Team Talk: Minnesota Vikings

By Adam Filadelfo (@Frostt24)

Let's head over to the NFC North where the Minnesota Vikings are up next. The Vikings didn't really provide much fantasy value for owners in 2013 but there were a few bright spots and those players could very well carry into 2014. Time to see who will carry fantasy weight this season.

Teddy Bridgewater- Selected 32nd overall in the 2014 draft, Teddy Bridgewater will most certainly compete for the starting job in Minnesota. There's a good chance he gets the job at some point in 2014 since his competition isn't exactly fierce. In three years at Louisville, Teddy Bridgewater passed for over 9,500 yards and 70 touchdowns. Even with no NFL experience, he's probably better than the other two quarterbacks the Vikings currently have on their roster.

Matt Cassel- In nine games last season, Cassel passed for 1,807 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also averaged over 16 fantasy points per game which isn't enough for fantasy owners to warrant using a roster spot on him in 2014. There's a chance Cassel gets the starting job to begin the season but he's obviously not the long term answer for the Vikings or fantasy owners.

Christian Ponder- Ponder threw more interceptions than he did touchdowns while averaged just over 16 fantasy points per game. He lost his starting job to Cassel during the season and will not carry any fantasy value in 2014 even if he is under center week one.

Adrian Peterson- Obviously a top fantasy running back, Adrian Peterson had a down season by his standards but another stellar fantasy season for all those owners that drafted him. "All Day" provided his fantasy owners with over 1,200 rushing yards and double digit touchdowns while also adding value in PPR formats by catching 29 balls for another 171 yards and a touchdown. AP averaged 15 fantasy points per game and will be another top pick in fantasy drafts again in 2014.

Matt Asiata- Appearing in only two games in 2013 with the injuries to AP and Toby Gerhart, Matt Asiata managed to score three touchdowns but didn't impress fantasy owners very much and was too dependent on scoring touchdowns to hold any value. Maybe this season will show fantasy owners what Matt Asiata can do seeing how Toby Gerhart is no longer with the club. Only problem with Asiata is he plays behind Adrian Peterson and AP doesn't miss too much time.

Greg Jennings- Jennings did have over 100 targets last season and converted 68 of them for over 800 yards and four scores but only averaged seven fantasy points per game. He wasn't the receiver fantasy owners were hoping for and 2014 shouldn't make owners think they will get much more than they did in 2013. Greg Jennings is still valuable for fantasy purposes but owners shouldn't expect too much from him at this point.

Cordarrelle Patterson- The second year receiver could very well be in store for a big fantasy season in 2014. There is a new coaching staff in Minnesota this year but there's no reason to think Patterson will not get his touches. He not only holds value to fantasy owners in the passing game, but in the return game as well. Patterson did only average less than seven fantasy points each week but the potential is most certainly there. He will probably be drafted in the middle rounds and is even more valuable in keeper and dynasty leagues.

Jerome Simpson- Jerome Simpson averaged under five fantasy points per game and won't hold fantasy value unless your league is deep. He will have a game or two during the season where he produces fantasy points but other than those very rare games, he'll just take up a roster spot and won't contribute much to a fantasy team.

Kyle Rudolph- Rudolph only played eight games before he went down with a season ending injury and was expected to have a big fantasy season. Fantasy owners are hoping that big season happens in 2014. He certainly showed he is capable of being an elite fantasy tight end. Rudolph's 2013 numbers prior to his injury were 30 catches for 313 yards and three touchdowns. He gave fantasy owners over six fantasy points per game and would've provided fantasy owners with even more had he not gotten hurt halfway through the season. Look for Kyle Rudolph to finish 2014 as a top fantasy tight end barring an injury.