T.J. Hockenson looks like the most dependable fantasy option in Minnesota’s passing attack for Week 5, while Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison both head into Sunday with injury questions hanging over them.
Jefferson is dealing with an ankle issue and Addison is managing a hamstring problem. Both were limited on Thursday and Friday, and each is set to test things out before the 1 p.m.
ET kickoff at Caesars Superdome. That uncertainty leaves Hockenson as the cleanest start in the Vikings’ aerial game.
The tight end just turned in a monster outing against Miami, catching all 13 of his targets for 119 yards in Week 4 while Jefferson was sidelined. That performance matched a career high in receptions and came with a 35.1% target share. Through four games, Hockenson has 22 catches for 195 yards and a touchdown on 26 targets.
The usage is what makes him such a sturdy play. Kyler Murray had a 4.9-yard average depth of target against Miami and didn’t throw a pass of 20-plus yards, so Hockenson’s short and intermediate work fits this offense whether Jefferson is available or not. Minnesota is averaging 262.8 yards per game, second-fewest in the league, which only adds to the appeal of a player who can soak up volume close to the line of scrimmage.
New Orleans also gives tight ends a friendly landing spot. The Saints are allowing 17.9 PPR points per game to the position, eighth-most in the league, and they’ve already surrendered 29 catches for 306 yards and two touchdowns to tight ends.
On top of that, starting linebacker Kaden Elliss has been ruled out for the second straight game with a calf injury, and starting safety Julian Blackmon is questionable with a shoulder issue. Hockenson sits firmly in TE1 territory in 12-team leagues, and the workload should remain steady even if Jefferson is cleared.
Addison’s case is messier. He was on the field for 75 of 78 offensive snaps against Miami and caught four of six targets for 52 yards, including a 27-yard gain on Minnesota’s final possession. Then came Wednesday’s missed practice because of a mild hamstring strain before he returned as a limited participant later in the week.
He declined comment this week, while the Vikings added some protection by elevating Odell Beckham Jr. and Jeshaun Jones from the practice squad. Kevin O’Connell said Beckham would likely be inactive if Jefferson and Addison are both cleared.
The bigger issue for Addison is Jefferson’s possible return, not just the hamstring. Jefferson’s presence would squeeze Addison’s ceiling more than the injury itself.
Addison has 13 catches for 179 yards and two touchdowns, and he said playing in his home state Sunday is “ definitely something that I want to do. ”
There’s also the matter of how little Jefferson and Murray have actually shared the field this season. They’ve been on the turf together for only 18 snaps after Murray’s Week 1 concussion and Jefferson’s ankle sprain on the opening possession at Tampa Bay.
New Orleans has allowed 29.5 PPR points per game to receivers, 19th in the league, so the matchup doesn’t really push the needle either way. Addison profiles as a WR3 if Jefferson suits up and a WR2 if Jefferson sits.
Minnesota’s bye comes right after this game, so there’s not much reason for the team to force either receiver back before they’re ready.
Jauan Jennings is only worth a look if both Jefferson and Addison are out. He has just two catches for 9 yards in three games and saw one target against Miami even with Jefferson inactive. Murray leaned on Hockenson and Aaron Jones Sr. in that win, with Jones catching four of eight targets for 34 yards.
If Jefferson and Addison both sit, Jennings would be in line for his biggest snap share of the year. Even then, Beckham and Jones would be competing for those routes, and Hockenson would still be the main recipient of the short-area work. Jennings belongs on benches in 12-team leagues and only rises to deep-league flex territory if both Vikings receivers are officially ruled out.
In Other News...
Vikings Face A Tough Game Day Question With Key Absences
Minnesotas pregame picture got a lot clearer on the inactive list, and a lot more challenging, too. The Vikings will go into their matchup with New Orleans missing Jordan Addison, Odell Beckham Jr., Christian Darrisaw, Chuck Demmings, Jakobe Thomas and Elijah Williams, while Justin Jefferson and Brian ONeill are available, giving the offense at least one of its top playmakers and a key piece up front.
Christian Darrisaws absence leaves a notable hole on the left side, and the Saints also arrived with their own share of questions after listing Vernon Broughton, Kaden Elliss, Anfernee Jennings, Mike Reid, Nathan Shepherd and Jeremiah Wright inactive. New Orleans still has Barion Brown, Julian Blackmon and Alvin Kamara available despite being questionable, so the final shape of the game will come down to which side handles its absences better once the ball is kicked off. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Stayed Unbeaten Through A Messy Win That Said Plenty
The Vikings went into their meeting with the Saints trying to protect an unbeaten start before the bye week, and they had to do it while already shorthanded on offense. Minnesota kept finding ways to stay afloat anyway, leaning on Kyler Murrays mobility and accurate passing as the game turned messy around them, but the win came with the kind of wear and tear that can linger far beyond one Sunday.
Minnesota also had to absorb more blows in-game, with T.J. Hockenson leaving on the second snap and the offense already operating without Christian Darrisaw, Jordan Addison and Donovan Jackson. Even so, the Vikings pushed through turnovers and a handful of self-inflicted mistakes to get to 5-0, though the red-zone fumbles that gave the Saints extra points left plenty for the Vikings to sort out when they return from the break. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Jefferson's Status Puts Vikings Week 5 Offense In Spotlight
The Vikings head into Week 5 with their passing game suddenly in focus, as both Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are listed as questionable for the matchup with the Saints. Jefferson is working through an ankle injury after missing the previous game, while Addison is dealing with a hamstring issue, leaving Minnesota with real uncertainty at two of its most important receiver spots.
Jefferson has said he plans to play, but the final call still matters because the Vikings have already had to prepare for a plan B. Minnesota elevated Odell Beckham Jr. and Jeshaun Jones from the practice squad, a clear sign the team is bracing for the possibility of being short-handed when it tries to keep the offense on schedule in New Orleans. [Read more 🡒]