Seven days from the final Vikings preseason, a light session at TCO Performance Center still mapped out the team’s immediate roster landscape. Matthew Coller breaks down which role players must seize their moment in Friday’s Titans game to remain in consideration. The focus lands on the offense’s depth chart behind Addison and Jefferson, with McCarthy operating the offense in a controlled, walk-through setting that emphasized route timing, clock management, and two-minute execution.

Wide receivers behind Jordan Addison and Jaylen Naylor are under the microscope. Lucky Jackson has momentum but must prove his hands with four or five catches, while Tim Jones and Theer Thomas look to convert opportunities into a consistent role. Ty Felton’s speed and return ability also factor, along with Xavier Scott’s late-season potential and Miles Price’s breakout flashes. At quarterback, Sam Howell and Max Brosmer headline the intrigue, with Brett Ripien on the fringe as a potential QB2 depending on practice tempo. The special-teams battle between Oscar Chapman and Ryan Wright looms large, as does the question of whether the Vikings add a veteran playmaker before cutdown day. Overall, the Titans game is cast as a high-leverage showcase for several players who could swing the roster timeline if they deliver on Friday night.

Justin Jefferson's return to the Vikings practice field marks a pivotal step in Minnesota's season ramp-up. The team will ease him back after a hamstring issue, prioritizing week-one readiness over full-contact reps. Jordan Addison is thriving in training camp, engaging with Jefferson and taking on a larger role as a pair with the star receiver develops chemistry off practice reps. Addison’s high engagement but lingering suspension creates a complex early workload picture for the offense.

Adam Thielen enters the Rogers-era trade talk as a veteran option whose fit could accelerate Minnesota's passing game if a deal makes sense, with a potential fourth- or fifth-round swap on the table. Tim Jones has emerged as a meaningful first-team presence amidst depth concerns at wide receiver, challenging the conventional depth chart and forcing strategic decisions on the 53-man roster. All of this comes as Mike Sando and others weigh quarterback trajectories, giving fantasy managers a clearer view of how quickly Minnesota's aerial attack could surge.

The broader context includes how the Vikings manage depth behind Jefferson, how McCarthy’s development influences the passing game, and which veteran or young playmakers might be added to stabilize Week 1 and beyond. The convergence of Jefferson’s ramp, Addison’s growth, and possible Thielen upside sets up a potentially explosive fantasy season if the offense can lock in its supporting cast and sustain healthy WR reps early.

Draft-season clarity arrives in a fast-paced, practical guide to the top four picks and roster construction in standard fantasy leagues. Ja’Marr Chase, Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley, and Justin Jefferson loom as the most likely first-round anchors, but the speaker stresses that value often appears later, especially at running back. Early-round WRs emerge as safer week-to-week bets, while the better late-second-round RBs—think mid-tier pushers who can carry glimpses of value for a few weeks—become the engine for a balanced build. The core message: don’t be forced into a RB- or WR-heavy plan; let the draft shape your roster and prioritize durable Week 1 options that can sustain you through unpredictable weeks.

The discussion also dives into zero-RB strategies with caveats: you can win with zero RB or hero RB, but success requires hitting on late-round backs who can contribute for two to three weeks while an injury or role change shakes out. The main idea is weekly rostering over a singular breakout, with players like De’Von Achane, Kenneth Walker III, and Zach Charbanet highlighted as potential swing pieces who can fill gaps when top options miss time. Guillotine formats and general redraft differ in emphasis, making formats like guillotine.com’s leagues a reminder that format-specific roster construction matters as much as raw talent.