d 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.

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Justin Jefferson returns to practice Monday, ramping up ahead of Minnesota's 2025 opener against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings’ star has missed most of camp with a hamstring issue, but coach Kevin O’Connell indicated he will participate in practice inBits and pieces as he climbs back toward full speed. Jefferson’s elite track record—five straight 1,000+ yard seasons, four Pro Bowls, and an Offensive Player of the Year award—promises a dramatic uptick for the Vikings’ offense once healthy. He’ll help second-year passer J.J. McCarthy settle in as the starter, a process that Minnesota will manage carefully in Week 1. The Bears visit U.S. Bank Stadium on Sept. 8 to open the season.

Jefferson’s return acceler

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