In the 21st of a 32-part series, we are featuring all National Football League teams with a prediction of where each team will finish within their division, key off-season acquisitions and their top fantasy stars. Here are the Minnesota Vikings.
Key Off-Season Acquisitions
The Vikings came to terms with four players in free agency. They signed tight end Josh Oliver of Templeton, California, cornerback Byron Murphy of Scottsdale, Arizona, and defensive ends Marcus Davenport of San Antonio, Texas and Dean Lowry of Rockford, Illinois.
Davenport signed a one-year deal worth $13 million. He played the last five seasons with the New Orleans Saints. In 2022, he had 29 combined tackles (16 solo tackles and 13 assisted tackles), two tackles for a loss, eight quarterback hits and half a sack. The two tackles for a loss came in a 24-0 Saints win over the Las Vegas Raiders on October 30.
Murphy signed a two-year deal worth $17.5 million. He is joining his second NFL team as he played the last four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. In 2022, Murphy had 36 combined tackles (29 solo tackles and seven assisted tackles), three tackles for a loss, one quarterback hit, four pass deflections, two fumble recoveries for 59 yards and one touchdown, along with half a sack. The fumble recovery for a touchdown was for 59 yards and came with three minutes and 51 seconds left in overtime in a 29-23 Cardinals win over the Las Vegas Raiders on September 18.
Oliver signed a three-year deal worth $21 million. He is joining his third NFL team. Oliver previously played one season with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019 and two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens in 2021 and 2022. This past season he had 14 catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns with Baltimore.
Lowry signed a two-year deal worth $8.5 million. He played the last seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers. In 15 games, Lowry had 43 combined tackles (23 solo tackles and 20 assisted tackles), five quarterback hits, one tackle for a loss, one pass deflection and half a sack. The half a sack came in a 27-24 Packers win over the New England Patriots on October 2.
Fantasy Stars
Kirk Cousins of Barrington, Illinois is seventh among quarterbacks in fantasy football. In 2022, he completed 424 passes in 643 attempts for 4547 passing yards, 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Cousins also had 31 rushes for 97 rushing yards and two touchdown rushes. The touchdown runs came in Vikings wins. The first was for one-yard and was the game-winning touchdown in a 29-22 Vikings win over the Chicago Bears on October 9, and the second was for 17 yards and opened the scoring in a 34-26 Minnesota win over the Arizona Cardinals on October 30. Cousins also was a Pro Bowler, and led the NFL in fourth quarter comebacks (eight) and game-winning drives (eight).
Wide receiver Justin Jefferson of St. Rose, Louisiana is the best wide receiver in fantasy. Last season he led the NFL in receptions (128), receiving yards (1809), yards per game (106.4), and yards per touch (13.9). Jefferson also had eight touchdown catches and was selected to the Pro Bowl for the third straight year.
T.J. Hockenson of Charlton, Iowa is fourth among tight ends in fantasy. Last season with the Detroit Lions and Vikings, he had 60 catches for 519 receiving yards and three touchdown catches.
Projected Finish
The Vikings are the clear favourites to win the NFC North. They have a strong passing game and should repeat as division champions. Last year they were at 13 wins and four losses.
