TE T.J. Hockenson, MIN (1 Viewer)

[BobbyLayne]

His data in 4 games with Minnesota vs looks like a few more routes & a lot more catches, from high value alignment. That usually portends higher production.

Judging by his ADOT (which is all of his opportunities), reception length and YAC (receptions only), he’s not running vertical routes.

So far he looks like the same guy he’s always been. Good player, not elite. But he should be a focal point ROS on a good offense. TE is a wasteland so pretty much guaranteed he’ll be TE4-7 by default.

The bolded has been my observation.

I believe it's fair to expect more as he becomes more familiar with the offense he's been learning on the fly. It's hard to believe he's only been there 4 games, considering how he's hit the ground running.

This may also be the reason for lower snap counts. The backup TEs know the whole playbook. Hopefully that, too trends upwards over the next 7 weeks.

His snap count was 91% & 93% his first two games with the Vikings.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

His data in 4 games with Minnesota vs looks like a few more routes & a lot more catches, from high value alignment. That usually portends higher production.

Judging by his ADOT (which is all of his opportunities), reception length and YAC (receptions only), he’s not running vertical routes.

So far he looks like the same guy he’s always been. Good player, not elite. But he should be a focal point ROS on a good offense. TE is a wasteland so pretty much guaranteed he’ll be TE4-7 by default.

The bolded has been my observation.

I believe it's fair to expect more as he becomes more familiar with the offense he's been learning on the fly. It's hard to believe he's only been there 4 games, considering how he's hit the ground running.

This may also be the reason for lower snap counts. The backup TEs know the whole playbook. Hopefully that, too trends upwards over the next 7 weeks.

His snap count was 91% & 93% his first two games with the Vikings.

Yes, I know. I was referring to yesterday, when they went big to run the ball & Hock was on the sidelines much of the 1st quarter.

 

[BobbyLayne]

His usage has been more like Andrews, the inline snaps are going to the blocking TEs.

Feel like I’m repeating myself here

Andrews plays 62-70% of snaps

That’s a lower snap % than any Top 12 TE; doesn’t matter bc of sky high utilization - he is literally never asked to block

Vikings want to use Hock the same way (more or less)

 

[travdogg]

His usage has been more like Andrews, the inline snaps are going to the blocking TEs.

Feel like I’m repeating myself here

Andrews plays 62-70% of snaps

That’s a lower snap % than any Top 12 TE; doesn’t matter bc of sky high utilization - he is literally never asked to block

Vikings want to use Hock the same way (more or less)

Andrews hasn't been that guy since 2020. He plays close to 90% these days.

 

[Faust]

T.J. Hockenson caught 4-of-6 targets for 33 yards in the Vikings’ Week 13 win over the Jets.​

The Vikings’ passing game left much to be desired so there wasn’t much to go around. Hockenson saw a decent amount of targets but the Jets’ had their clamps on tight. Despite this, Hockenson should be considered a top-five tight end play against the Lions in Week 13.
Dec 4, 2022, 6:53 PM ET

 

[BobbyLayne]

Average Yards per Recption by week since the trade:

• 7.8
• 6.4
• 6.8
• 8.6
• 8.3

 

[Faust]

T.J. Hockenson caught 3-of-9 targets for 33 yards in the Vikings' Week 15 win over the Colts.​

Hockenson tied the game late in the fourth quarter with a two-point conversion. The catch allowed the Vikings to pull off the largest comeback in history, winning as time expired with a field goal in overtime. While Hockenson's targets have been trending up with 17 over the last two weeks he was held out of the end-zone the third straight game. Hockenson will be a high-end TE1 for a Week 16 matchup with the Giants.
Dec 17, 2022, 6:27 PM ET

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

So, yeah - what a day. Hock carried me into the LCG.




Never saw him do anything like that with DET.

 

[skinsrule05]

So, yeah - what a day. Hock carried me into the LCG.




Never saw him do anything like that with DET.

And he wouldn’t have. The trade moved him to another level completely. Has he been the #1 TE since the trade?

 

[nysfl2]

So, yeah - what a day. Hock carried me into the LCG.




Never saw him do anything like that with DET.

