The Vikings’ Supporting Forged Evidently Stinks

Minnesota Vikings huge receiver Justin Jefferson (18) celebrates with teammate Jordan Addison (3) after a landing towards the Tennessee Titans through the first half at Nissan Stadium on Nov. 17, 2024, in Nashville. Jefferson sparked Minnesota’s offense with the scoring play because the Vikings constructed momentum on the highway throughout an interconference matchup towards the Titans. Necessary Credit score: Steve Roberts-Imagn Pictures.

FOX Sports activities determined to rank all NFL groups’ “supporting casts” this week — and your Minnesota Vikings have the NFL’s Eleventh-worst. Most followers understand the group’s playmakers as one of many group’s strengths, however not everybody agrees.

Minnesota has star energy at huge receiver, however nationwide notion nonetheless lags behind the roster’s precise upside.

Lists of playmaker rankings actually don’t imply something, however they do present a thermometer of public opinion. The general public says the Vikings are mid.

Nationwide Skepticism Follows the Vikings’ Talent Gamers

No. 22 is the rating for Minnesota’s WRs, RBs, and TEs.

Minnesota Vikings huge receivers Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson have a good time a landing towards the Chicago Bears throughout second-quarter motion on Nov. 24, 2024, at Soldier Discipline in Chicago, Illinois. The pair fashioned one of many NFL’s most explosive receiving duos in 2024 as Minnesota continued leaning closely on Kevin O’Connell’s aggressive passing assault. Necessary Credit score: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Pictures

MIN’s Rating from FOX Sports activities

Rating simply forward of the New Orleans Saints’ supporting forged, Ralph Vacchiano defined 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.”

Due to Jefferson and Addison on the roster, most Vikings followers anticipated Minnesota to verify in inside this rating’s Prime 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.

Decrease Than the … Giants, Steelers, and Patriots?

Vacchiano surprisingly ranked the Vikings’ playmakers beneath the New York (Giants), Pittsburgh, and New England teams. 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 occurring?

On the Patriots’ weaponry, Vacchiano famous, “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 shouldn’t take the cake over Jefferson, Addison, Jennings, Aaron Jones, and Jordan Mason. It doesn’t make sense.

How A lot Worse with out Jennings?

The Vikings not too long ago signed Jennings from free company; in idea, had they not, the rating on Vacchiano’s checklist would possibly’ve been much more egregious, probably three to 5 spots decrease.

San Francisco 49ers huge receiver Jauan Jennings enters the sector earlier than kickoff towards the Tennessee Titans on Dec. 14, 2025, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Jennings continued carving out a bigger offensive function in San Francisco after changing into identified leaguewide for his bodily blocking model and reliable manufacturing in key conditions. Necessary Credit score: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Pictures

Nonetheless, Jennings is poised to make a major affect in Minnesota. He’ll seamlessly combine into three-receiver units alongside Jefferson and Addison, presenting a formidable problem for defenses on passing downs. With a number of threats, a positive matchup would typically emerge, and Jennings could be well-positioned to use it.

He’ll additionally doubtless see a considerable improve in targets inside O’Connell’s offense in comparison with his time in San Francisco. Jennings already embodies the gritty, ‘dirty-work’ mentality Minnesota values, significantly as an elite blocker — an important asset for this offense. His function could be real, not merely decorative.

Moreover, ought to Jefferson or Addison miss any time, Jennings would instantly elevate to WR1-WR2 standing.

The RB Impact?

The offender behind the FOX Sports activities clunker concerning Minnesota should be the working backs. Jones is outdated, and Mason has by no means skilled an prolonged run as an RB1. For instance, whereas the Vikings have Jones, Mason, and rookie Demond Claiborne, a group just like the Denver Broncos has these choices at RB:

JK Dobbins

RJ Harvey

Jonah Coleman

It’s additionally value noting that Minnesota has not run the soccer significantly nicely below O’Connell.

Minnesota Vikings working again Aaron Jones reacts after a sport on Dec. 7, 2025, at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Jones remained a central piece of Minnesota’s offense through the 2025 marketing campaign, offering veteran stability within the backfield whereas contributing as each a runner and pass-catching possibility for the Vikings. Necessary Credit score: Brad Rempel-Imagn Pictures

In the event you’re searching for an evidence for why the Vikings’ supporting forged should be so putrid in comparison with followers’ expectations, it should be the working backs. It’s the one factor that is sensible. It’s inconceivable to take a look at a WR room with Jefferson and Addison, and say, “Yeah, Romeo Doubs and Kayhson Boutte are better than that.”

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker