Minnesota Vikings

The Houston Texans' running back Cam Akers (Achilles) rushed five times for 13 yards and caught both his targets for 18 yards and a touchdown in Thursday's Hall of Fame Game against the Chicago Bears. He displayed quickness on a 14-yard reception that set up his touchdown catch. Akers is working to make a comeback with the Texans after suffering a torn Achilles tendon for the second time in three years, which cut his previous season short. Returning to the field just under nine months after the latest injury, which occurred in Week 9 of last season with the Vikings, is an impressive feat given the challenges of recovering from multiple Achilles tears. Akers is competing for the No. 3 running back spot with Dare Ogunbowale, rookie sixth-round pick Jawhar Jordan, and J.J. Taylor. None of these backs hold significant fantasy value unless Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce are injured.

Chicago Bears quarterback Brett Rypien lit it up in the Hall of Fame game by completing 11 of 15 passes for 166 yards and three passing touchdowns in the team's 21-17 shortened win over the Texans. Rypien also rushed one time for nine yards and entered the game late in the second quarter. After signing in free agency, Rypien will compete with Tyson Bagent for the backup quarterback role behind first-overall pick Caleb Williams. He'll have the rest of camp to prove he's worthy of a roster spot, with his next preseason chance coming on August 10th at Buffalo.

Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones has earned significant praise from offensive coordinator Wes Phillips for his versatility in the passing game, effectiveness in goal-line situations, and strong football IQ. The Vikings plan to leverage Jones in multiple roles across their offense, making him a valuable and versatile asset in today's NFL. Jones showcased his elite talents during last year's Wild Card game against the Cowboys, where he shined on national TV with 118 rushing yards and three touchdowns, leading Green Bay to a 48-32 victory. Despite his on-field success, Jones's health has been a concern; he missed six games last season and had to leave others early due to injuries. As Jones nears his 30th birthdaya significant age for NFL running backshis recent injury history adds some risk. Although the fifth round might be too early for an injury-prone player like Jones, he could be a solid RB2 if available in the sixth or seventh round in upcoming fantasy drafts. Fantasy managers should look to add a reliable RB3 on their roster to cover for the inevitable missed games from Jones.

Minnesota Vikings tight end Robert Tonyan (back) left practice due to back spasms, and his return timeline is still uncertain. If Tonyan's injury proves severe and he misses a significant amount of time, the Vikings' tight end situation could become problematic. T.J. Hockenson (knee) the team's primary tight end, is only seven months removed from an ACL tear in his right knee and is not expected to be ready for the start of the regular season. He is on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, with no clear timeline for his return. Typically, recovery from an ACL tear takes 9-12 months. Tonyan was brought in to fill Hockenson's pass-catching role, but without both Hockenson and Tonyan, the Vikings' tight end group consists of Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt, Nick Muse, N'Keal Harry, and Trey Knox. With limited options at tight end, the focus shifts to increasing targets for critical players like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Aaron Jones.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is having a pre-planned rest day at training camp on Wednesday, offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said. Jefferson's absence from Wednesday's session is simply for maintenance purposes, so fantasy managers don't need to be alarmed. It remains to be seen, however, if Jefferson will take the field for the Aug. 10 preseason opener against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders at U.S. Bank Stadium. The 25-year-old All-Pro wideout missed seven games a year ago due to a strained hamstring, but that didn't stop him from putting up over 1,000 yards in just 10 appearances during 2023. After notching the fourth-most yards per route run (2.95) over 364 routes run and sixth-most yards per target (10.7) across his 100 targets, Jefferson is a cinch selection in the middle of Round 1 of fantasy drafts as Minnesota's alpha target.