You mean since week 4?

 

[need2know]

So, yeah - what a day. Hock carried me into the LCG.




Never saw him do anything like that with DET.

Me too. Kinda funny in a year of overall crap te performance that a te made the difference for me. Wild

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

So, yeah - what a day. Hock carried me into the LCG.




Never saw him do anything like that with DET.

You mean since week 4?

No, I meant never in DET.

But week 4 was nice too.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

So, yeah - what a day. Hock carried me into the LCG.




Never saw him do anything like that with DET.

Me too. Kinda funny in a year of overall crap te performance that a te made the difference for me. Wild

It’s bonkers. I never hit on a TE. Until this year.

 

[Faust]

Against the Giants, T.J. Hockenson is 'that guy' for the Vikings offense

Excerpt:

On Saturday, Hockenson set a career high and a franchise record for tight ends with 13 catches, producing 109 yards and two touchdowns.


The Vikings wouldn't have beaten the Giants 27-24 on Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium without him. They wouldn't have won at Washington, where he had nine catches for 70 yards after two days of practices in Minnesota, without him. And they might not have beaten the Patriots without him.

What's even more remarkable is that Hockenson has rapidly passed a pair of fine receivers, Adam Thielen and K.J. Osborn, to become Kirk Cousins' second-favorite target.

In seven games with the Vikings, Hockenson has 52 catches for 444 yards and three touchdowns. In Thielen's past seven games, he has 29 catches for 274 yards and three scores. Osborn, in that stretch, has 27 catches for 289 yards and two scores.

Osborn reached him first and mimed applying CPR. Considering that the Vikings are now 11-0 in one-score games, they might want to consider going into the stands and doing the same for their fans.

"It really has been a whirlwind," Hockenson said. "I mean, truly, it's been pretty crazy and I don't think I'm going to really realize where I'm at and what I'm doing and what this team is doing until after the season. You can't step back — you just have to live in it, keep rolling, and continue building bonds with these guys.

"Every week I'm here, I'm starting to build friendships with some guys. This locker room is truly incredible."

Hockenson has drawn raves for his talent and intelligence. Saturday, he had little choice but to display toughness. In the fourth quarter, he went up for a pass and got flipped, landing hard on his shoulder. He didn't miss a series.

"That didn't feel great, by any means," he said. "But I'm good. I mean, they put me through the protocol or whatever, but it wasn't my head."

"Just wait until we get Irv back," Jefferson said.

The Vikings are hoping that tight end Irv Smith Jr., their second-round pick in 2019, will return from an ankle injury before the playoffs. A healthy Smith would give Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell myriad options and possible formations in what is already a diverse offense.

"I don't think you ever know when you go into that huddle — or go into a game — who's going to be that guy, because we have so many great guys," Hockenson said. "That's truly a winning offense and an offense that can be scary. That's why I'm super appreciative to be here."

His teammates still express amazement that he learned the playbook in a couple of days. Saturday, he scored on two quite different plays. On the first, he bent a route to the back of the end zone and into open space, where Cousins found him.

The second catch was more difficult. Hockenson beat two defenders down the left sideline and snatched the ball off the helmet of Giants safety Julian Love, managing to hold the ball and keep his feet in bounds as the players rolled over him.

The NFL tries to enforce parity with its reverse-order draft, meaning the worst teams get the highest picks. The Vikings haven't made a pick in the top 17 in the draft since 2015.

They acquired Hockenson, the eighth pick in the 2019 draft, by trading second- and third-round selections for the tight end and two fourth-round picks.

That looked like a deft piece of pickpocketing at the time of the deal. After his performance against the Giants, it looks like grand, felonious larceny.

 

[Faust]

T.J. Hockenson's Best Catches From His 109-Yard, 2-Touchdown Day

 

[Faust]

Vikings' in-season trade for T.J. Hockenson could be one for the ages

 

[BobbyLayne]

Vikings' in-season trade for T.J. Hockenson could be one for the ages

Nice year for Hock. Career highs across the board. Gonna get a 5 year, $80M bag from somebody in another year or so, maybe sooner.

