Tag: K.J. Osborn

Vikings snap counts in Week 6 win vs. Bears

The snap counts are interesting, especially on defense

The Minnesota Vikings outlasted the Chicago Bears on Sunday by a score of 19-13. It was a tough game for the Vikings, as they struggled to get any kind of consistency on offense.

It was a wake-up call of sorts, as the Vikings played their worst game of the season. The defense led the way with three takeaways, including the interception that clinched the Vikings win.

When we take a look at the snap counts from Sunday’s game, they tell an interesting story, especially with how Brian Flores uses his defensive personnel.

Stock up, stock down in Vikings 19-13 win vs. Bears

Multiple players saw their stock rise or fall in Sunday’s win

This was a sloppy performance from the Minnesota Vikings, but they ultimately pulled out the 19-13 win against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

With the loss of starting quarterback Justin Fields in the middle of the third, the Bears threw in rookie undrafted free agent Tyson Bagent to the Vikings’ defense. Despite an impressive drive that led to Bagent’s first-ever touchdown, the Bears were mostly contained on the offensive side of the football.

This second win was pivotal in keeping the narrative relatively positive, as opposed to a loss against a battered Chicago team.

Even in sloppy performances, some players saw their stocks rise, while others succumbed to the sloppiness and watched their stocks fall.

10 quotes from Kevin O’Connell’s postgame press conference

Kevin O’Connell had some interesting things to say during his press conference

The Minnesota Vikings pulled out a stressful win 19-13 over the Chicago Bears. It wasn’t an easy win, but they got the job done with three forced turnovers.

After the game, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and spoke to the media about the team’s second win of the season.

Studs and duds from Vikings 19-13 win vs. Bears

There were plenty of studs and duds from the Minnesota Vikings 19-13 win over the Chicago Bears in week six

The Minnesota Vikings found a way to squeeze out a win over the Chicago Bears by a score of 19-13.

The game itself was relatively close throughout, but the Vikings did have a 13-point lead midway through the fourth quarter. They couldn’t get anything going on offense in the fourth quarter and it nearly cost the Vikings the game.

There are a lot of ways to look at the game both positive and negative. The reality here is that the Vikings are 2-4 and not in last place in the division.

There were plenty of standout performances on Sunday and we took a look at the studs and duds.

Six points with David Dorey

Friday’s quick look at six fantasy items to know

Heading into Week 6, many of us are feeling the pinch from injuries and when that precious No. 1 pick in your draft (Justin Jefferson) lands on injured reserve, you realize that your best played now was the 24th pick in your draft. Aaron Jones and Austin Ekeler have been painful to see on my roster for the last month.

After five games, were getting comfortable with how good and bad the players are. And from here on out, depth chart movement and new opportunities will almost entirely be related to injured players being out.

Let’s take a look at what the impact injuries have had over the first five weeks, and a few other notables to think about heading into the weekend.

  1. Running Back Injuries – Feels like there are more running backs getting hurt this season, so I took the Top-20 from the average draft from the last three years and marked the week in black if they didn’t play.
    Draft 2021 1 2 3 4 5 2022 1 2 3 4 5 2023 1 2 3 4 5
    1 C McCaffrey Jonathan Taylor C McCaffrey
    2 Dalvin Cook C McCaffrey Austin Ekeler
    3 Alvin Kamara Austin Ekeler Saquon Barkley
    4 Derrick Henry Najee Harris Bijan Robinson
    5 Ezekiel Elliott Dalvin Cook Nick Chubb
    6 Aaron Jones Derrick Henry Tony Pollard
    7 Saquon Barkley D’Andre Swift Derrick Henry
    8 Nick Chubb Joe Mixon Jonathan Taylor
    9 Jonathan Taylor Alvin Kamara Josh Jacobs
    10 Austin Ekeler Saquon Barkley R Stevenson
    11 Najee Harris Javonte Williams Najee Harris
    12 Antonio Gibson Nick Chubb Travis Etienne
    13 Joe Mixon Leonard Fournette Breece Hall
    14 Edwards-Helaire Aaron Jones Joe Mixon
    15 J.K. Dobbins Ezekiel Elliott Jahmyr Gibbs
    16 D Montgomery James Conner Aaron Jones
    17 D’Andre Swift Travis Etienne Kenneth Walker
    18 Chris Carson Cam Akers Dameon Pierce
    19 Miles Sanders J.K. Dobbins Miles Sanders
    20 Josh Jacobs D Montgomery J.K. Dobbins
    Missed = 12 1 2 2 2 5 Missed = 10 2 2 0 3 3 Missed = 24 2 4 6 5 7

    So yes, there have been more injuries through the first five weeks. Twice as many as either of the last two years. Hey, it’s getting hard out there – this doesn’t even touch playing injured. Just the zero point games.

