Fantasy Preview: McCarthy Might Be A Risky Draft Target, But His Vikings Teammates Aren't

By Craig Williams

The Minnesota Vikings feel like a team lurking in high grass. They have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball and a great head coach flanked by quality coordinators; but they have a rookie quarterback. We’ve seen rookie quarterbacks and first-year starters lead high degrees of team success, so J.J. McCarthy’s lack of experience won’t necessarily preclude the Vikings from surprising the league and emerging as a legitimate contender in the NFC — all while delivering plenty of fantasy production.

Odds to Make Playoffs: +102 at FanDuel

Quarterback: J.J. McCarthy

• Last Season: Missed the year due to injury

• The sliver lining for those concerned with McCarthy’s rookie status is he has much more experience than your typical rookie. Even though his on-the-field reps were cut short, he still completed a full season as an NFL player. There is a lot of intangible value that comes with that, and it’s a factor that could allow McCarthy to perform above expectations. Even if that doesn’t make him a fantasy target, it keeps his supporting cast firmly entrenched at their respective pricepoints. 

Running Back: Jordan Mason

• Last Season: 12 games, 153 carries, 789 total yards, 5.2 Y/A, 9 20+ runs, 3 total TD, 65.8 rushing yards/game, 1 fumble lost

• Mason was signed in the offseason after a mini-breakout in San Francisco. He’s not ticketed for the starting or lead role — he’ll split the load with veteran Aaron Jones, who will turn 31 in December. Running backs over the age of 30 remain one of the most easily fadable assets in fantasy football, and that makes Mason an intriguing target for managers who find themselves light in their virtual backfield. And even if he doesn’t find himself with an increased workload at some point during the season, he will likely be capable of delivering modest-but-useful standalone value.

Wide Receiver: Jordan Addison

• Last Season: 15 games, 63 receptions, 99 targets, 875 yards, 13.9 average, 9 TD, 19 20+ receptions, 58.3 yards/game, 213 yards after catch

• We don’t need to tell you about Justin Jefferson. He’ll be off the board within the first five picks in many drafts. Addison though — after he serves his three-game suspension — will have an opportunity to build on a strong 2024 season in which he delivered three 20+ point fantasy performances (half PPR). Volume isn’t going to be his strong suit, not with a rookie quarterback and Jefferson serving as the No. 1. But Addison has scored 19 touchdowns in 32 games, and he’s likely to deliver some explosive performances this season. He’s an ideal target in Best Ball formats.

Tight End: T.J. Hockenson

• Last Season: 10 games, 41 receptions, 62 targets, 455 yards, 11.1 average, 0 TD, 5 20+ receptions, 45.5 yards/game, 145 yards after catch

• Hockenson can easily fall through the cracks from a fantasy perspective. He’s below the elite class of options, and he’s pricier than some of the late-round sleepers that patient managers will target. Despite drawing over 100 targets three times in his career, Hockenson hasn’t had a true breakout season. At 28 years old, there’s still time for him to deliver something loud. We’re just not betting on that occurring while he serves as the third option with a rookie quarterback under center.

Defense

• Last Season: 19.5 points per game, 35.6% 3rd down, 37.1% 4th down, 24 interceptions, 48 sacks, 12 fumbles caused, 9 fumbles recovered, 3 touchdowns

• The Vikings finished top five in takeaways, sacks, and points allowed — a surefire recipe for fantasy success. They enter the 2025 season stout on the defensive side of the ball once again, and they remain a prime defense target in drafts — though we still don’t recommend doing so before the appropriate round.