Running back could quietly become a sneaky need for the Minnesota Vikings, especially if the team makes a cap-related decision on veteran back Aaron Jones this offseason.

Both the Draft and free agency feature some intriguing names, but one of the more fascinating fits could be a hometown prospect to the squad, now that C.J. Ham and Adam Thielen have announced their retirement.

Consider someone with the Twin Cities in his veins, Mr. Emmett Johnson, a runner from Nebraska. Regarded as one of the better backs in the class, Johnson could elevate the running back group for his hometown team.

While chatting with NBC Sports at the Scouting Combine, Johnson commented on the chance of playing for the Vikings, “Hey, man, it would mean a lot. I grew up in the inner city. I lived about 10-15 minutes from U.S. Bank Stadium. I had a great formal meeting with them and (Kevin) O’Connell. I would love to go back home.”

Johnson, 22, attended Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, MN, where he dominated as a senior, rushing for nearly 2,500 yards and 42 touchdowns en route to earning Minnesota Mr. Football honors. The Golden Gophers didn’t offer him a scholarship, so he headed to Nebraska.

At Nebraska, Johnson had a redshirt year, followed by two solid campaigns in a timeshare with a total of 1,009 yards and three scores on the ground. His breakout season came in 2025, when he accumulated 1,451 rushing yards and added another 370 as a pass-catcher. Johnson scored 15 touchdowns from scrimmage in his final collegiate season.

With numbers like that, it’s no wonder he has drawn buzz ahead of the Draft. ESPN’s Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. considers him the 3rd-best back in the class, only trailing Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price.

Asked about guys whose skillset he resembles, he responded, “I’ll say a lot of different guys. Barry Sanders is one of them. I’ll go LaDainian Tomlinson, a little bit of (Christian) McCaffrey. In today’s day and age, my coach also coached him, so I feel like the receiving ability from him. And then a little bit of Walter (Payton). Y’all might not know, but if you go watch the tape.”

And then there’s a specific Vikings great he added to that list.

“I grew up a Vikings fan. Just how downhill [Adrian Peterson] was. I feel like if you watch my tape, I finish a lot of my runs moving forward. I feel like the violent part came from AP.”

If the Vikings ultimately acquire him on Day 2 of the Draft and Johnson can come close to any of the names he mentioned, well, the Vikings would be happy about that decision.

PFF’s Trevor Sikkema wrote about the prospect, “His game is built on outstanding vision and elusiveness, highlighted by some of the quickest feet in this class. That allows him to navigate traffic effectively in man- and gap-scheme concepts, where he has posted an elite rushing grade over the past two seasons. Johnson is a natural receiver out of the backfield, and while he shows the mentality for strong pass protection, he could be overpowered at the next level due to his lack of bulk. He also runs with a determined style, consistently displaying high effort and competitive toughness.”

If Jones is, indeed, on the chopping block, the Vikings only have Jordan Mason under contract for the upcoming season. Mason is a solid back, but he needs a sidekick. That’s where Johnson could be the difference-maker. Depth runners Ty Chandler and Zavier Scott are both free agents. The latter is a decent bet for a contract extension.

On the consensus board of NFL Mock Draft Database, Johnson ranks 4th among RBs in the Draft and 77th overall, just a couple of spots under Washington’s Jonah Coleman.

Our own Josh Frey has him as the 3rd RB in the class, writing, “Johnson thrives in zone running schemes, and he was one of the most explosive playmakers out of the backfield in all of college football this season. His 36 carries of 10+ yards tied for sixth in the FBS. He also led all running backs in the FBS with 46 receptions. At 5’11” and 200 pounds, Johnson has a sturdy frame to along with outstanding breakaway speed and ability to change directions on a dime.”

Whether the Vikings ultimately prioritize running back in the middle rounds remains to be seen, but Johnson’s local ties, versatility, and rising draft stock make him an especially compelling fit. For a franchise looking to get younger, cheaper, and more dynamic in the backfield, a hometown prospect with three-down upside could check multiple boxes at once.

If the board falls the right way on Day 2 or early Day 3, the idea of bringing a Twin Cities native back home might be too appealing for Minnesota to ignore.

Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.

Janik Eckardt is a German sports nerd, who likes numbers and stats. He chose the Vikings to be his … More about Janik Eckardt

EA Sports has released the EA FC 26 Max Skills Evolution in Ultimate Team as the very first EVO of Fantasy FC Week 2, allowing fans to level up their left-sided wingers and transforming them into capable strikers on the virtual pitch. This is a paid EVO and requires either 40,000 coins or 300 FC Points to be completed, but the boosts on offer will certainly be tempting for fans looking to upgrade their squads.

The second week of the Fantasy FC promo is under full swing in Ultimate Team, with the likes of Florian Wirtz and Arda Guler leading the line. There are a number of amazing players available via packs, but the EA FC 26 Max Skills Evolution will allow gamers to create their very own top-tier attacker on the virtual pitch.

All requirements of the EA FC 26 Max Skills Evolution

A player must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the EA FC 26 Max Skills Evolution:

• Overall rating: Max 87
• Position: LM
• Strength: Max 82
• Positions: Max four
• PlayStyles: Max 10
• PlayStyles+: Max one
• Must not be: World Tour Silver Superstars Icon

Best players to use in the EA FC 26 Max Skills Evolution

These are some of the most overpowered left-midfielders who will benefit the mosts from the attacking boosts on offer:

• Rafael Leao: 87
• Philogene: 87
• Kingsley Coman: 87
• Linda Caicedo: 87
• Bradley Barcola: 87
• Nico Williams: 87
• Antoine Griezmann: 87
• Luis Diaz: 87
• Serge Gnabry: 87
• Claudia Pina: 87
• Gervinho: 87
• Federico Chiesa: 86
• Isco: 86

All these players will receive a massive pace boost and an additional PlayStyle+ to make them even more effective in the current meta.

All upgrades and challenges of the EA FC 26 Max Skills Evolution

Similar to the recently released Bronze Glow Up EVO, the EA FC 26 Max Skills Evolution also has five levels. These are the upgrades offered by each level:

Level 1 upgrades:

• Quickstep PlayStyle
• Agility +25 (Max 90)
• Composure +25 (Max 88)
• Dribbling +25 (Max 90)

Level 2 upgrades:

• Quickstep+ PlayStyle
• Trickster PlayStyle
• Sprint Speed +25 (Max 91)
• Acceleration +25 (Max 92)
• Stamina +25 (Max 86)

Level 3 upgrades:

• LM inside forward++
• Trickster+ PlayStyle
• Jumping +25 (Max 86)
• Shooting+15 (Max 85)
• Short Passing +25 (Max 87)

Level 4 upgrades:

• ST position
• Skill moves +4 star
• Rapid PlayStyle
• ST Advanced Forward++
• Reactions +25 (Max 88)

Level 5 upgrades:

• Technical PlayStyle
• LM Winger++
• Ball control +25 (Max 89)
• Curve +25 (Max 87)
• Balance +25 (Max 89)

These are the challenges fans will have to complete in various Ultimate Team game modes like Rush, Rivals, Champions or Squad Battles:

Level 1 challenges:

• Play one match in Squad Battles on minimum Semi Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player.

Level 2 challenges:

• Play one match in Squad Battles on minimum Semi Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player.

Level 3 challenges:

• Play one match in Squad Battles on minimum Semi Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player.

Level 4 challenges:

• Play one match in Squad Battles on minimum Semi Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player.

Level 5 challenges:

• Play one match in Squad Battles on minimum Semi Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player.

Overall, the EVO is worth the coins or FC Points required to unlock it.