Minnesota Vikings DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor played only one drive but saw two looks in the team's second preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. The third-year wideout reeled in one of his two targets for an impressive 31-yard nab on 3rd-and-7 as he continues to impress for the competition of third wide receiver on the Vikings. The two players ahead of Nailor -- Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison -- did not play, giving the former sixth-round selection an opportunity to shine. Given the open-ended nature of Addison's pending court hearing and possible suspension, wideout depth is critical to assess. Nailor has answered the call well in both preseason games, bringing in four receptions for 94 yards in his three preseason drives so far. He's the clear favorite for a Vikings team that loves to use three-receiver sets.

Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) was officially placed on the season-ending injured reserve on Friday afternoon. In a corresponding move, the Vikings signed quarterback Matt Corral, who will compete for the No. 3 job. McCarthy missed practice earlier this week as he was dealing with knee soreness but eventually underwent an MRI, which showed a tear in his meniscus. The Michigan product underwent knee surgery on Wednesday and will now focus on recovering for the 2025 season. This is a tough blow for the former national champion, who looked quite sharp in the pro debut on Saturday as he went 11-for-17 with 188 passing yards and two scores. Fantasy managers should expect Sam Darnold to serve as the starting quarterback in Minnesota this season, with Nick Mullens slotted as the No. 2.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) appears to have avoided a serious injury after exiting Wednesday's training camp practice. It has been an awful couple of days for the Vikings organization. However, there is somewhat good news regarding the status of Addison. Head coach Kevin O'Connell says that Addison has avoided a major ankle injury. That should give fans a sigh of relief after Addison was carted off the field on Wednesday. The team should give more information soon, but it sounds like Addison isn't going to miss a lengthy period of time.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) was carted off the practice field on Wednesday with an apparent leg injury. After practice concluded, head coach Kevin O'Connell said it was an ankle tweak, and he's unlikely to practice on Thursday. However, he said the injury is not believed to be serious, and he thinks Addison is going to be "OK." This is a sigh of relief for the Vikings on a day it was announced that rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) would miss the entire 2024 season after undergoing surgery on his meniscus. While it doesn't appear Addison's injury will hold him out of Week 1 of the regular season, he still has a possible suspension looming stemming from a DUI charge earlier this offseason, so fantasy managers should stay tuned for that development.

Minnesota Vikings rookie first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) will miss his entire rookie season after having successful surgery on Wednesday morning on the meniscus in his knee. The Vikings announced on Tuesday that the 21-year-old had a meniscus tear in his right knee, and apparently he needed a full repair, which will cost him all of 2024. The 12th overall pick in this year's NFL draft was fully expected to start his rookie year as the backup to Sam Darnold while the team slow-played his development, but there was still a good chance he would have seen the field this year, especially if Darnold struggled in the starting role. Now, McCarthy will rest and rehab and learn from the sidelines. He can obviously be avoided in all single-year fantasy leagues. Nick Mullens will open the regular season as Darnold's backup.