Detroit had 7 interceptions this year (2nd lowest INT% in the league), one of which was an end of first half hail mary. Out of the other 6, Hockenson was the intended target on 4 of them.

For whatever reason, he and Goff were not on the same page.

Goff with Hock: 63.9% 1904 yards (272.0 /g) 12 TDs 6 INT
Goff since trade: 65.8% 2310 yards (256.7 / g) 17 TDs 1 INT

Team went 1-6 with Hockenson averaging 24.7 PPG; 7-2 since the trade scoring 28.9 PPG.

Detroit set a team record with 12 tight end TDs this year, 9 after the trade. Hock - 3, UDFAs Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra - 4 each, and 5th round rookie James Michell - 1.

The Lions received a 2023 second-round pick and a 2024 third-round pick, while the Vikings got a 2023 fourth-round selection and a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick along with Hockenson.

The conditional 2024 fourth-round pick that Detroit sent to Minnesota will become a 2024 fifth-round round pick if the Vikings win a playoff game

Glad it worked out for him, Hock is a good guy in my book. But...

• dropped passes (5 or 7 depending on source)
• durability - missed 4 games as a rookie, 5 games last year
• holding calls (Det - 2, Min - 0)
• lack of blocking ability - 54th out of 69 qualified tight ends this season with a run blocking grade of 48.3; year ago it was 45.1

...too many MAs for what Detroit is trying to do.

He's a good move TE and I'll be targeting him in future FF redrafts. Minnesota is a better fit for him and they're using him in ways that are better suited for his skill set.

• 85 targets (9.4 /g) in 9 g for the Vikings 59-503-3
• 43 targets (6.1 /g) in 7 g for the Lions 26-395-3

 

[kinghill]

Anyone starting Hockenson in FF this week?
Not sure why he's ranked so high by FBGuys this week

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Anyone starting Hockenson in FF this week?
Not sure why he's ranked so high by FBGuys this week

FP consensus has him at #4, right behind Andrews.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I'm starting him, but my only other option is Likely and the Ravens have no QB.

 

[Buckna]

So, yeah - what a day. Hock carried me into the LCG.




Never saw him do anything like that with DET.

And he wouldn’t have. The trade moved him to another level completely. Has he been the #1 TE since the trade?

#2 in PPG since the trade (Kelce is well ahead of everyone.) Depending on your scoring, Kittle is neck and neck with Hock in PPG since the trade but has been much more boom and bust week to week. Bodes well for Hock next year with a full off-season/preseason with the team.

 

[The Frankman]

T.J. Hockenson caught 10-of-11 targets for 129 yards in the Vikings' Wild Card Round loss to the Giants.

Hockenson was the Vikings' big-play receiver against the Giants, delivering catches of 18, 19, 27, and 28 yards. He led the Vikings in targets, receptions, and receiving yards. In the end, he had the chance to convert a fourth down on the Vikings' final offensive play, but Kirk Cousins targeted him well short of the sticks, and Hockenson had no real chance of making a play. Hockenson flashed an elite ceiling in 2022, with an 8/179/2 receiving game with the Lions in Week 4. After being traded to the Vikings, he flashed impressive target-earning ability, hitting 10+ targets three times in the regular season and again in the playoffs. His 13/109/2 performance in Week 16 showed that he has a big ceiling in the Vikings' offense. Hockenson emerged as the clear No. 2 option behind Justin Jefferson and will be a clear single-digit round selection in 2023 fantasy drafts.
- NBCSportsEDGE

 

[ghostguy123]

FFPC standard (1.5 PPR for TE)
Where do you rate Hock compared to the 2023 picks?

 

[jabarony]

FFPC standard (1.5 PPR for TE)
Where do you rate Hock compared to the 2023 picks?

1.02

 

[ghostguy123]

How we feeling about Hockenson? Addison being drafted do anything to his value?

 

[Payne]

How we feeling about Hockenson? Addison being drafted do anything to his value?

He's going to be the #2 option in the passing game. They traded for him, used him a lot and now he has a relationship with Kirk.

He's my #2 TE.

Edit: I don't see how Addison changes anything. Adam was there last year.

 

[travdogg]

How we feeling about Hockenson? Addison being drafted do anything to his value?

