Minnesota Vikings DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

For the second straight day this week, Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (quadriceps) was limited in practice on Friday. Jones was also on last week's injury report with the quad issue before suiting up and playing 62 percent of the offensive snaps in the Week 18 loss to the division-rival Detroit Lions in the regular-season finale. Jones had 15 touches for 75 scrimmage yards. The 30-year-old should be available on wild-card weekend for the Monday night matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, although he could carry a questionable tag into that one if he's limited again on Friday. As Minnesota's backfield leader in a high-scoring offense, Jones should at least be considered a low-end RB1 for fantasy managers in playoff leagues. The Rams defense was in the middle of the pack in terms of points allowed to RBs in 2024, while Jones had 19 carries for 58 yards in the loss to LA back on Oct. 24.

The Minnesota Vikings are considering using quarterback Daniel Jones as the primary backup to Sam Darnold in the postseason over Nick Mullens. The Vikings signed Jones to their active 53-man roster this week after he spent six weeks on the practice squad. Mullens appeared in relief of Darnold only four times during the regular season as his backup all year. "The best way I can put it is we're doing everything we can to get Sam ready to go, but at the same time, whether it's Nick or Daniel or Brett, having all those guys absorbing the game plan like always. It's such a fluid thing here the rest of the way. We're going to do whatever we think gives us the best chance to win," head coach Kevin O'Connell said. Darnold had his worst game of the season in Sunday night's loss to the Lions with a 34.5% off-target rate, the second-worst of his career. Jones opened the year with the Giants but was benched after 10 games.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (quadriceps) finds himself on this week's injury report but he was able to practice in full on Thursday as the team begins preparing to face the Los Angeles Rams on Monday evening in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Darnold appeared to hurt his leg late in the Sunday night loss to the division-rival Detroit Lions in the Week 18 regular-season finale, but he didn't miss any snaps on his way to a poor showing (166 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions). He should be fine to play against the Rams, where he'll have plenty of bounce-back potential despite losing to them back on Oct. 24, when he went 18-for-25 for 240 yards and two touchdowns. Additionally, the Rams defense was a top-10 matchup for opposing QBs all year by allowing 19.6 fantasy points per game to the position. Darnold will be a solid midrange QB1 target in fantasy against LA.

Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (quadriceps) remains on the injury report and was limited in the first practice of the week on Thursday. The Vikings still have two more days of practice, so as long as Jones can return to a full session by Saturday, he should be cleared to face the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card playoff round on Monday night. The 30-year-old was also limited in practice with his quad injury last week but ended up playing in the Sunday night loss to the division-rival Detroit Lions in the Week 18 regular-season finale, seeing 15 touches for 75 scrimmage yards on a 62% snap share. For the volume alone as Minnesota's primary back in a high-scoring offense, Jones should be considered a low-end RB1 for wild-card weekend in fantasy. In the loss to the Rams back on Oct. 24, Jones had 19 carries for 58 yards and also caught two passes for 37 yards.

The Minnesota Vikings signed quarterback Daniel Jones from their practice squad to the active 53-man roster on Tuesday and waived quarterback Brett Rypien in a corresponding move. Jones was waived by the Giants in November and latched on quickly with the Vikings' practice squad, but now he'll be on the active roster as QB insurance for the postseason behind starter Sam Darnold and backup Nick Mullens. It will be the first time the 27-year-old Jones is on the team's active roster since joining the organization late in November. Depending on the future of Darnold in Minnesota after this season, Jones could very likely be playing for another team in 2025. Remember, the Vikes also drafted rookie J.J. McCarthy (knee) in the first round in April of 2024. It's unlikely that Jones will be on the fantasy radar in single-QB fantasy draft in the fall.