Sports
The Vikings’ Supporting Cast Evidently Stinks
FOX Sports decided to rank all NFL teams’ “supporting casts” this week — and your Minnesota Vikings have the NFL’s 11th-worst. Most fans perceive the team’s playmakers as one of the team’s strengths, but not everyone agrees.
Minnesota has star power at wide receiver, but national perception still lags behind the roster’s actual upside.
Lists of playmaker rankings really don’t mean anything, but they do provide a thermometer of public opinion. The public says the Vikings are mid.
National Skepticism Follows the Vikings’ Skill Players
No. 22 is the ranking for Minnesota’s WRs, RBs, and TEs.
MIN’s Ranking from FOX Sports
Ranking just ahead of the New Orleans Saints’ supporting cast, Ralph Vacchiano explained Minnesota at No. 22: “They certainly have given whomever is their quarterback some good receivers to work with. Justin Jefferson is as good as any in football when everything is working right with the offense, and Jordan Addison is a strong No. 2. The Vikings also went out and added the underrated Jauan Jennings to give the QB another option. And TE T.J. Hockenson is a big weapon in the passing game, too — at least when he’s healthy.”
“Beyond that, though, they really have to lean into the mind of head coach Kevin O’Connell because there are some issues. The offensive line was not good nor healthy last season.”
Because of Jefferson and Addison on the roster, most Vikings fans expected Minnesota to check in within this ranking’s Top 15. No cigar.
“And they lean way too much on 32-year-old, oft-injured RB Aaron Jones. That lack of a dependable running game is big. It’s why defenses could tee off on Vikings QBs, who were sacked 60 times last season — tied for second-most in the league,” Vacchiano concluded.
Lower Than the … Giants, Steelers, and Patriots?
Vacchiano strangely ranked the Vikings’ playmakers beneath the New York (Giants), Pittsburgh, and New England groups. The Giants have Malik Nabers (injured) and Cam Skattebo (injured). The Steelers showcase DK Metcalf and Jaylen Warren. The Patriots? Treveyon Henderson and Kayshon Boutte. What are we doing? What’s going on?
On the Patriots’ weaponry, Vacchiano noted, “The Pats currently have a bunch of role players in the passing game. Romeo Doubs is a solid No. 2. Kayshon Boutte is a deep threat. And Mack Hollins is a big target, but needs a reduced role at age 32. New England’s strength is in the potent 1-2 RB punch of TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson.”
“But the real key for this team will be the offensive line. It improved from 2024 yet still gave up a ridiculous 47 sacks in the regular season and a record 21 in four playoff games. There’s a good argument about whether those crazy numbers were more the fault of Drake Maye or his line. But it doesn’t matter. The young QB won’t survive another year like that, especially against a much tougher schedule.”
Doubs, Henderson, and Boutte should not take the cake over Jefferson, Addison, Jennings, Aaron Jones, and Jordan Mason. It doesn’t make sense.
How Much Worse without Jennings?
The Vikings recently signed Jennings from free agency; in theory, had they not, the ranking on Vacchiano’s list might’ve been even more egregious, possibly three to five spots lower.
Still, Jennings is poised to make a significant impact in Minnesota. He’ll seamlessly integrate into three-receiver sets alongside Jefferson and Addison, presenting a formidable challenge for defenses on passing downs. With multiple threats, a favorable matchup would often emerge, and Jennings would be well-positioned to exploit it.
He’ll also likely see a substantial increase in targets within O’Connell’s offense compared to his time in San Francisco. Jennings already embodies the gritty, ‘dirty-work’ mentality Minnesota values, particularly as an elite blocker — a crucial asset for this offense. His role would be genuine, not merely ornamental.
Furthermore, should Jefferson or Addison miss any time, Jennings would immediately elevate to WR1-WR2 status.
The RB Effect?
The culprit behind the FOX Sports clunker regarding Minnesota must be the running backs. Jones is old, and Mason has never experienced an extended run as an RB1. For example, while the Vikings have Jones, Mason, and rookie Demond Claiborne, a team like the Denver Broncos has these options at RB:
- JK Dobbins
- RJ Harvey
- Jonah Coleman
It’s also worth noting that Minnesota has not run the football particularly well under O’Connell.
If you’re looking for an explanation for why the Vikings’ supporting cast must be so putrid compared to fans’ expectations, it must be the running backs. It’s the only thing that makes sense. It’s impossible to look at a WR room with Jefferson and Addison, and say, “Yeah, Romeo Doubs and Kayhson Boutte are better than that.”
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