Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell suggested that his team might run the ball more this season than the last two. Minnesota ranked third and second in pass rate the past two years, with QB Kirk Cousins at the controls for most of that time. Now with a QB room of Sam Darnold and rookie J.J. McCarthy, it'd certainly make sense for the Vikings to lean more on the run game in 2024.
"We’re gonna run the football, and we want to establish it," O'Connell said.
The Vikings registered 64.0% and 63.3% pass rates the past two years. We currently project them at 59.8% this season -- a significant shift that would result in more fantasy value in the backfield. Minnesota finished 31st in total RB PPR points last year but should rank much higher in 2024.
Exactly how those RB points will be distributed is still unclear. O'Connell talked up both Aaron Jones and Ty Chandler, while confirming that this will be a committee backfield.
On Aaron Jones: "He’s unique. He’s dynamic. ... I think when he’s been at his best throughout his career, you’ve seen that other guy. That AJ Dillon, [Jamaal] Williams. ... And that allows him to be a featured, all-three-down back."
On Ty Chandler: "I have a ton of confidence in Ty Chandler ... We feel really, really good about Ty Chandler."
On a committee backfield: "I'm excited to see both those guys. Because I do think they're different. I do think they have different skill sets. But at the same time, we can run the same offense with both of them."
Jones sits well ahead of Chandler in the RB rankings but is going seven rounds earlier in fantasy drafts. That has Chandler as the much better value, according to ADP Market Index.
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