we won't see him make his season debut until around the midway point, and when he does return, he could be eased back in. Until Hockenson is able to return as the Vikings' top pass-catcher, Johnny Mundt and Josh Oliver are expected to share tight-end duties in Minnesota.
2 days ago   
Jordan Addison  • WR  •  Vikings

Vikings Optimistic About Jordan Addison's Ankle

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) is trending toward suiting up in Week 1, according to head coach Kevin O'Connell. The second-year wideout has been dealing with an ankle issue since being carted off the practice field in mid-August. O'Connell says they "feel good" about Addison playing against the New York Giants. The 22-year-old is a clear second fiddle to All-Pro Justin Jefferson in the Minnesota passing offense. Despite a strong rookie season, Addison's value took a tumble when the Vikings switched from Kirk Cousins to Sam Darnold at quarterback. Addison will be a WR4/5 on Sunday if he is active. UPDATE: Addison was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday.
3 days ago   
Ty Chandler  • RB  •  Vikings

Ty Chandler To Return Kicks

Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler is expected to return kicks following the latest depth chart update. Chandler is listed as the team's primary kick returner while Brandon Powell handles punt return duties. This development comes in the wake of Minnesota's decision to release talented returner Kene Nwangwu. Chandler has big shoes to fill but is likely up for the challenge after getting a taste of the job last year. He returned four kicks for 97 yards in 2023. Fantasy managers should keep in mind that just because he is returning kicks doesn't mean he won't see snaps out of the backfield. Minnesota is expected to rely on Chandler to take some of the workload off veteran Aaron Jones. Chandler might not see quite enough snaps to warrant any fantasy consideration immediately, but he's an intriguing insurance policy at the very least.
3 days ago   
Aaron Jones  • RB  •  Vikings

Aaron Jones Eyes Career Year With New "Prehab" Routine

Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones is optimistic about having a standout season, crediting the team's training staff for potentially preparing him for the best year of his career. Jones noted that he feels the "I'm ready to have the best year of my career" heading into a new season, thanks in part to a 30-45 minute "prehab" routine given to him before practices. Despite his impressive durability in the previous four seasons, where he played 62 of 66 games, Jones missed six last season due to hamstring and knee injuries. Once he was healthy, he made a significant impact, surpassing 100 rushing yards in his final five games and helping the Packers nearly advance to the NFC Championship Game. During that stretch, Jones carried the ball 102 times for 584 yards, becoming a crucial part of the offense. While it's important not to overvalue Jones based on past performance alone, he remains a strong RB2 option in fantasy leagues if drafted at the right price. For added security, consider pairing him with his backup, Ty Chandler, in the later rounds of your draft.
4 days ago   
Jordan Addison  • WR  •  Vikings

Jordan Addison Returns To Practice On Monday

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) was back at practice on Monday but didn't do a whole lot outside of warmups in the 15 minutes that were open to reporters. Addison likely would have been limited on an official injury report, but with the Vikings' Week 1 regular-season opener not coming until this Sunday against the New York Giants, there first official practice for Week 1 won't be until Wednesday. Either way, the 22-year-old second-year pass-catcher's presence at practice on Monday for the first time since being carted off the field on Aug. 14 was a good sign. We'll have a better idea of Addison's status for this Sunday once the team releases their official injury report on Wednesday. Despite a strong rookie year in 2023, Addison is shaping up as a shaky WR4/flex for fantasy managers due to his injury and the fact that he has a downgrade in QB from Kirk Cousins to Sam Darnold.
5 days ago   
T.J. Hockenson  • TE  •  Vikings

T.J. Hockenson Could Return In Week 5

The Athletic's Alec Lewis believes a Week 5 (Oct. 6) return for Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) is a fair projection when he was asked when we should expect to see Hockenson back on the field in 2024. It's when Hockenson will be eligible to return from the Physically Unable to Perform list. He'll be able to practice through the first four weeks of the season while on the PUP list, and he's already sprinting and running routes on side fields. If the Vikings really wanted to, they probably could have pushed Hockenson to be ready for the first couple weeks of the regular season. This news certainly should make fantasy managers more willing to snag the 27-year-old in upcoming drafts, granted your league has IR spots to stash him. Before tearing both his ACL and MCL late in December, Hockenson was having a career year. Still, with Kirk Cousins gone and coming off a serious knee injury, fantasy managers should have reservations about Hockenson when he does return to the field in 2024.
6 days ago   
Jordan Addison  • WR  •  Vikings

