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
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that running back Aaron Jones (quadriceps) isn't dealing with a major injury after being pulled late in the Week 17 win over the division-rival Green Bay Packers on Sunday with a quadriceps contusion. Jones tried to get his quad worked on over on the sideline late in the fourth quarter, but out of an abundance of caution, he did not return against Green Bay. While Jones' status will be somewhat in question for the huge Week 18 showdown against the Detroit Lions, which will decide the top seed in the NFC playoff picture, he should be able to play. If Jones is limited at all because of the injury, Cam Akers would benefit from more touches out of the backfield in a tough matchup. The 30-year-old Jones finished Sunday's game with 12 carries for 47 yards while catching four of his five targets for an additional 30 yards.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor hauled in all five of his targets for 81 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-25 win against the Green Bay Packers. The 25-year-old hadn't sniffed this sort of volume since way back in Week 7, but he was effective -- putting together his best outing of the season. The TD was Nailor's sixth, his first since Week 12. More so, the yardage and reception total were both season highs. With the Vikings' ground attack proving ineffective (2.7 YPC), QB Sam Darnold attempted his most passes of the season (43) en route to a career-high in passing (377). While it isn't a prescriptive performance, it's a reminder that the Michigan State product can at least work as, at worst, a tertiary option in this offense. It's possible he'll be involved again next weekend when Minnesota hosts their division-rival Detroit Lions in what presents as an exciting end-of-season tilt.
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson corralled 5-of-6 targets for 68 yards in his team's 27-25 win against the Green Bay Packers. The Iowa product posted his highest yardage total since Week 12, bringing in five receptions for the second time in three outings. It was modest output for him on a day when quarterback Sam Darnold torched the Packers for a career-high 377 yards. Darnold spread the ball around effectively -- hitting five Minnesota pass-catchers for at least four completions. Hockenson hasn't been the impact player he was in the prior two seasons, but he hasn't been invaluable. As of his return in Week 9, the 27-year-old is the PPR TE9 -- registering four top-ten weekly finishes. He'll line up for a meeting with the Detroit Lions in Week 18 that presents massive playoff implications.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison corralled 6-of-8 targets for 69 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-25 win over their division-rival Green Bay Packers. Addison has come on nicely and been superb over the last two months plus. Since Week 9, he's the PPR WR5 and notched at least eight targets in all but three appearances. The second-year wideout has matured while playing across from teammate Justin Jefferson, evolving the tandem into a formidable WR duo that's given defenses headaches. Addison could have had an even bigger game but let a perfectly thrown ball fall to the turf on what would have been a 39-yard TD. Expect the 22-year-old and the Vikings offense to be out in full force next weekend in a premier meeting with the Detroit Lions.
Per head coach Kevin O'Connell, Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (quad) suffered a quad contusion in Sunday's 27-25 win over the Green Bay Packers. The 30-year-old was apparently stepped on, forcing him to miss a stretch before halftime. He'd return to the game in the third quarter but sat out again in the fourth with the outing seemingly safely at hand. That he could return initially is excellent news for him, though it's worth mentioning that he remained on the sidelines even when the Packers brought the game within one score late. With a crucial matchup on deck with their division-rival Detroit Lions in Week 18, the Vikes will need all the help they can get as they attempt to clinch the division and secure the conference's top seed. Keep an eye on Jones' practice status this week ahead of the season's final slate of action.