  2. Wide Receiver Injuries – This is info to consider when making position choices during your draft. Are running backs or wide receivers more reliable to play?
    Draft 2021 1 2 3 4 5 2022 1 2 3 4 5 2023 1 2 3 4 5
    1 Davante Adams Justin Jefferson Justin Jefferson
    2 Tyreek Hill Cooper Kupp Ja’Marr Chase
    3 Stefon Diggs Ja’Marr Chase Tyreek Hill
    4 DeAndre Hopkins Stefon Diggs Cooper Kupp
    5 Calvin Ridley Davante Adams Stefon Diggs
    6 DK Metcalf Deebo Samuel CeeDee Lamb
    7 Justin Jefferson CeeDee Lamb A.J. Brown
    8 A.J. Brown Tyreek Hill Davante Adams
    9 Keenan Allen Mike Evans Amon-Ra St. Brown
    10 Terry McLaurin A.J. Brown Garrett Wilson
    11 CeeDee Lamb Michael Pittman Jr. Jaylen Waddle
    12 Allen Robinson Keenan Allen DeVonta Smith
    13 Julio Jones Tee Higgins Chris Olave
    14 Mike Evans DJ Moore Tee Higgins
    15 Robert Woods Courtland Sutton DK Metcalf
    16 Amari Cooper Mike Williams Deebo Samuel
    17 Michael Thomas Diontae Johnson Calvin Ridley
    18 Chris Godwin Terry McLaurin Amari Cooper
    19 Cooper Kupp Amon-Ra St. Brown Keenan Allen
    20 Adam Thielen Jaylen Waddle DeAndre Hopkins
    Missed = 10 1 1 1 4 3 Missed = 8 0 2 2 2 2 Missed = 10 2 1 2 1 5

    Not only were the wideouts far less likely to miss games, but there was usually only one of the Top-20 draft picks that missed more than one. This year, Kupp was out for four games and Higgins had two. Notable too is that Justin Jefferson just landed on injured reserve.

  3. WR Chase Claypool – Sure, I was comfortable thinking that Claypool was just another “physical freak” who had one monster game in his career and then flamed out. That may well be still true, but Claypool leaves a passing attack that has improved from the disaster of 2022, but he just never made a difference and potentially rubbed coaches and players the wrong way (Part 2). But ending up in Miami is an opportunity his past probably doesn’t deserve. There are interesting aspects to joining Miami, who has suggested that the 6-4, 238-pound wideout might play tight end (which they have never used much under Mike McDaniel). Rumors abound that Jaylen Waddle could be traded – likely not true – but that would move everyone else up a notch on the depth chart. Just do not admit that you are tracking him or have him hidden in the dark recesses of your fantasy bench.
  4. RB D’Onta Foreman – The Bears backfield is not only a mess to decipher, but in the end, they all watch Justin Fields run past on the way to the endzone. But Khalil Herbert has a high-ankle sprain and will miss multiple weeks. Roschon Johnson has a concussion but has impressed. Foreman has been inactive for several games but may be the only healthy back. He ran for 914 yards in Carolina last year with five 100-yard games. What interests the most is that  he’ll play the Vikings and maybe the Raiders as a waiver wire scrape. But watch what he does, not because he is taking over the crowded Bears’ backfield but also because we are heading into a three-week stretch where teams will make trades to fill holes or get more value getting rid of a player than keeping him. Running backs are getting hurt, and teams will be looking for help.
  5. WR KJ Osborn – Justin Jefferson landed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury that happened without contact. And while they said they expect him back this season, it wasn’t one of those “on the field in five weeks” declarations. How do you replace the best wideout in the world? Probably not that well. But Osborn slides over to take Jefferson’s split-end spot.  Jordan Addison remains as the flanker and Brandon Powell is in the slot. Given that T.J. Hockenson maybe be the primary receiver now, the No. 3 wideout isn’t likely to matter. Osborn knows the offense and has chemistry with Kirk Cousins. The fear now is the rumor that they might trade Cousins away if they decide the season is already over and want to build for 2024.  It’s worth tracking to see how the offense changes, though overall, it will not be for the better.
  6. Atlanta Offense – It is hard to track what HC Arthur Smith is doing in Atlanta, but the highly drafted offensive pieces are in place for what should be an offensive juggernaut. They even have a solid offensive line. But they have disappointed all last year, and again through Week 4. Then, they played the Texans who shut down the running game and made Desmond Ridder pass for 329 yards and a score. And for once, both Kyle Pitts and Drake London were both productive. They face the weak Commanders’ secondary this week, and it is a chance for back-to-back high-point offensive performances. There’s still a chance for the offense to reach their potential, but it has to show again this week.