Jordan Addison Quiet In Second Preseason

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison caught just one pass for seven yards during the preseason. While it would have been nice to see a little more production out of the receiver after his up-and-down rookie campaign in 2023, we also know that Addison has a firm grasp on the No. 2 receiver role and doesn't face much competition there. The biggest question surrounding Addison is whether he can have a meaningful fantasy season with Sam Darnold throwing him the football. Not only did the Vikings suffer a quarterback downgrade this past offseason, but Addison will also lose plenty of volume to Justin Jefferson, who is fully healthy once again. Fantasy managers might want to be cautious and let Addison start the year on their bench before deciding whether he can be plugged into lineups
6 days ago   
Myles Gaskin  • RB  •  Vikings

Myles Gaskin Likely To Be Active In Week 1

According to Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O'Connell, the surprising decision to waive running back/kick returner Kene Nwangwu on Tuesday was mostly about their belief in Myles Gaskin. Gaskin is currently on the practice squad, but he's likely to be elevated to the game-day roster in Week 1 to serve as the team's No. 3 RB and kick returner. He'll be behind starter Aaron Jones and backup Ty Chandler on the RB depth chart. The 27-year-old has returned only eight kicks between his college and NFL career, but the Vikes liked what they have seen in training camp. In the end, Gaskin proved more versatile on special teams and as a pass-protector in the backfield than Nwangwu. Gaskin, a former seventh-round pick 2019 by the Miami Dolphins, won't have any fantasy value unless one of Jones or Chandler miss time with injury in 2024.
Aug 30   
Jaren Hall  • QB  •  Vikings

Jaren Hall Waived By The Vikings On Thursday

In a bit of a surprise move, the Minnesota Vikings waived quarterback Jaren Hall on Thursday and replaced him by signing veteran backup QB Brett Rypien. Hall, who was the team's No. 3 signal-caller last year, had seemingly cemented himself the QB3 role again in 2024 with a strong preseason performance. The Vikings felt otherwise, though, and Hall could now get scooped up by another organization. A fifth-round draft pick last year, Hall started two games in 2023 after starter Kirk Cousins suffered a season-ending torn Achilles. The 26-year-old suffered a leg contusion in Saturday's preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles, but he was not waived with an injury designation. In three games (two starts) in his rookie season, the BYU alum went 13-for-20 for 168 yards, no touchdowns and one interception for Minnesota.
Aug 29   
Brett Rypien  • QB  •  Vikings

Vikings Sign Brett Rypien

The Minnesota Vikings signed veteran quarterback Brett Rypien on Thursday and waived Jaren Hall in a corresponding move. It's a mild surprise after Hall seemingly cemented the job as the QB3 behind starter Sam Darnold and backup Nick Mullens with a strong preseason. The 28-year-old Rypien was released earlier this week by the Chicago Bears. He spent the first four seasons of his career with the Denver Broncos, starting three games, before moving to the Los Angeles Rams last year. The Vikings were hit with tough news earlier in training camp with rookie first-rounder J.J. McCarthy (knee) having to miss all of his rookie season. In his four years in the NFL, Rypien has completed 58.3% of his 168 pass attempts for just 950 yards, four touchdowns and nine interceptions in 10 games (four starts).
Aug 29   
Kene Nwangwu  • RB  •  Vikings

Vikings Move On From Kene Nwangwu

The Minnesota Vikings are moving on from running back/kick returner Kene Nwangwu, according to a source. The Vikings are expected to cut or trade him by Tuesday's deadline. With Nwangwu and Myles Gaskin out of the picture in Minnesota, the Vikings only have running backs Aaron Jones and Ty Chandler in the RB room, alongside fullback C.J. Ham. The former fourth-round pick in 2021 out of Iowa State has plenty of speed, so at the very least, he should get another opportunity elsewhere as a kick returner on special teams in 2024. The 26-year-old had a career-low five carries for just 13 yards in nine games with the Vikings last year. Nwangwu has been more useful as a returner on special teams than as an offensive asset, as he's totaled just 88 rushing yards and no touchdowns on 27 career carries for a weak 3.3 yards per tote in 37 total games (zero starts).
Aug 27   
Robert Tonyan  • TE  •  Vikings

