Fantasy Preview: Minnesota Vikings

The 2005 season was a long, strange journey for the Minnesota Vikings. It began with much optimism. After faltering down the stretch in 2004, many pegged the Vikings as a darkhorse Super Bowl team. Having rid themselves of franchise receiver Randy Moss, who had become too big of a distraction, the Vikings entered 2005 thinking they had assembled a more balanced football team. Early on in the season, it became clear that the Vikings missed Moss much more than expected. Fresh off his monster 2004 season, Daunte Culpepper completely flopped, throwing twice as many interceptions (12) as touchdowns (6). Then, there was the love boat scandal, forever embarrasing the franchise. After that, the Vikings turned to Brad Johnson, and suddenly started winning. Everything that had previously gone wrong went right. The Vikings rode their suddenly stoud defense and an improved running game. But after winning 6 games in a row, the magic ran out, and the Vikings lost two of their final 3 to fall out of the playoff picture.

In terms of fantasy production, the Vikings went from being a projected juggernaut to a fantasy wasteland by season's end. Tons of owners, including Bill Simmons, took Culpepper very early last year and got burned. By the end of the year, the Vikings were only good for the annual Marcus Robinson fluke breakout week. There are some new characters on board this year, but the offensive philosophy remains the same.

Last year's fantasy rankings, curtesy Yahoo! (positional, overall)

RB: Mewelde Moore (28, 116)
QB: Brad Johnson (23, 120)
WR: Marcus Robinson (40, 138)
WR: Travis Taylor (44, 164)
TE: Jermaine Wiggins (18, 178)
DEF: Minnesota Defense (13, 190)
WR: Troy Williamson (77, 1320)

Newcomers:
K: Ryan Longwell (23, 168)
RB: Chester Taylor (46, 256)

Departures:
RB: Michael Bennett (38, 169)
WR: Koren Robinson (71, 242)
WR: Nate Burleson (87, 1381)
QB: Daunte Culpepper (36, 1395)

Rookies:
QB: Tarvaris Jackson

Essentially, we're dealing with a lot of people who did not produce much last year. Minnesota is the first team we've done without a single Top 100 player. However, despite the lack of past production, the Vikings offer many intriguing possibilities because they are full of "matchup guys." Most people won't win fantasy titles with Chester Taylor or Troy Williamson starting on a regular basis, but they should be kept around because you can put them in for a regular starter in a week where they have a favorable matchup.

Despite the lack of standouts, the Minnesota offense could be significantly better because of a re-tooled offensive line. Signing Steve Hutchinson away from the Seattle Seahawks was one of the most important moves of the offseason. For years, Hutchinson opened up holes for Shaun Alexander in Seattle. Many believed that Hutchinson, and not Alexander, was the key cog in Seattle's rushing attack. His presence means you should expect Minnesota to have a much stronger running game.

The other key move Minnesota made in the offseason was to sign Chester "The Molester" Taylor to be their starting running back. Taylor was never a starter in Baltimore behind Jamal Lewis, but was very impressive in limited action last year. The last time a promising backup Ravens running back signed with a new team, he became one of the best running backs in football. If he gets 20 carries a game, Taylor could easily become a huge fantasy star like Priest Holmes was in Kansas City. The only thing that could hold Taylor back is if new coach Brad Childress decides to go to a running-back-by committee, but considering how poorly that worked in 2005, I think it's unlikely. As long as he stays healthy, Chester Taylor is a legitimate sleeper running back.

The only other potential impact player is the defense. Minnesota's 13th ranking last year is deceiving. They were one of the worst defenses in the first 7 games, but morphed into a top unit in the final 9 games. It's a defense full of up and comers and big names, so I think we're going to see a very strong unit. Keep your eye on them late in the draft.

Other than that, Minnesota players are best suited for good matchups. Picking a #1 receiver out of Travis Taylor, Troy Williamson, and Marcus Robinson will prove to be impossible. You'll really have to hope that one of them catches a lot of touchdowns, because Minnesota tends to spread the ball around. Of the three, I'd say Williamson is the most likely to break out, but more likely, they'll just be matchup guys.

Stock Report

BUY

Chester Taylor: If he's the featured back behind that offensive line, he should have a very good season. Remember, the last Baltimore backup to escape to another team ended up becoming one of the best running backs in NFL history.

Troy Williamson: I don't think we're going to see him becoming a major threat, but we could easily see a Lee Evans-type year from Williamson. Expect him to produce more in the second half of the season than the first half.

HOLD

Jermaine Wiggins: With all the uncertainty with the receiving corps, Wiggins should duplicate his 69 catch season. He only had one touchdown last year, but I think that's more of a fluke than a long-term trend. Expect him to be a decent second tight end.

Minnesota Defense: The hold is based on the last 9 games of the year. If you wait until late on a defense, Minnesota is definetly worth taking.

SELL

Mewelde Moore: He should be a third-down back anyway. I'm baffled as to how he's gotten so many carries the past couple years. With Taylor around, I don't see it happening again.

Koren Robinson: It's easy to sell someone who just got released.

With that in mind, where would I pick them in a TD-heavy, 10 team league?

Chester Taylor: 4th
Minnesota Defense: 13th
Jermaine Wiggins: 14th
Troy Williamson: 14th
Travis Taylor: 14th
Marcus Robinson: 15th, so I can leave him in the starting lineup all season and wait for him to have his random huge game. [I'm kidding, don't draft him at all]



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