Vikings' Fantasy Football Outlook: Aaron Jones or Jordan Mason? Is Jordan Addison Still Worth Drafting?

It's time to go over the final fantasy football outlook! It's the Minnesota Vikings offense that will be under the spotlight last.

We have covered the Steelers, Packers, Titans, Panthers, Chiefs, Falcons, Jaguars, Commanders, Texans, Cardinals, Bengals, Lions, Dolphins, 49ers, Chargers, Eagles, Ravens, Seahawks, Bills, Buccaneers, Patriots, Cowboys, Raiders, Rams, Broncos, Giants, Browns, Saints, Bears, Colts and Jets previously. 

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J.J. McCarthy Fantasy Outlook

After winning 14 games last season, the Vikings have a new quarterback in McCarthy. He replaced Sam Darnold, who thrived under coach Kevin O'Connell, who is a widely-respected offensive guru. Can he make some magic with McCarthy now?

McCarthy didn't get into any regular season game as a rookie after getting hurt during the preseason. The 10th overall pick from the 2024 draft is basically like a rookie going into 2025.

He's QB18 and is going around pick 142 on average. 

That seems like a pretty fair spot for the young QB, because we aren't sure where he's going to land, so right near the middle makes a lot of sense.

The Vikings' offense is set up well, and with O'Connell coaching the unit, McCarthy could thrive as a fantasy asset. He also could be average, or really struggle in his first season as the starter.

I think that ADP is perfect. It makes him an option near the end of standard league drafts, but more often going undrafted in those leagues. He's a streaming option right from the start of the season, but most will want to see him deliver a time or two before trusting him.

You can bet that his own percentage will skyrocket if he delivers a big game right away, so keep close tabs on McCarthy. He could end up as one of the year's best waiver adds when it's all said and done.

Running Back Fantasy Outlook

Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason are the top two running backs for the Vikings. Zavier Scott and Ty Chandler are some depth options.

Jones should lead the backfield, and I like his ADP a lot this season. He's RB26 and going near pick 65. 

Jones played in all 17 games last season, racking up 1,546 total yards and seven scores along the way. He's also 30 years old, so the team trading for Mason is a way to protect against an injury or regression from Jones.

Jones starred with Darnold at quarterback, and with a first-year starter now in place with McCarthy, I like Jones' outlook for the upcoming season. He not only could lead the way in carries, but also be utilized plenty in the passing game.

So for PPR leagues, I love grabbing Jones near his ADP. I think there's a great chance that he'll outproduce that draft spot if he stays healthy, and the draft value is fantastic.

Even if Mason factors in plenty too, I see Jones being a good weekly starting option, which makes him a solid fantasy RB2, or good fantasy RB3.

Mason is RB31 and going near pick 88. He seems to rise a couple picks with each passing week.

Mason was with the Niners for the first three years of his career. He had 880 total yards and three scores last season as Christian McCaffrey was out with injuries.

He could be the future RB1 in Minnesota, but still should carve out a decent offensive role even with Jones ahead of him on the depth chart.

However, I'm not as big of a fan of Mason as I am Jones, especially with Mason's ADP rising so much. Him near or after pick 100 was OK, but not that he's inside the top 90, I'm starting to shy away from Mason.

I could see Mason being a flex starting option periodically this season, but not enough to warrant a pick that early. Heck, he's barely behind Jones, who I think will get a few more touches per game.

So unless Mason falls a couple rounds, or you are absolutely desperate for a running back, I'm probably going to skip Mason this season. I just don't see enough draft value in his current ADP.

Some see Mason getting more carries than Jones, and if you see that happening, then the ADPs make a little more sense. I'd still not be super enthused to draft Mason though, especially in PPR leagues.

Wide Receiver Fantasy Outlook

Justin Jefferson is the go-to wideout in Minnesota. Jordan Addison and Adam Thielen will start alongside him, after Addison's three-game suspension is up. Jalen Nailor should fill the final starting role until Addison returns, and rookie Tai Felton and Myles Price are some other options in the meantime.

Jefferson is one of the top fantasy players in the game. He's going near pick five on average, and is WR2 after Ja'Marr Chase. Jefferson was WR2 last season, but a long way behind Chase. 

Jefferson played in all 17 games, racking up 1,536 total yards and 10 scores. It was one of his better seasons.

With a new quarterback, everyone is wondering how Jefferson will fare this season. He's delivered with worse quarterbacks in the past, so I'm not worried. The thing that actually concerns me is a preseason hamstring injury he has.

He appears to be ready to go for the regular season, but if that pops back up this season, Jefferson could end up being a draft bust. I'm still taking him fifth overall, after Chase and the three running backs (Saquon Barkley, Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson) just because of his upside, but I'm also likely taking another good receiver or two just in case Jefferson does battle injuries.

Addison is WR43 and is going near pick 91 on average. That's been dropping as the season nears, so you can probably get him a bit later than that even.

In 15 games last season, Addison had 895 yards and 10 scores across 63 catches and 99 targets. Something similar this season could be in store.

I'm a bit down on Addison after the three-game suspension, and with the addition of Thielen. I think he'll still be a good flex starting option, at least, every week, but he might be a bit inconsistent.

So the later I can draft Addison, the better. And make sure you have wideout options to carry you through the first three weeks if you decide to draft him.

Thielen is back in Minnesota after a two-year stint with Carolina. He played in just 10 games last season, but had 615 yards and five scores across 48 catches and 62 targets.

He's back on a better team and offense, and could be a sneaky good fantasy option this coming year. Thielen is WR63 and going near pick 178 on average, and I expect those marks to rise after the trade.

I see him as a flex starting option for the first three weeks, then being a better deep-league asset after Addison returns. Thielen could be worth a late-round standard redraft league pick, even if he's just an option for three weeks - you can just drop him after that.

Nailor is WR104 and going near pick 330 on average. That's going to drop after the addition of Thielen, I'd think.

He had 410 yards and six scores over 17 games last season. He was a solid fantasy option, but not consistent enough as the No. 3 wideout behind Jefferson and Addison.

With Thielen now in the mix, Nailor won't even be a deep-league asset after week 3. You could stream him for the first three weeks, but don't expect much then, and expect almost nothing after, unless a top-three wideout is hurt.

Tight End Fantasy Outlook

T.J. Hockenson is the team's starting tight end. Josh Oliver is the top backup.

Hockenson is TE6 and is going around pick 69 on average. He's been on the rise of late, but might drop a bit after the addition of Thielen.

He got in 10 games last season after working his way back from an injury he suffered in the 2023 season. Hockenson had 455 yards, but no touchdowns across 41 grabs and 62 targets.

Most fantasy owners are expecting him to bounce back, but I'm not quite as high on Hockenson, especially after Thielen was traded back to Minnesota. I still see top-10 potential with Hockenson, but see him finishing closer to 10th than fifth.

I'd probably skip Hockenson in fantasy drafts unless he fell closer to pick 80. Two more TEs are going near then, so that's a more respectable spot to draft him, in my eyes.

Regardless of where you get him, I'd protect him with another tight end, just in case he's not the auto-start fantasy asset people seem to think he is this season.