Vikings Release Robert Tonyan

The Minnesota Vikings released tight end Robert Tonyan on Tuesday. The Vikings have plenty of tight end depth, with superstar T.J. Hockenson (knee) on the PUP list and Josh Oliver, one of the best backups in the NFL. The 29-year-old spent the first five seasons of his career with the Green Bay Packers before playing with the Chicago Bears in 2023. In 2020 he had by far the best season of his career, with 586 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Tonyan, who has only ever played for NFC North teams, has put together a couple of productive seasons and shown that he has plenty of talent. Tonyan will look to latch onto another team but is off the fantasy radar for now in 2024.
Aug 27   
T.J. Hockenson  • TE  •  Vikings

Minnesota Leaving T.J. Hockenson On The PUP List

The Minnesota Vikings have placed tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, meaning he will miss the season's first four games. Hockenson is still recovering from a torn ACL and MCL sustained on Dec. 24 last year. The recovery process was complicated by a delay in his ACL surgery to allow the MCL to heal. Despite the injury cutting his season short, Hockenson had a standout year in 2023, setting career-highs with 95 receptions and 960 receiving yards, along with five touchdowns. With Hockenson sidelined, Johnny Mundt is next on the Vikings' tight-end depth chart. Mundt may see an uptick in snaps, but it's also likely that receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison should receive additional targets from quarterback Sam Darnold. Hockenson is still worth considering late in drafts, especially if your league has IR slots.
Aug 27   
Jaren Hall  • QB  •  Vikings

Jaren Hall Effective In Opportunity For Backup Quarterback Role

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Jaren Hall played most of the second half against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, looking sharp in his limited passing opportunities. The 2023 fifth-round pick completed four of his five passes for 87 yards and two scores while rushing for 11 yards on two attempts, including an incredible 71-yard bomb to Jeshaun Jones. The Vikings were ahead by multiple scores for much of Hall's playtime, so he did not have many chances to show off his arm, but he was effective when he could. The second-year quarterback bounced back from a disappointing first preseason game, and at a good time for that, too -- the backup quarterback position in Minnesota has been in flux with rookie J.J. McCarthy (knee) being placed on injured reserve earlier this week. Hall made his case to be on the 53-man roster for the Vikings and will need to fight off Nick Mullens and newly signed Matt Corral for the opportunity.
Aug 24   
Jaren Hall  • QB  •  Vikings

Jaren Hall Shines In Final Preseason Game

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Jaren Hall played well in the team's last preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles, completing 17 of 25 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns while adding 11 yards on the ground. The 26-year-old led the Vikings on five consecutive scoring drives and left the game with a 23-3 lead. The second-year quarterback out of BYU was on the roster bubble with the possibility of joining the Vikings' practice squad but may have made the final cut as Hall looked sharp and decisive. If Hall does indeed get cut, expect him to be swiftly signed by another team. The former BYU Cougar likely will enter the 2024 regular season as the Vikings' QB3 behind starter Sam Darnold and backup Nick Mullens.
Aug 24   
T.J. Hockenson  • TE  •  Vikings

Vikings Coach Provides Update On T.J. Hockenson's Recovery

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell has stated there is no specific timeline for tight end T.J. Hockenson's (knee) return from his ACL and MCL injuries. Still, he appears to be making excellent physical progress. Hockenson is recovering from a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee, which he sustained in a late-season game against the Detroit Lions. Although rumors suggest he might return sooner than anticipated, a mid-October return seems more realistic based on current data. While Vikings coaches are optimistic about Hockenson's recovery, there is a significant difference between running and cutting in practice gear and performing under game conditions with full contact. Consequently, Hockenson's fantasy value has been considerably impacted. Although he has a strong track record, catching four or more passes in 22 of 25 games with the Vikings, fantasy managers are often wary of players who will miss several weeks. However, if your league includes an IR slot, Hockenson could be a worthwhile late-round pick as insurance for the end of the season.
Aug 22   
Robert Tonyan  • TE  •  Vikings

Robert Tonyan Back On The Field Tuesday

Minnesota Vikings tight end Robert Tonyan (back) returned to practice Tuesday. Tonyan had been out of training camp and the preseason since July 31. Tonyan was still a limited participant in practice. He only participated in positional drills and sat out of the team portion of practice. His return is a welcome one for the Vikings' depth at tight end as starter T.J. Hockenson (knee) continues to recover from a torn ACL and MCL. Tonyan recorded 11 receptions for 112 yards and no touchdowns with the Chicago Bears in 2023. The 30-year-old signed with the Vikings in May as a veteran depth piece. He is unlikely to be a major fantasy contributor in 2024, especially once Hockenson returns.
Aug 20   
LEGEND
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