I've got Hockenson TE6. I think Addison is a bigger threat than Thielen, but more importantly, I think the defense plays a ton better with an actual DC. Hockenson has never been all that efficient of a player, so if the targets go back to being closer to his Detroit rates, his production may as well.

I feel like last year was his ceiling, but people may logic themselves out of that by thinking that "he'll be better with a full offseason with the team" when the bigger issue is the pass heaviness of the offense.

 

[ghostguy123]

How we feeling about Hockenson? Addison being drafted do anything to his value?

I've got Hockenson TE6. I think Addison is a bigger threat than Thielen, but more importantly, I think the defense plays a ton better with an actual DC. Hockenson has never been all that efficient of a player, so if the targets go back to being closer to his Detroit rates, his production may as well.

I feel like last year was his ceiling, but people may logic themselves out of that by thinking that "he'll be better with a full offseason with the team" when the bigger issue is the pass heaviness of the offense.

Which 5 you have ahead of him.?

 

[travdogg]

How we feeling about Hockenson? Addison being drafted do anything to his value?

I've got Hockenson TE6. I think Addison is a bigger threat than Thielen, but more importantly, I think the defense plays a ton better with an actual DC. Hockenson has never been all that efficient of a player, so if the targets go back to being closer to his Detroit rates, his production may as well.

I feel like last year was his ceiling, but people may logic themselves out of that by thinking that "he'll be better with a full offseason with the team" when the bigger issue is the pass heaviness of the offense.

Which 5 you have ahead of him.?

Kelce, Andrews, Kittle, Pitts, and Waller.

Pitts and Waller just need to stay healthy, but they are bigger talents, and in Waller's case, should see many more targets. Pitts low production was about as fluky as it gets.

 

[menobrown]

Pitts and Waller just need to stay healthy, but they are bigger talents, and in Waller's case, should see many more targets

I assume you are talking about redraft because if not Waller needs to stay healthy and find Benjamin Button in a hurry.

As for the targets I don't know about that. Hockenson averaged 9.6 targets a game if you include the playoff game and throw out week 18 when they pulled starters early, 9.4 if you did not use the playoff game. Either of those would have led all TE's in the league last year and been about 2.5 targets more then anyone but himself and Kelce. It was really a stunning workload for a player of his skill set acquired mid-season.

During this time Thielen averaged 6 targets a game and Osborn right behind him at 5.88 so it's not like it was a huge void.

IMO I think the impact of Addison will be very minimal in the overall because it will be balanced out by Hockenson actually have a full camp with the team and a chance for the coaches to understand him better.

I would put Hockenson as my TE3 and a bit of a gap over TE4 in redraft.

Dynasty is a little trickier. Do I assume they resign him? Who is the QB? A bit of a head scratcher in dynasty because I merely like the talent more then love it and I sure would not be rushing to buy him at dynasty TE3 prices right now. He's got a lot of risk to me past this year because IMO his main value is in his high usage.

 

[travdogg]

Pitts and Waller just need to stay healthy, but they are bigger talents, and in Waller's case, should see many more targets

I assume you are talking about redraft because if not Waller needs to stay healthy and find Benjamin Button in a hurry.

As for the targets I don't know about that. Hockenson averaged 9.6 targets a game if you include the playoff game and throw out week 18 when they pulled starters early, 9.4 if you did not use the playoff game. Either of those would have led all TE's in the league last year and been about 2.5 targets more then anyone but himself and Kelce. It was really a stunning workload for a player of his skill set acquired mid-season.

During this time Thielen averaged 6 targets a game and Osborn right behind him at 5.88 so it's not like it was a huge void.

IMO I think the impact of Addison will be very minimal in the overall because it will be balanced out by Hockenson actually have a full camp with the team and a chance for the coaches to understand him better.

I would put Hockenson as my TE3 and a bit of a gap over TE4 in redraft.

Dynasty is a little trickier. Do I assume they resign him? Who is the QB? A bit of a head scratcher in dynasty because I merely like the talent more then love it and I sure would not be rushing to buy him at dynasty TE3 prices right now. He's got a lot of risk to me past this year because IMO his main value is in his high usage.

