Team Profile
Minnesota Vikings
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2.9% 15thOff DVOA
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24.7% 12thPassing DVOA
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-9.6% 19thRushing DVOA
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-15.4% 2ndDef DVOA
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-12.8% 1stDef Passing DVOA
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-20.2% 5thDef Rushing DVOA
2024 Team Stats
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Points For25.4 10th
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Points Against19.5 4th
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Yards Per Game347.0 12th
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Yards Allowed Per Game336.0 16th
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (knee) said he doesn't have any doubt that he'll be ready for Week 1 of the 2024 regular season to face the Minnesota Vikings. The expectation all along has been that Jones will be ready to go for the start of the new season after tearing the ACL in his right knee in Week 9 of 2023. The 26-year-old also missed a game with a neck injury, but that issue is apparently behind him as well. The former first-rounder needs to show progress this year if he wants to remain the team's starting QB beyond 2024, despite signing a four-year, $160 million deal last offseason. Before getting hurt last year, Jones threw for 909 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions, but he didn't have much of a chance behind a terrible offensive line. Jones has already been taking part in OTAs and should have full clearance by training camp. At best, Jones is a No. 2 fantasy QB in superflex leagues for his rushing ability.
Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy took third-team reps during Tuesday's OTAs, according to Vikings reporter Andrew Krammer. Sam Darnold is operating as the starter for now, while veteran Nick Mullens is in the QB2 role. McCarthy, the team's No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 Draft, is viewed as the quarterback of the future, but there's a good chance he's eased along slowly given his youth. The National Championship-winning signal-caller turned 21 years old just four months ago, and he only attempted 713 total passes in three years in Michigan's run-heavy offense. Darnold has early-season appeal in deep Superflex or 2QB setups, while McCarthy is more of a dynasty league asset for the time being. The Vikings have a Week 6 bye in 2024, so Week 7 could be a potential target date for McCarthy's first taste of regular season action.
The New York Giants said that quarterback Daniel Jones (knee) took part in 7-on-7 drills during organized team activities on Monday. Jones and the team have said that the expectation is that he'll be fully cleared for the start of training camp this summer after he tore his ACL in November of last year. In addition to his season-ending knee injury last year, Jones also missed some time with a neck injury that is apparently a thing of the past. The 26-year-old former first-rounder didn't have much of a chance behind the team's atrocious offensive line in 2023, but he's going to need to show more in 2024 while coming off a major injury after signing a four-year, $160 million deal last offseason. In his six starts last year, Jones threw for 909 yards with two touchdowns and six interceptions. His rushing upside keeps him relevant as a QB2 in fantasy, but that could be negatively affected by his knee injury.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson was not spotted at the team's facility for the start of organized team activities on Monday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Jefferson and the Vikings have reportedly been in discussions regarding a new contract for the superstar pass-catcher, and it would not be a surprise if he does not report until he inks a new deal. The 2020 first-round pick has three seasons of at least 1,400 receiving yards on his resume already, and he posted 1,074 yards in just 10 games last season. The 24-year-old holds the NFL record for the most receiving yards per game (98.3), so a hefty payday should be coming soon. Stud wideouts Amon-Ra St. Brown and A.J. Brown signed deals this offseason that include an average salary of at least $30 million, and Jefferson is expected to become the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history when he reaches a new agreement. 2024 will mark the first season he won't be catching any passes from Kirk Cousins, but his 192-yard performance in Week 18 with Nick Mullens at the helm proves he is quarterback-proof.
Free-agent running back Cam Akers appears to be looking to return to the National Football League, with the 24-year-old posting a video on X of himself working out. Akers was once considered one of the NFL's most promising young players. His best season was in 2022, where he finished with 786 yards and seven touchdowns off 188 carries. Unfortunately, after struggling to remain healthy during his career, the Rams, the team he played on for four seasons, cut ties by trading him to Minnesota. Yet, he barely made a blip on the fantasy radar before the Vikings eventually declined to offer him a new contract. With that said, Akers could find himself on a new team for the 2024-25 campaign. However, while his talent has never been much of an issue, he won't do anything for fantasy managers if he can't stay on the field, no matter where he potentially signs.