Minnesota Vikings Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Matt Schneidman of The Athletic writes that Packers TE Robert Tonyan “may not be ready to play Week 1.” Schneidman adds that he’d be surprised if Tonyan isn’t ready to play by Week 6. The veteran tore his ACL at the end of October, so he’ll be ~10.5 months removed from the injury come Week 1. Tonyan’s not a particularly desirable TE2, even if he’s ready for the opener.

Lions TE T.J. Hockenson expects to be used more creatively this season in new OC Ben Johnson's scheme. Johnson was Hockenson's position coach the past 2 years. "Ben has seen me do routes that most guys or coordinators wouldn't think that a tight end could do," Hockenson said. "Splitting me out, running a comeback, splitting me out and running things that really only wide receivers do. He's seen me run it and he's seen me run it well. Just being able to have that in his head – we're already seeing it now (with me) being split out and doing some things and showing what we got." QB Jared Goff likes what he's seen with Hockenson's usage so far this offseason. "T.J. is a unique player and somebody that we need to take advantage of his full skill set," Goff said. "No one knows him better than Ben, so having him in that (OC) spot to make those decisions and draw things up is helpful. But he's doing a great job creatively with T.J." Hockenson is a safe pick in mid-range TE1 territory and might still have untapped upside beyond that.

According to beat writer Jonathan Alexander, Panthers QB Sam Darnold “seems primed" to start the season opener vs. Cleveland. Alexander points to Darnold's experience and performance at OTAs thus far as supporting evidence. While Darnold’s a near lock to start Week 1, the smart money is on rookie Matt Corral taking over at some point in 2022.

Wes Hodkiewicz of Packers.com expects RBs Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon to have a “big role” in the passing game. Jones saw 65 targets in 2021; Dillion handled 37. While Green Bay added several bodies to the WR corps, there’s uncertainty regarding how they’ll replace 224 targets left by Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Current projections have Jones for a career-high in catches.

Wes Hodkiewicz of Packers.com writes that the team feels “fine” about their TE situation. He notes that Robert Tonyan is making “significant progress” with ACL rehab. (Tonyan tore his ACL last October.) Interestingly, GM Brian Gutekunst shouted out TE Tyler Davis, a 2020 UDFA who played 121 snaps last season. “I think we might have found something there,” Gutekunst remarked. Tonyan, 28, posted 5 games with 10 or fewer yards prior to the injury. Don’t count on a major rebound.

The Vikings selected RB Ty Chandler in Round 5 of the NFL Draft. A 5th-year senior, Chandler transferred from Tennessee to North Carolina last year. “Ty Chandler came to Carolina with loads of potential and we thought he'd have a tremendous year," HC Mack Brown said. "That's exactly what he did. He grew into the offense with his combination of speed and quickness, and was extremely productive for us. Ty was also great in the locker room as an experienced presence and went on to be voted captain by his teammates.” Chandler does bring top-end, 4.38 speed — but he’s on the smallish side at 204 pounds. He also turns 24 prior to Week 1. He’ll likely start out as a practice squad guy with the Vikings likely to stick with Alexander Mattison and Kene Nwangwu behind Dalvin Cook.

The Vikings grabbed LB Brian Asamoah early in Round 3 of the NFL Draft. Asamoah is smallish at 6'0, 226 pounds, though that's closer to the norm by current NFL standards. He tested well leading up to the draft (74th percentile speed score) after solid college production. Asamoah is likely at least a year away from the opportunity for real playing time in Minnesota, though, with Eric Kendricks and free-agent addition Jordan Hicks in the way.

The Vikings selected CB Andrew Booth in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft. Booth might have slid in the draft for injury concerns, but his most recent issue was just a sports hernia. His college numbers don’t point to huge IDP upside in the NFL: 68 total tackles, 5 INTs and 9 passes defensed across 3 seasons. Booth goes to a Minnesota secondary that presents immediate opportunity to compete for a starting gig.

The Vikings spent the final pick of Round 1 on Georgia S Lewis Cine. NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah lauded Cine's physicality but called him inconsistent in coverage. Cine did get his hands on 9 passes in his final Bulldogs season but totaled just 2 INTs across his 3 campaigns. He could be in for immediate starting duty with Harrison Smith the only incumbent safety starter in Minnesota.

