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.

Minnesota’s 53-man projection centers J.J. McCarthy as QB1, Sam Howell as QB2, and Max Brosmer as QB3, with Brett Rypien cut. Three-game Addison suspension opens early drama at WR with Jefferson limited by a hamstring, and Addison or Nailor stepping up. Aaron Jones headlines a versatile backfield with Jordan Mason and Ty Chandler contributing in bursts. The Vikings’ TE room anchors the offense with Hockenson and Oliver, while Ham remains a key blocker with special-teams value. Price shines at returner; Thayer Thomas adds WR depth. Upgraded O-line and interior DL depth bolster the floor and ceiling for fantasy alike.

Five middle-round targets to chase in 2025 fantasy football are James Conner, Isiah Pacheco, Jordan Mason, Cam Skattebo, and Jaydon Blue. Conner sits as a dependable RB2 due to his steady production and strong involvement in the passing game, offering reliable weekly floor in New Arizona. Pacheco carries upside tied to continued mystique of the Chiefs’ high-octane offense, with improved pass-game usage and opportunity if health cooperates. Mason enters Minnesota’s backfield as a big, physical piece who could split carries in a committeelike run game, while Skattebo brings brutal efficiency and pass-catching ability that could unlock a late-season surge. Blue, a speedster in Dallas, enters a pass-heavy scheme with clear avenues to touches if he earns swings in the receiving game and screens. This group blends seasoned floors with high-ceiling bets, and their ADPs are spread enough to diversify risk across rounds 4–7.

The Minnesota backfield is the year’s biggest fantasy intrigue in the Vikings’ offense. Aaron Jones signed a two-year deal to stay in Minnesota, but the club also added Jordan Mason, signaling a modular 1A/1B approach rather to rely on one bell cow. The question for 2025 fantasy drafts isn’t who handles the workload first, but who thrives with fewer touches. Early signs point to Mason delivering superior efficiency and explosive-play ability, while Jones brings veteran steadiness and pass-catching value. With a young QB at the helm, Minnesota is likely to lean on the ground game to support J.J. McCarthy, and Mason’s metrics suggest he could seize the high-leverage, high-variance role as the year unfolds. Jones remains a plausible RB2, but the path to sustained value narrows as Mason’s opportunity grows and the coaching staff vocally backs a 1A/1B tandem. Expect Mason to carve out standalone flex viability and possibly become the Vikings’ backfield lead by midseason, making him the more dynamic pick in many 2025 formats.

Draft-day calculus emphasizes Mason’s younger age, clearer efficiency signals, and direct coaching optimism. Mason’s 2024 metrics highlighted sharp efficiency and broken-tackle aptitude, paired with a high explosive-run rate that outpaced Jones in several categories. The ADP gap between Mason and Jones is one to watch, with Mason trending toward mid-rounding while Jones sticks in the later rounds. In deeper leagues or best-ball setups, Mason could serve as an ideal RB2 with league-winning upside if he continues to harness the 1A/1B arrangement into a true 1B breakout by autumn.

Yahoo’s boom-or-bust squad places Justin Fields atop a Jets offense that could ride his rushing floor to fantasy relevance, with upside into a top-5 quarterback tier if passing improvement accrues. Tank Bigsby angles for early-down work in an unsettled Jacksonville backfield and could hit 1,000 rushing yards with around 10 TDs if he seizes the goal-line duties. Jordan Mason showcases big-play potential behind a formidable line in Minnesota, while Tetairoa McMillan lands in Carolina as a high-upside rookie option with a real shot to lead targets. Jayden Reed looks to carve a prominent slot role in Green Bay’s revamped air game, and Tyler Warren could become a surprise target-forward in Indianapolis once the Colts’ QB situation stabilizes. The projections frame floor, ceiling and consensus outook for each, offering a fresh lens for draft-day upside and weekly lineup choices.

Fields’ rushing prowess keeps him in play even if the Jets’ WR/TE corps isn’t loaded; Bigsby’s lack of receiving prowess is a risk, but goal-line touches could push him toward a 1,000-yard season. Mason’s efficiency and opportunity play against the Vikings’ run expectations, while McMillan’s draft pedigree and Panthers’ target vacuum create a clear rookie path to meaningful fantasy weeks. Reed’s slot-native profile could elevate Packers’ passing volume, and Warren’s Mackey Award pedigree signals a TE floor with spike-week upside in a Colts offense that needs reliable targets. Taken together, this all-bust, all-upside cohort offers a compelling mix of high-ceiling plays and risk-managed options for a 2025 fantasy season.