 

About last night

Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports

Denver 9, Kansas City 19

The Chiefs won, and even beat the 10.5 point line. But this game was yet another low-scoring Thursday night affair, that contained precious few notable fantasy performances and WOW Taylor Swift!  served no purpose other than give the Chiefs ten days off before they face the Chargers.

Javonte Williams was able to play and led the backfield with ten carries for 52 yards. That left the rookie Jaleel McLaughlin with only  seven runs for 30 yards though he caught two passes for 12 yards. The struggles of Russell Wilson were on full display with 13-of-22 completions gaining just 95 yards and one score with two interceptions, Wilson had a QB-rating of just 46.6. The Denver defense played better than usual, though that could also be that the Chiefs just played worse from the Thursday night effect.

Isiah Pacheco (16-62) handled all but two carries for the backfield, and added six catches for 36 yards.  Patrick Mahomes threw for 306 yards and one score but could have turned in three scores for the want of a few more yards and one interception. Travis Kelce dominated the first half and ended with 124 yards on nine catches. The Broncos opted to actually cover him in the second half and held him to only two receptions for 15 yards.

Rashee Rice  was the next best receiver with four catches for 72 yards, but Mahomes threw to five other wideouts on the night. The 5-1 Chiefs keep their best record status in the AFC while the 1-5 Broncos are thinking about having a garage sale next week.

Zulgad: Five players not named Kirk Cousins the Vikings could move before trade deadline

With a 1-4 start, Judd Zulgad looks at five players not named Kirk Cousins they could realistically trade

The Minnesota Vikings’ decision to place Justin Jefferson on injured reserve this week made an already difficult season even more bleak. The Vikings have won only one of their first five games and the loss of their star wide receiver for at least four games has left many wondering whether the front office will decide to make moves by the Oct. 31 trade deadline.

If the Vikings trade veterans, it would land them draft picks and, if the team isn’t going to compete for a playoff spot, there would be few complaints about general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah turning his focus to the future.

The name that gets brought up most often is quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is in the final season of his contract. But the 35-year-old has a no-trade clause in his deal and it seems unlikely he would be willing to waive it unless his new team gave him a contract extension. That would require Cousins to be willing to commit to that club.

Why wouldn’t Cousins just play out his final season in Minnesota and then hit the free agent market and go through the same process he did in 2018 before signing with the Vikings? This would enable him to allow teams to bid on his services and give him far more control.

There are other players who would be easier to trade and could get the Vikings the type of return that would interest them. Here are five who could be candidates to be jettisoned before November.

11 wide receivers the Panthers could trade for to pump up Bryce Young

One of these receivers might help Bryce Young in a TERRIBLE Panthers situation.

The Carolina Panthers are quickly learning a valuable lesson this season. It’s never smart to develop a young quarterback without a life raft. In this case, we’re talking about Bryce Young — Carolina’s hopeful talisman signal-caller and the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft.

Through four games, Young has looked lost in an impossible situation. In three starts (he missed one due to injury), Young’s composite expected points added (EPA) and completion percentage over expected (CPOE) are 25th in the NFL. He is just barely eclipsing 2023 Justin Fields and Daniel Jones in this metric — some of the last quarterback company anyone should want to keep. If that weren’t enough, Young is averaging a paltry 4.9 yards per pass attempt, has just 503 yards passing, and has been sacked 11 times (!).

The rub is, I’m not even sure it’s his fault.

