Minnesota Vikings DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

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.

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee), who tore his ACL and MCL in Week 16 against the Detroit Lions last year, isn't putting a timeline on his return in 2024. "They haven't really put a timeline on it," Hockenson said. "We're just kinda taking it day by day, week by week, there's just so many variables that you can go through in this process. I'm doing really good right now. We're attacking each process. I'm attacking each one and it's been awesome, the progression has been incredible." Even if Hockenson isn't available for the Week 1 season opener this fall, he should be drafted in all fantasy leagues as a surefire, high-end TE1 when healthy, although he will be taking passes from either quarterback Sam Darnold or rookie J.J. McCarthy in 2024. In 15 games last year, Hockenson had 95 catches for 960 yards and five touchdowns.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold could be named the team's Week 1 starter over first-round pick J.J. McCarthy. As Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com writes, "It's only a matter of time before McCarthy becomes the Vikings' starting quarterback [...] but it is not likely to happen as quickly as some fans might hope, and if anything, the Vikings are poised to err on the side of methodical caution." Such a scenario could see Minnesota let Darnold, whom they signed this past offseason when Kirk Cousins left for Atlanta, start a few games before transitioning to McCarthy. Darnold has struggled to support major fantasy production from his playmakers at previous stops, including the Jets and Panthers, so fantasy managers might want to temper expectations with players like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson to start the year. Darnold himself falls to the low-end QB3 tier in fantasy football drafts.

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) is ahead of scheduled in his rehab this offseason, but the Vikings are committed to ensuring he is fully healthy before he plays. Last year's contract cemented the team's belief that he is one of its cornerstone players when he's healthy, and they aren't just going to rush a player like that back from a severe injury. Josh Oliver and Johnny Mundt will fill in if Hockenson needs to miss the first couple weeks of the 2204 season. Hockenson suffered a torn right ACL and MCL in late December last year, and his recovery this offseason will be a big storyline for Minnesota's offense as they move to a new era without quarterback Kirk Cousins. When healthy, Hockenson is a high-end TE1 in fantasy, but he'll come at a discounted price in drafts this fall if it's looking like he won't be ready to start the year on time.

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (knee) said he's been cutting and "doing everything" as he rehabs from a torn right ACL. His plan remains to be ready for training camp this summer. In addition to a torn ACL, Jones missed time with a neck injury and ended up starting just six games after having a career year in 2022. In his six starts, Jones didn't have much of a chance behind a sieve-like offensive line, throwing for 909 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions. The 2024 season could be a make-or-break year for the 26-year-old former first-round pick, although the G-Men didn't take another QB in this year's draft. Jones now has an elite wideout to work with in Malik Nabers, but he also lost do-it-all running back Saquon Barkley to free agency. Jones is an injury question mark with a low floor and ceiling as a QB2 in fantasy.