Minnesota

Vikings

Harry joined the Vikings less than three weeks ago but is now back on the free-agent market. The former first-round pick was unable to separate himself from the pack throughout training camp and caught just two passes for 24 yards this preseason. The 25-year-old receiver could catch on with another team but will continuously battle for a roster spot.

Hockenson reportedly wants a contract that will “reset the market” for tight ends. The former first-round pick has been sidelined for most of camp with an ear infection and back soreness, which has left some to speculate whether or not he’s strategically “holding in” while waiting for a new deal. The Vikings acquired Hockenson for a 2023 second-round pick and a 2024 third-round pick around last year’s trade deadline. He went on to post a receiving line of 60-519-3 in 10 games with the team and had career-highs in receptions (86) and yards (914) when all was said and done. Now in the final year of his rookie deal, Hockenson undoubtedly deserves a new contract before the start of this season, but he and the team are understandably at odds over what he deserves. There’s still time for things to resolve themselves, but it will be interesting to see what his status is heading into Week 1 if a new deal isn’t in place.

Hockenson missed several weeks of training camp with an ear infection that affected his equilibrium and is now “day-to-day” with this back issue, according to O’Connell. These could all be legitimate concerns, but we can’t gloss over the fact that Hockenson is entering the final year of his rookie deal and in search of a new contract before the start of the season. Hockenson caught 60 passes for 519 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games with the Vikings last season and was one of the league’s most heavily-targeted tight ends. He’s a top-three fantasy tight end if healthy, but these awkward few weeks are concerning with the season drawing closer. If he were to miss time, backup tight end Josh Oliver would be on the fantasy radar as a low-end TE2.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said the team would rush back Addison from his brain injury, and it appears the rookie exited the league’s concussion protocol and rejoined the Minnesota offense ahead of their final preseason game. Addison figures to play most of the team’s offensive snaps alongside Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborn. He makes for a solid WR3 selection in 12-team redraft leagues.

Ta’amu visited with the Vikings in early-June, and will now look to compete with backups Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall in the coming weeks. Neither Mullens nor Hall has been particularly impressive in two preseason outings, and Ta’amu has flashed in non-NFL action. During 2023’s XFL season, he threw for 1,894 yards, 14 touchdowns, and three interceptions with the DC Defenders while adding another 67-298-3 on the ground.

Stefanski said Addison could be back as early as Monday, so there isn’t much to worry about here. Addison will sit out of the Vikings’ second preseason game against the Titans this weekend. Expect a few extra routes for Brandon Powell or Jalen Nailor, if he can get healthy in time, versus Tennessee.

Podlesny, who converted 83 percent of his field goal tries at Georgia, will kick for the Vikings in their upcoming preseason game against the Titans. Joseph made all three of his field goal attempts — including a 54 yarder — in the team’s preseason opener against the Seahawks. Joseph in 2022 was fantasy’s 15th highest scoring kicker, struggling through much of the season and finishing with a 78.3 percent conversion rate. Whoever kicks for the Vikings should be fantasy relevant.

There have been whispers about Hockenson staging a so-called hold in over a contract dispute as he prepares to play the 2023 season under the fifth-year option of his rookie deal. That turns out not to be the case. Hockenson said his ear infection — which held him out of practice for two weeks — is “starting to get cleared up.” He added that the infection had affected his equilibrium. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said Hockenson would be eased into the Vikings offense in the coming weeks. Unless his ear issue persists into early September, Hockenson should be one of the first three tight ends off fantasy drafts boards.

Hunt visited with the Saints earlier this week and was expected to sign. However, the Colts called him up as he was headed to New Orleans to schedule a visit of their own. He left both cities without a contract and now has another suitor in the Vikings. Multiple beat reporters have noted that the backups in Minnesota have left a lot to be desired and Kene Nwangwu is currently sidelined with an injury. Should Hunt join the mix in Minnesota, he would be a good bet to earn the No. 2 role behind Alexander Mattison.

“I thought Chandler jumped out. Any time he had the ball in his hands, very rarely tackled by the first defender.” With Alexander Mattison sitting, Chandler started vs Seattle, totaling 60 yards on 15 touches. Chandler, who missed his rookie year to a hand injury, hadn’t been overly impressive in practices to this point. Starting and carrying the load in place of Mattison suggests the Vikings’ view Chandler as their No. 2 back.