The Ultimate Vikings Fantasy Football Draft
K. Joudry
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Truth be told, I place zero emphasis on selecting Vikings players during fantasy drafts. In fantasy, the goal is to emerge victorious, not select one’s favorite players (at least in my mind). Putting together a Vikings fantasy draft is thus not something that’s particularly appealing to yours truly.
Alas, that’s simply one man’s opinion. For a lot of folks, being able to cheer on Justin Jefferson in reality and in fantasy is a double whammy that’s too good to pass up. And, to be sure, any fantasy footballer would be very luck to have #18 as their WR1. He’s an absolute monster who is still getting better.
What’s a realistic scenario, though, for the other Vikings who will get picked in upcoming drafts? To get to the bottom of the issue, I skipped over to ESPN’s fantasy football section to fire up a mock draft.
My goal was simple: make sure my roster was chock-full of Vikings players while still feigning some interest in putting together a competitive squad. The 10-team PPR mock didn’t disappoint, folks. I scooped up enough purple and gold to make even the most ardent Minnesota fan very pleased.
The Vikings Fantasy Draft
Right off the top, let’s get to the results. Take a peak at the team I chose:
- QB: Kirk Cousins, Aaron Rodgers
- RB: Josh Jacobs, Alexander Mattison, Dalvin Cook, David Montgomery, Jerick McKinnon, C.J. Ham
- WR: Justin Jefferson, Jaylen Waddle, Brandon Aiyuk, Jordan Addison, K.J. Osborn
- TE: T.J. Hockenson
- D/ST: Vikings
- K: Greg Joseph
Some folks will prefer the round breakdown. See below:
- RD1: Justin Jefferson (1st)
- RD2: Josh Jacobs (20th)
- RD3: Jaylen Waddle (21st)
- RD4: T.J. Hockenson (40th)
- RD5: Alexander Mattison (41st)
- RD6: Dalvin Cook (60th)
- RD7: David Montgomery (61st)
- RD8: Kirk Cousins (80th)
- RD9: Brandon Aiyuk (81st)
- RD10: Jordan Addison (100th)
- RD11: Aaron Rodgers (101st)
- RD12: Jerick McKinnon (120th)
- RD13: K.J. Osborn (121st)
- RD14: Greg Joseph (140th)
- RD15: Vikings Defense (141st)
- RD16: C.J. Ham (160th)
Now, before getting too far, I’ll admit it: the Vikings’ fullback joined the team simply due to the pun potential. In this scenario, the choice for a team name will be Purple Eggs & Ham, an option that is sure to delight both Vikings fans and Dr. Seuss fans. Those who are passionate about both will be extra happy.
In PPR, it’s going to be very difficult to get Jefferson. Picking 1st offers a guarantee. Sinking below the 3rd pick likely seals your fate: Jefferson will be helping someone else pursue a fantasy championship.
In RD2 & RD3, there was a clear deviation from the Vikings focus. Opting for Jacobs and Waddle was about giving the hypothetical team a shot at actually competing. RD4 & RD5, on the other hand, was all about making sure we were stuffed to the gills in the purple. In fairness, Hockenson may flirt with 100 receptions (he had 86 last season) and I legitimately do believe Mattison is going to do well in fantasy.
Did I end up reaching on several players? Yes, I certainly did. Cousins went too high and there’s an argument that Osborn did, as well. Nevertheless, the priority was making sure they ended up on the team. Jordan Addison, at least per the rankings, was very near getting scooped up before I was able to snag the presumptive WR2 in Minnesota.
Furthermore, I made an effort to pick Vikings-adjacent players. The recently-cut Dalvin Cook made a lot of sense at 60. Depending on where he signs, Cook will probably get chosen much higher. Aaron Rodgers is a strong QB even though he has been a long-time nemesis. Jerick McKinnon did some great things for Minnesota during his rookie deal. David Montgomery is working his way through NFC North teams. And even Brandon Aiyuk has a mini connection since he was Rick Spielman’s Plan B if Jefferson wasn’t available.
Admittedly, it’s difficult to make a poor selection at 141st. I still achieved the ignoble distinction by opting for the Vikings defense when several more capable options existed. Choosing the Vikings defense in fantasy is … misguided. Were it not for my desire for all-things Vikings, I’d have looked elsewhere for a defense and been very pleased to do so.
In the end, it’s difficult to predict how fantasy drafts will shake out. Plenty is going to change between now and when most real drafts occur. The mock draft, though, does offer a potential avenue toward assembling a fantasy team that is loaded with Vikings players.
Did I succeed in going all-out on snagging Vikings players? I think so. Will the team win? Well, that’s an entirely different question. Oh, and one more thing: Week 13 – when Minnesota is on a bye – is going to be a disaster for the Vikings fantasy team. Better load up on wins before W13 arrives.
