SB Nation Reacts shows Vikings fans overwhelmingly optimistic: 99% believe the team is heading in the right direction for 2025. Jordan Mason leads the newcomer chatter (42%), with Donovan Jackson (24%) and Javon Hargrave (22%) close behind. In Monday night vs. the Bears, Adam Thielen is the crowd’s pick to score the first TD (29%), narrowly over Mason (26%), with Hockenson (17%), Aaron Jones (16%), and Justin Jefferson (8%) also in the mix. The poll signals Mason as a rising workhorse, a richer offensive arsenal, and Thielen’s homecoming fueling fantasy intrigue.

Expect Mason to command a growing workload if he stays healthy, with Thielen supplying red-zone and veteran reliability. Hockenson remains a central target, while Jefferson provides the ceiling every week. Bears Week 1 will test the offensive balance, but the depth behind the star trio hints at multiple fantasy angles to chase all season.

Donovan Jackson is set to start Week 1 for Minnesota after winning the left guard role as a 2025 first‑rounder. He salvages reps against tough interior looks and has impressed Kevin O’Connell with his ability to anticipate pressure, signaling a cleaner interior for the Vikings in 2025.

Blake Brandel never reclaimed the spot, and Jackson’s Day 1 assignment gives Minnesota a much‑needed upgrade up front. The rookie’s early boundary-set may aid the run game and protect Cousins, though some learning curve remains as he adjusts to NFL power.

The Minnesota Vikings sit at No. 10 in ESPN’s power rankings ahead of 2025, a spot that mirrors real optimism around a loaded roster and one of the league’s strongest coaching staffs. The biggest swing factor is J.J. McCarthy, a first-time starter whose success would lift the club’s playoff ceiling and validate a patient build around McCarthy’s upside.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell have extended their jobs and stacked a veteran-savvy group, with little heat on any major names. The Vikings’ path to a higher rank hinges on athletic additions turning into consistency: McCarthy producing, plus solid campaigns from Dallas Turner and Donovan Jackson to anchor the interior. Addison’s emergence remains pivotal, given he was the lone starter drafted 2022–2024. If McCarthy proves himself, the club could drift higher as the season unfolds.

There’s a strategic wrinkle: ESPN hints the 2026 draft process could get a makeover if results don’t materialize from recent picks, a potential reset that could alter how fantasy managers view asset upside in this offense. In fantasy terms, McCarthy’s workload and efficiency would set Addison’s target profile, Turner’s athletic growth, and Jackson’s line play up for bigger roles as Minnesota pushes for a postseason berth.

Bottom line: Minnesota heads into 2025 in a sweet spot, but the quarterback play remains the fulcrum. Acknowledging that, McCarthy’s performance could unlock top-shelf fantasy value for Addison and the Vikings’ offense, while Turner and Jackson chase breakout campaigns behind a veteran-forward lineup.

The Minnesota Vikings made significant upgrades to their offensive line this season, investing heavily in new talent. Key additions include right guard Will Fries, who signed a lucrative five-year, $88 million deal, and center Ryan Kelly, who joined on a two-year, $18 million contract. The Vikings also used their first-round draft pick on the highly regarded left guard prospect, Donovan Jackson. Returning to the lineup are left tackle Christian Darrisaw and right tackle Brian O’Neill, bolstering the offensive front. This revamped line aims to improve performance after a season marred by blown blocks.

Examining last season’s statistics reveals the urgency of these changes. The Vikings’ offensive line had notable struggles, particularly with blown block rates, which directly correlate with play success. For instance, Darrisaw and his teammates had a higher-than-desired blown block percentage. With the new acquisitions, the Vikings hope to reduce these rates and solidify their offensive strategy, particularly in pass protection. Improved blocking could lead to better outcomes for the quarterback and running game.