Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is going to get his first taste of professional football on Saturday against the Las Vegas Raiders. Sam Darnold will draw the start under center before McCarthy takes over. Head coach Kevin O'Connell said that the rookie signal-caller will get a significant amount of work during the preseason opener. Second-year quarterback Jaren Hall is expected to play after McCarthy exits the contest. The Vikings appear to be making this a legitimate competition, but McCarthy is looked upon as the quarterback of the future in Minnesota.

Minnesota Vikings wide receivers Jalen Nailor and Brandon Powell were listed as co-starters in the No. 3 role on the team's first unofficial depth chart. The wideout spot behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison is open following the departure of K.J. Osborn, and the pair of pass-catchers are the prime candidates to fill that gap. Nailor, a sixth-round pick out of Michigan State in 2022, has tallied 12 receptions for 208 yards and one touchdown through his first 21 NFL games. Powell, an undrafted free agent in 2018, has hauled in 76 receptions for 678 yards and three touchdowns in 55 games with the Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Rams, and Vikings. It will be interesting to see who comes out of the camp battle victorious, but neither is likely to have much fantasy value in an offense led by Sam Darnold or rookie J.J. McCarthy. However, one of the two wideouts could have deep-league value early in the season if Addison is suspended following his misdemeanor DUI charge, especially since tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) is likely to miss the start of the regular season.

The Minnesota Vikings have listed Sam Darnold as their starting quarterback on the first unofficial depth chart, with rookie J.J. McCarthy and Nick Mullens tied for the backup spot. While preseason depth charts can be fluid, Darnold's placement as the starter matches the reports from Vikings beat writers throughout the summer. Notably, the chart lists "McCarthy or Nick Mullens" as the primary backups behind Darnold. Darnold has consistently taken first-team reps from the offseason program through the first two weeks of training camp. The Vikings signed Darnold to a one-year deal worth up to $10 million, with $8.75 million guaranteed, indicating their intent to give him the initial opportunity to start despite using their first-round pick on McCarthy. For fantasy purposes, the critical question is how well Darnold connects with Justin Jefferson, which will influence Jefferson's value as a first-round pick. Darnold, meanwhile, is expected to be a low-end QB2 in two-quarterback leagues.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison was charged with two misdemeanors -- driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with .08% blood-alcohol content -- after a west Los Angeles police officer found him asleep at the wheel of a Rolls Royce that was blocking a lane of interstate 105 westbound near Los Angeles International airport last month. Addison has been assigned an Oct. 7 arraignment and plea hearing in LA. He could face an NFL suspension once the legal proceedings are complete, clouding his fantasy value ahead of his second year in the league. The 22-year-old former second-rounder was excellent in his rookie campaign in 2023, catching 70 of 108 targets for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 games, taking advantage of Justin Jefferson's injury. Even if Addison faces a short suspension to begin the year, he's worth taking as a WR4/flex option in fantasy.

Minnesota Vikings tight end Robert Tonyan (back) is out of practice currently dealing with lower back spasms. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell hopes he will return in time for the preseason games. O'Connell noted, "He'll be out today (Friday), but we'll keep an eye on his progress over the next few days. We want to ensure he's ready for the upcoming preseason games and fully prepared when the time comes." T.J. Hockenson (knee) the team's top tight end, is still recovering from an ACL tear in his right knee and is not expected to be available for the start of the regular season. Tonyan was signed to help cover Hockenson's pass-catching duties, but with both tight ends potentially sidelined, the Vikings' tight-end depth chart now includes Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt, Nick Muse, N'Keal Harry, and Trey Knox. With a limited tight-end group, the focus will shift to increasing targets for vital offensive players such as Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Aaron Jones.