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.

Justin Jefferson returned to Vikings practice for the first time since a July hamstring tweak, signaling a clear path toward full-speed Week 1 against Chicago. He emphasized leadership growth during rehab, spoke about the system clicks with J.J. McCarthy, and highlighted teammates like Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson as progressions unfold. The session showed a cautious ramp with non-11-on-11 work, underscoring Minnesota’s plan to ease him in over three weeks before the opener while juggling several other injury notes across the roster.

Protein-sharp questions loom for fantasy: how fast Jefferson will reestablish his elite target share, how Addison’s role shifts with Jefferson back, and how the Vikings’ early-season ramp affects upside for multiple pass-cenders. Minnesota’s injury picture remains fluid, but Jefferson’s return is the headline upgrade with potential ripple effects for Addison, Hockenson, Nailor and the overall offense as Chicago awaits.

Justin Jefferson returned to practice for the first time in 25 days, but only in warmups and individual drills as Minnesota continues to manage his left hamstring. With a Week 1 date against Chicago looming and the Vikings’ wideout corps unsettled, Jefferson’s health is a cornerstone for fantasy projections. Jordan Addison will miss the first three games due to a suspension, lifting Jefferson’s early-season workload while Nailor recovers from a hand injury. Minnesota’s WR mix—veterans Tim Jones, Lucky Jackson and Thayer Thomas plus rookie Tai Felton—will be leaned on more heavily while Addison sits out.

Jefferson’s comments about wanting to be “in the mix” highlight his commitment, but the team’s cautious approach remains intact. Nailor’s status is listed as week-to-week, with surgery possibly on the table, leaving the Vikings to navigate a rotation that could elevate Jefferson’s target share early but also raises volatility for the offense. The Titans in the preseason finale and Chicago in Week 1 frame a rough but telling path for Minnesota’s passing game as it eyes elevated opportunities for its star and a deeper, perhaps more unpredictable, receiving corps.

The Vikings are narrowing their 2025 roster with one preseason game left, before the Aug. 26 cut deadline. The slate of competitions centers on backup quarterback, receiver depth, punter and punt returner roles, and the usual 53-man jostling across the offense and defense.

Quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy, Brett Rypien and Max Brosmer form the trio, with Sam Howell waived. Rypien’s command of the scheme and Brosmer’s ascent keep the group intact, while the No. 3 emergency quarterback could dress for games if on the 53-man roster.

At running back, Aaron Jones anchors behind Mason and Scott, with Ham handling fullback duties; Ty Chandler is waived. Five receivers sit behind Jefferson and Addison, including Nailor, Felton, Lucky Jackson and Tim Jones, with Addison suspended three games and Rondale Moore on I.R. The fifth spot likely goes to Tim Jones for his special-teams versatility.

T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver and Ben Yurosek headline the tight ends, with Gavin Bartholomew on the PUP list and Bartholomew missing at least four games. Up front, nine blockers and a deep defensive line lock in, while the linebackers and secondary mix features multiple veterans and young players, including Harrison Smith, Jay Ward and Kahlef Hailassie among others. Special teams include Reichard, Wright and DePaola, with Oscar Chapman as the International Pathway option.

Four wide receivers sit at the top of the 2025 fantasy target charts: Malik Nabers, Garrett Wilson, Jordan Addison, and Drake London, each projected to soak up a huge slice of their offenses’ looks. Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and CeeDee Lamb anchor the elite target races, but Nabers, Wilson, Addison, and London emerge as the most attractive “hog” candidates this offseason, thanks to clear primary roles and surrounding support that isn’t overwhelming. George Pickens is noted for a potential WR2 boost in Dallas, highlighting the shifting target dynamics across multiple offenses.

Nabers posted elite per-game target volume in New York’s system, even if the Giants’ overall efficiency could cap touchdown upside. Wilson faces a similarly uncertain offense environment with Jets’ structure likely to emphasize run-heavy elements and limited passing volume for fantasy ceilings. Addison and London stand out in more favorable offensive contexts, with Addison benefiting from added talent opposite him and London thriving under Penix Jr., especially inside the red zone. Ridley’s target projection in Tennessee is discussed as an upside pivot, assuming improved quarterback play and steadier league-wide volume.

Across the board, the piece stresses curiosity about how quarterback stability and offensive coaching will influence each receiver’s year-over-year targets, touchdown potential, and weekly floor. It emphasizes not just raw volume but the ability to convert volume into consistent fantasy production in varied scoring formats.