The Packers re-signed TE Robert Tonyan to a 1-year deal. Tonyan is rehabbing a late-October ACL tear but should be ready for the start of the 2022 season. He came out of nowhere for a 52-586-11 line in 2020 but was sitting just 24th among TEs in PPR points through the first 7 weeks of last year. Tonyan has a shot to grab a larger target share this season with WR Davante Adams' departure.

Former Rams OC and new Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell wants to use WR Justin Jefferson in a role similar to the one Cooper Kupp played last year. “The one thing about Cooper Kupp this past season is he lined up in a lot of different spots. It was hard for defenses to really know where he was," O'Connell said. "I see that with Justin. I see an incredible, incredible skillset, but I also see a player we can move around. We can make it hard for defenses to know where he’s going to be. He doesn’t have to line up in the same spot all the time. He doesn’t have to run the same type of routes all the time. He’s dynamic with the ball in his hands. He’s willing in the run game. This guy’s a special, special player." It's no surprise that O'Connell will make Jefferson the focal point of his passing game. But it's exciting to hear about a more diverse role -- especially considering the season Kupp just had.

The Vikings are expected to name Rams OC Kevin O'Connell their new HC, according to multiple reports. The move can't be made official until after the Super Bowl. The 36-year-old O'Connell was a 3rd-round pick of the Patriots back in 2008. He washed out of the league after just 5 seasons and took his first coaching job with the Browns in 2015 under OC John DeFilippo. O'Connell worked for HC Chip Kelly in San Francisco in 2016 before spending the next 3 seasons in Washington, earning the OC title in 2019. He's spent the past 2 seasons as Rams OC, although HC Sean McVay has called the plays.

Packers RB Aaron Jones (knee) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Lions. He’d likely be playing if this game meant anything to Green Bay and should be back for the playoffs. All of the Packers’ other regulars on offense are active, although it’s unclear how much guys like Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams will play.

The Packers list RB Aaron Jones (knee) as questionable for Sunday's game vs. the Lions. That should be reason enough for him to sit out this meaningless finale. We'll get Green Bay's inactives around 11:30 am ET on Sunday.

Panthers QB Sam Darnold will start this weekend's game vs. the Saints, HC Matt Rhule said Wednesday. Rhule added that QB Cam Newton "will be ready," but it's unclear if he'll play at all. Darnold, of course, isn't a recommended fantasy play even if he's out there for 100% of the snaps.

Panthers QB Sam Darnold could play a "substantial amount" vs. the Bucs today, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. QB Cam Newton will get the start but Darnold is expected to enter "within a few series," per Rapoport. "Playing time will be determined based on the success Darnold is having." This is obviously a situation to avoid in Week 16 fantasy lineups. Rapoport adds that Darnold could cement himself as the starter for the final 2 games of the season based on his performance today.

Panthers HC Matt Rhule said Wednesday that QB Sam Darnold (shoulder) will play vs. the Bucs this weekend. QB Cam Newton will start and have a "major role," Rhule added. It's completely unclear how snaps will be divvied between the 2 QBs, making the situation an easy avoid in Week 16 fantasy lineups.

The Texans have placed DE Jonathan Greenard on the COVID list following a positive test. We'll see whether he has a shot to return for Sunday's game against the Chargers.

Dolphins RBs Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed are active for today’s game vs. the Jets. Both guys came off the COVID list on Friday. Gaskin had been operating as Miami's clear lead back, averaging 17.6 carries and 3.2 targets over his last 5 games. He’s an upside RB2 vs. the Jets’ league-worst RB defense. RB Duke Johnson is also active for Miami. RB Malcolm Brown remains on IR.

Dolphins RBs Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed have been activated from the COVID list. Both guys should be available for Sunday's game vs. the Jets. Gaskin has been operating as Miami's clear lead back, averaging 17.6 carries and 3.2 targets over his last 5 games. That stretch includes a 96-total-yard, 1-TD outing vs. the Jets back in Week 11.