Minnesota Vikings

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.

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.

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.

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.

Minnesota Vikings tight end Robert Tonyan (back) remains sidelined with back spasms and hasn't been able to suit up for either of the team's two preseason games. Tonyan first experienced the spasms on July 31 and hasn't been able to practice since then. The initial hope was that he'd be back in time for one of their first two preseason contests, but that hasn't been the case. With T.J. Hockenson (knee) still on the PUP list, Tonyan was brought in to be a depth option alongside Josh Oliver and Johnny Mundt. If he can't get back on the field soon, he may slip all the way down the depth chart and when Hockenson returns, there's not going to be nearly as many fantasy opportunities for the veteran tight end.