After trading away D.J. Moore to the Chicago Bears for last spring’s top pick, the Panthers should’ve known Young wouldn’t have a lot of help at the jump. (Never mind that they also traded away their 2024 first-round selection, which could’ve been used on a receiver like Ohio State’s “generational” Marvin Harrison Jr.) A skill group led by a kinda-but-not-really revitalized Adam Thielen is uninspiring and can’t nearly create enough consistent separation. An offensive line led by former top-six pick Ikem Ekwonu has been disappointing, to be kind. To be mean and accurate, Carolina currently employs five toll booth turnstiles hanging their quarterback out to dry every Sunday.

No quarterback could logically thrive in this kind of situation. That goes tenfold for a player like Young adjusting to and learning the speed and complexity of the professional game. How are you supposed to develop good habits if everything crumbles around you on a whim? It’s still early, but it’s becoming apparent that Carolina may already have stunted the person who was supposed to elevate their franchise.

But it’s not too late to reverse course. It looks like the Panthers may have recognized their grave mistake in Young’s early development.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Carolina and general manager Scott Fitterer are actively looking for a starting wide receiver in a trade. If the Panthers can add even one genuine playmaker for Young, it might suffice to keep him above water and help him progress. At this rate, pulling out all the stops to try and ensure Young reaches his potential isn’t the worst idea.

With that in mind, let’s break down a few receivers who could be on the trade block in the coming weeks. The deadline is a spooky October 31. The Panthers have all the time in the world to evaluate whether they want to take a swing at anyone on this list.

Vikings wide receivers some of the busiest in the NFL

Two of the Vikings wide receivers have run more routes than anyone in the NFL.

Outside of a quality performance on the ground against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Minnesota Vikings have been unable to run the ball efficiently this season.

As a result, the Vikings have been forced to throw the ball early and often.

Cousins currently leads the NFL in passing attempts (138), throwing the ball an average of 46 times per game. Those numbers are closer to a college football air raid than an NFL team.

As a result, Vikings wide receivers have been some of the busiest in the NFL.

Justin Jefferson and KJ Osborn currently lead the league in routes run, according to Scott Barrett.

Jefferson has run 141 routes this season, while K.J. Osborn has run 130. However, neither Jefferson nor Osborn are at the top of yards per route run.

That doesn’t mean Jefferson (or Osborn) has been efficient this season.

Jefferson leads the NFL in receiving yards this season (458) and is currently on pace to break the NFL record for receiving yards in a season. Osborn, on the other hand, has two receiving touchdowns through three weeks.

Breaking down all 3 Vikings touchdowns with the all-22

The Vikings scored three touchdowns against the Chargers and @TheRealForno breaks each one down with the All-22

The Minnesota Vikings offense was the star of the show against the Los Angeles Chargers. Yes, they lost by a score of 28-24, but three touchdowns from the unit was impressive.

With the Vikings’ 0-3 start, morale among the fanbase is really low. Who can blame them? A negative seven turnover differential and massive regression from last year isn’t fun, but this team is still good.

The offense is notably really good. They are playing at a very high level with Kirk Cousins leading the NFL in passing yards and Justin Jefferson leads the NFL in receiving yards.

The offense found the end zone three times on Sunday with three different concepts. We broke them down with the all-22.

5 players the Vikings could realistically trade after 0-3 start

Could the Vikings be sellers at the trade deadline? If they are, it won’t be to tank writes @TheRealForno

The Minnesota Vikings starting the season at 0-3 is the worst possible scenario. It’s especially bad when you consider that the Vikings have been in a position to potentially win all three games.

There are some fans and analysts who are going to say that the Vikings should tank for a top pick to select a quarterback.

Here’s the thing, that won’t happen and it won’t ever under Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. He doesn’t believe in a full-on tank.

What we don’t know is how he will handle a situation where the season is going poorly. Is Adofo-Mensah going to be comfortable enough to sell off pieces that won’t be here long-term to build up draft capital? That is the big question.

If he does, we need to eliminate the likes of Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter. Cousins has a no-trade clause and both could have futures with the team after this season.

With how the Vikings could potentially approach the trade deadline, it’s likely going to be players who are in the final year of their deal or likely won’t be returning next season.

If they continue to spiral and aren’t in a position to make the playoffs at the trade deadline, here are five players that could be moved by the Vikings. The salaries listed are what each player is set to make for the season and the savings would be prorated based on how many games are left when the player gets traded.