M Vikings Week 2 preseason performance vs Patriots yielded a handful of clear standouts and a lot of flux for depth players. Nick Vannett posted the top overall grade on offense at 89.6, with Henry Byrd (75.1) and Blake Brandel (72.7) also delivering. Ta Felton (70.6) and Michael Gonzalez (70.2) joined the solid tier as Minnesota pushed through backups into meaningful reps. On the ground, Ty Chandler and Sam Howell managed mid-range marks, while the run game mostly neutralized by Patriots pressure at times.

Run blocking highlighted Thayer Thomas (81.6), Leroy Watson (78.0s range), Walter Rouse (75.5) and Vershon Lee (70.1) as the drive blockers who kept movement toward the edge. Pass blocking leaned into Henry Byrd (80.8) and Tre Stewart (77.2) as the strongest protectors, while the interior lines lagged a bit with Leroy Watson (52.1) and Michael Gonzalez (62.3) showing inconsistency. Defensively, Jonathan Harris (81.2) and Dorian Mausi (73.9) anchored a unit that limited big plans for New England.

Fantasy takeaway: Week 2’s depth-map suggests a few names to monitor if Minnesota leans on them for late-season depth or in-game rotations. Vannett’s elite grade could signal a trusted role in two-tight-end packages or a red-zone option if the offense leans into 12-personnel. Ty Chandler isn’t guaranteed a front-line role, but his utilization hints at a potential shift if the Vikings need a committee back. Keep an eye on the Vikings’ young blockers who flashed in run and pass protection as a signal of future spot starts or injury insurance.