Dynasty Capsule: Minnesota Vikings

Jacob Feldman Posted On March 4, 2014

As part of the premium content package, we’re again unveiling dynasty capsules for every team in the NFL leading up to free agency and the NFL Draft. This year, we’re again going to do a follow-up on all the teams after all the free agency and NFL Draft movement to assess the impact of any players teams have gained or lost. Since these capsules are always done as a simple snapshot in time, we figured that was the best way to tackle the off-season and provide ultimate value for our subscribers. All in all, we’ll have close to 500 player profiles found in these capsules over the off-season.

Quarterbacks

Christian Ponder

The twelfth overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft and the fourth quarterback taken that year, Ponder was given the starting role early in his rookie season. Ever since, Viking fans and fantasy owners alike have been hoping and waiting for Ponder to develop into a quality starter in the NFL. Unfortunately, I think their wait was in vein and Ponder just isn’t going to be a starter in the NFL from this point forward. At least he doesn’t deserve to be.

In Ponder’s three years as a starter, his per game production was a massive 179 yards per game with only 6.35 yards per attempt, a 60.2 percent completion rate, about one touchdown, and 1.3 turnovers. When you combine all of that with some injury concerns both in college and in the NFL as well as his struggles to lead the Vikings offense even with the best running back of our generation and you get a player that just isn’t meant to be anything more than a backup at the pro level.

If Ponder remains the quarterback of the Vikings, it lowers the ceiling of everyone in the passing game. As for Ponder himself, he’s barely worth QB3 consideration in standard leagues and is even a poor choice in 2QB leagues. He really is one of the worst starters in the NFL, and I don’t think even the likes of Norv Turner will be able to turn him into a fantasy viable player.

The Next Guy

It doesn’t matter if it is someone in free agency or a draft pick early in the draft, but the next quarterback of the Vikings is just over the horizon for them. Viking fans and the fantasy owners of their players need to hope whoever it is can actually be the leader they need and not another draft reach or temporary stop gap.

Running Backs

Adrian Peterson

One of, if not the most, exceptional running back of our generation, you can’t ever count Peterson out. It speaks volumes when 1,266 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns over 14 games is viewed by some as a disappointment. His detractors will point out his 29^th birthday, which is just around the corner, and the fact that he has only played all 16 games in a season once in the last four seasons as signs of the pending cliff. I’m not buying that though.

Peterson was one of the fastest running backs in history to 10,000 rushing yards. He also has the work ethic, talent, and genetics to be the rare exception to the running back rule of 30. He has never averaged less than 4.4 yards per carry for a season even during the seasons when the Vikings have had almost no threat of a passing game and a questionable offensive line play.

The hiring of a new coaching staff is good news for Peterson as well. Historically, Turner has involved his running backs in the passing game. I would expect Peterson to approach and most likely surpass his previous career highs of 43 receptions for 436 yards, making him even more valuable in PPR leagues than he has been in the past. I expect him to continue being a very solid RB1 year in and year out for several more years, even with his age.

Matt Asiata

Outside of Peterson, Asiata is the only running back of even marginal notoriety currently under contract for the 2014 season. His claim to fame was the thirty carry, three touchdown game against the Eagles in December. What people forget about that game is Asiata only had 51 total yards or 1.7 yards per carry. His game against Detroit the following week was actually the superior effort with 14 carries for 115 yards, but he didn’t score.

Asiata doesn’t have the skill in the passing game former Peterson backup Toby Gerhart had, but Asiata is an adequate backup. The Vikings could definitely find an upgrade fairly easily, but I don’t think it is high on their priority lists. If he remains the primary backup, don’t get too worked up about his value. He is still a backup quality player, not a future leading running back.

Wide Receivers

Greg Jennings

The former Packer crossed the river in search of richer pastures but he didn’t quite live up to expectations. For the third season in a row Jennings failed to play all 16 games, failed to get 70 receptions and fell below 1,000 yards on the season. He also only had four receiving touchdowns on the season. It isn’t entirely his fault though as he did lead the team in all receiving categories while catching the ball from three different starting quarterbacks.

Jennings will be turning 31 shortly after the 2014 season begins and seems to be losing a step due to age. His body is starting to break down a little bit and there is a definite possibility Aaron Rodgers made Jennings look better than he really was. With all that said, Jennings is still a capable starting receiver in the NFL, he just isn’t a special player. He’s a low end WR3 with the current quarterback but could be a low end WR2 with an upgrade. The clock is ticking on his productive years though.

Cordarrelle Patterson

One of, if not the best, play-makers to come out of the 2013 NFL draft, Patterson has massive upside. He is also one of the bigger projects to come out of the draft at the receiver position. There is no questioning the dynamic play-making ability when Patterson has the ball in his hands, regardless of how he did it. He had a total of nine touchdowns on the season, two returns, three rushing and four receiving.

The challenge for the new coaching staff will be two-fold. They need to figure out creative ways to get the ball into Patterson’s hands as he is the only playmaker on the offense outside of Peterson. The other challenge is going to be teaching Patterson how to run routes as an NFL receiver. If they can accomplish this, we could be looking at a perennial WR1 in fantasy leagues, but that is a big if. In his current state, he is a boom or bust WR2.

Jarius Wright

Behind Jennings and Patterson at the wide receiver position there really isn’t much currently on the roster. There will be some free agent signings or late round draft choices to help fill up the roster. Wright will be entering his third season and is primarily a slot receiver. He has flashed from time to time, but he vanishes from games way too often. He has the talent to be an average slot receiver behind Patterson and Jennings, but he’s going to need an upgrade at quarterback to belong on fantasy rosters.

Greg Childs

I mention Childs only because he belongs on the mind of those in extremely deep leagues. For those who have forgotten, Childs was a fourth round pick in the 2012 NFL draft after suffering a patellar tendon tear in college. If not for the injury, Childs could have easily been a first round pick. Once in the NFL, Childs suffered a double patellar tear, one in each knee, during training camp of his rookie year. He’s never seen the field, but on the very slim chance he ever gets healthy he needs to be watched.

Tight Ends

Kyle Rudolph

People have been talking about an expecting Rudolph to be a star ever since he was drafted early in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft. His second season still stands as his career best with 53 receptions and 493 yards. He was on pace to beat those numbers with 30 receptions and 313 yards over the first eight games before he went down with a broken foot.

Rudolph has had durability issues in the pros and in college, but it is hard to deny the talent. So far he has been held back by poor quarterback play, but an upgrade at the position and Rudolph staying healthy could mean great things for him. He has the talent to be one of the top tight ends in the game and Norv Turner has a history of getting the most out of his tight ends. It isn’t a sure thing, but the stars seem to be aligning for a breakout season in either 2014 or 2015, depending on quarterback play and health.

John Carlson

There was once a point in time where Carlson was viewed as a potential TE1 during his days in Seattle, but those days are in the past. The soon to be 30 year old isn’t as athletic as most of the tight ends currently in the league. He has also lost a step due to injuries and age. He is a serviceable backup and an above average blocker, but he doesn’t belong on fantasy rosters. Even with Rudolph missing half the season, Carlson only put together 32 receptions for 344 yards and 1 touchdown on the season. Feel free to move on if he is on your roster.

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Jacob Feldman

Honorary Contributor at Dynasty League Football

Jacob is a high school math teacher by day and a father at night. This doesn't leave too much time for sane thought, so occasionally words like "icky" will slip into his writing. It is all a part of the fun!