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.

Drake Maye delivered the cleaner day, avoiding turnovers despite a rough protection day and capitalizing on decisive moments. JJ McCarthy showed flashes of arm talent but paid for a miscommunication that Marcus Jones turned into an interception, highlighting how timing and trust between passer and target can swing outcomes. Jabril Peppers added a highlight with an athletic pass breakup on an overthrown deep ball, underscoring how a sharp defense can tilt a close matchup. The contrast between Maye's poise and McCarthy's risk creates a clear DFS and dynasty narrative: Maye's floor feels steadier, McCarthy's ceiling remains tantalizing yet volatile.

For fantasy considerations, Maye’s ability to avoid giveaways and navigate pressure bodes well for NFL projection, especially if rushing upside remains part of his game. McCarthy’s upside hinges on tighter route chemistry and quicker decision-making under duress. Jones’ interception and Peppers’ disruption add to the defensive storytelling, suggesting that while offensive fireworks are possible, defensive plays could swing weekly fantasy expectations in this scenario and beyond.

Overall, the day leaned toward Maye and the defense making the bigger plays, shaping early-season fantasy chatter about which young QB is closer to a reliable fantasy asset and which defensive pieces could offer steady value when matchups align.

Drake Maye showed encouraging poise for New England, but the joint practices with Minnesota underscored how fragile the Patriots’ protection can be. Maye went 7-for-12 in the field, yet seven sacks by Minnesota’s edge pressure highlighted the interior line’s vulnerabilities, especially at left guard where Ben Brown and Jared Wilson have struggled. Minnesota was without Justin Jefferson, which skewed the usual target distribution and kept the Patriots’ defensive depth in sharper focus. Andrew Van Ginkel’s absence from Minnesota’s healthy lineup provided a reminder that the pass rush was shaping this week’s takeaways.

Patriots turn the page with Will Campbell facing a tough test against a relentless Flores front. Campbell’s performance and protection on Maye will shape early-season forecasts, while New England’s defense held its own with red-zone pressure—a microcosm of what the team will need to lean on as the calendar moves toward Week 1. The Vikings, meanwhile, navigated a star-depleted attack without Jefferson, testing JJ McCarthy’s opening impressions in the Vikings’ return game and highlighting how much the offense depends on layout and time in the pocket. The episode closes with Vrabel’s mood and a birthday moment on the sideline, offering a window into the team’s temperament as plans for Week 1 take shape and the poll and comments add a fantasy-flavored angle to the quarterback conversation.

Four quarterbacks lead the breakout charge as fantasy managers chase upside this season. Justin Fields anchors a dual-threat path, with rushing floor ready to lift even modest passing improvements into QB1 territory if health cooperates. Trevor Lawrence and Drake Maye pace the late-round sprint, offering explosive rushing and passing ceilings on offenses set to lean into big plays. Debo Samuel’s move to Washington adds a new dynamic for breakout targets, while JJ McCarthy’s pro-ready upside keeps the rookie chatter buzzing into draft season.

Across the board, the thread tying these picks is rushing upside paired with a cleaner passing path. The group cautions not to reach for high-risk quarterbacks early, instead hunting value late where mobility can carry weeks with big points even if box-score passing isn’t elite. The dialog also flags roster-building strategies around efficient offenses, threat diversification at skill positions, and high-leverage stacks to maximize fantasy floors and ceilings.

Rondale Moore’s season-ending injury tightens the Vikings’ wideout picture just as Jordan Addison nears return. Minnesota shoulders a three-game hurdle before Addison is back, leaving Jaylen Naylor, Lucky Jackson, and Ty Felton to contend for the No.3 spot and a possible practice squad move. The team weighs veteran proven options like Adam Thielen against developing players already in the building, prioritizing chemistry with Kirk Cousins over flashy late-camp acquisitions. The Vikings also cut Brian Osama and retooled the linebacking corps with Kobe King, Eric Wilson, and a veteran rotation as Flores reshapes a line of playmakers. Maggie’s rookie QB buzz broadens the horizon: Shadur Sanders, Cam Ward, and Jackson Dart each flash potential, underscoring the NFL’s evolving QB ladder and the Fantasy implications of a crowded backfield and a high-velocity offense upcoming.

In this window, the fantasy angle centers on how Minnesota maximizes the three-strong WR set while Addison is sidelined a few weeks. It also weighs the value of under-the-radar depth like Lucky Jackson and Deshawn Jones, and whether a Thielen reunion or a Powell/KJ Osborne return could yield a few important short-term catches. Off the field, the Vikings’ cap strategy and free-agent agility have created a two-year championship window around Jefferson and McCarthy’s horizon, with the defense and LB depth turning into a potential breakthrough for IDP and divisional fantasyラインups. The one constant: expect rapid in-season adjustments as the rookies prove their mettle and the coaching staff sticks with the players who grasp Flores’ scheme and O’Connell’s plan.