Fantasy Focus: Drafting a Viking

Alright fantasy folks, the most anticipated time of the year is right around the corner. The day is filled with beer, trash talking and everyone thinking they’re gods at generating the perfect fantasy team. Yeah, that’s right, I’m talking about your league’s good ole fantasy draft.

I do mock drafts and what not, but I don’t get in-depth with it. I always try to draft at least one Viking, it always makes watching the game that much more enjoyable... Or miserable.

I always try to stick with just one player per team, but sometimes I will have one pair of players that happen to be on the same team. The passed couple of years I’ve picked mainly Kyle Rudolph or Blair Walsh (I know, how could I? He wasn’t that bad of a fantasy kicker).

This year I might try and grab a more productive player like Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs or Dalvin Cook. Kirk Cousins is even a possibilty. I’m not saying Rudolph isn’t productive, I just don’t think he has as much upside as others on the team.

According to FantasyPros, Cook is projected to be the most productive for the Vikings this season. He’s expected to rush for over 1,100 yards off of 262 rush attempts while slamming in seven touchdowns.

Plan on him being a part of the passing game with Cousins. He’s also projected to have about 45 receptions for over 350 yards. That will be beneficial to owners in a points per reception (PPR) league. Expect him to exceed 200 fantasy points for standard legues and over 240 points in PPR leagues. He’ll be a top-ten fantasy back this season.

Thielen is next on the list and is ranked 11th among wideouts. He’s expected to have a slight improvement in standard leagues. He’s projected to rack up about 143 points this season compared to 139 last season.

Last season he recorded over 1,200 yards and four touchdowns. What’s giving him the upside this season is that he is projected for about six touchdowns. Taking a slight dip in receiving yards (1,110) could be factor in how he performs in PPR leagues. He’ll make a good WR2 option.

Not to far behind Thielen is Diggs. He’s ranked 14th among his counterparts. He’s projected just under 1,000 recieving yards. I think he will actually crack that number and maybe end up the top-Vikings reciever at the end of the season.

Cousins will probably take more deep shots to Diggs than he has seen in the past. A few 50, 60-yards bombs will add up quickly for Diggs. He’s expected to catch around seven touchdowns this season. That is just one shy of his eight last season. He’ll make a good WR2 option, as well.

Personally, I think Rudolph would be a great PPR tight end. Reason being is that he’s projected to catch at least 60 passes this season along with six touchdowns, which would result in about 160 fantasy points. He doesn’t have as much upside in standard leagues. He’s only expected to recieve just under 100 points. Rudolph can be a borderline starter in PPR leagues and a solid bench guy in standard leagues.

Then we have the man under center. Cousins is projected to be a top-ten quarterback this season. Experts are expecting him to once again throw for just over 4,000 yards, 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Those numbers are almost right on to where he finished last year. He finished with 331 points in standard leagues and 318 points for PPR leagues. There is no reason why he can’t be a starter in your league.

Shoot, don’t forget about the Vikings defense, they will rack the points up for you. The defense is currently ranked second in the fantasy football draft rankings. After last season, it’s onlt expected of them to be more lethal. Especially with the addition of Sheldon Richardson and Mike Hughes. Hopefully you don’t have that one jackwagon who likes to grab defenses in the fifth round.