I mentioned it in the post before that one, but I think Hockenson's volume comes down, perhaps by a lot. His pace was unsustainable in my opinion, and the Vikings will be FAR better on defense with an actual DC in Flores and not 75% prevent Donatell. I think Cousins probably throws about 80 fewer passes this season, he was 4th in the NFL in attempts last season. I think those targets are a lot more likely to come off of Hockenson then they are off Jefferson.

I would have him over Waller in dynasty for sure just off of age, but I think Waller sees more targets this season as long as he stays healthy. He has zero target competition and had been seeing 9.7 targets per game over the previous 2 seasons before being hurt most of last year and dealing with the addition of a target hog like Adams.

I can sort of understand being wary of Waller or Pitts, I'm a risk taker who tries to maximize ceiling, so I'm usually gonna be higher on guys with greater talent, and usually fading prior injuries. Having said that, if you have Hockenson 3rd, what's the case for him over Andrews or Kittle?

 

[menobrown]

Pitts and Waller just need to stay healthy, but they are bigger talents, and in Waller's case, should see many more targets

I assume you are talking about redraft because if not Waller needs to stay healthy and find Benjamin Button in a hurry.

As for the targets I don't know about that. Hockenson averaged 9.6 targets a game if you include the playoff game and throw out week 18 when they pulled starters early, 9.4 if you did not use the playoff game. Either of those would have led all TE's in the league last year and been about 2.5 targets more then anyone but himself and Kelce. It was really a stunning workload for a player of his skill set acquired mid-season.

During this time Thielen averaged 6 targets a game and Osborn right behind him at 5.88 so it's not like it was a huge void.

IMO I think the impact of Addison will be very minimal in the overall because it will be balanced out by Hockenson actually have a full camp with the team and a chance for the coaches to understand him better.

I would put Hockenson as my TE3 and a bit of a gap over TE4 in redraft.

Dynasty is a little trickier. Do I assume they resign him? Who is the QB? A bit of a head scratcher in dynasty because I merely like the talent more then love it and I sure would not be rushing to buy him at dynasty TE3 prices right now. He's got a lot of risk to me past this year because IMO his main value is in his high usage.

I mentioned it in the post before that one, but I think Hockenson's volume comes down, perhaps by a lot. His pace was unsustainable in my opinion, and the Vikings will be FAR better on defense with an actual DC in Flores and not 75% prevent Donatell. I think Cousins probably throws about 80 fewer passes this season, he was 4th in the NFL in attempts last season. I think those targets are a lot more likely to come off of Hockenson then they are off Jefferson.

I would have him over Waller in dynasty for sure just off of age, but I think Waller sees more targets this season as long as he stays healthy. He has zero target competition and had been seeing 9.7 targets per game over the previous 2 seasons before being hurt most of last year and dealing with the addition of a target hog like Adams.

I can sort of understand being wary of Waller or Pitts, I'm a risk taker who tries to maximize ceiling, so I'm usually gonna be higher on guys with greater talent, and usually fading prior injuries. Having said that, if you have Hockenson 3rd, what's the case for him over Andrews or Kittle?

Pitts and Waller just need to stay healthy, but they are bigger talents, and in Waller's case, should see many more targets

I assume you are talking about redraft because if not Waller needs to stay healthy and find Benjamin Button in a hurry.

As for the targets I don't know about that. Hockenson averaged 9.6 targets a game if you include the playoff game and throw out week 18 when they pulled starters early, 9.4 if you did not use the playoff game. Either of those would have led all TE's in the league last year and been about 2.5 targets more then anyone but himself and Kelce. It was really a stunning workload for a player of his skill set acquired mid-season.

During this time Thielen averaged 6 targets a game and Osborn right behind him at 5.88 so it's not like it was a huge void.

IMO I think the impact of Addison will be very minimal in the overall because it will be balanced out by Hockenson actually have a full camp with the team and a chance for the coaches to understand him better.

I would put Hockenson as my TE3 and a bit of a gap over TE4 in redraft.

Dynasty is a little trickier. Do I assume they resign him? Who is the QB? A bit of a head scratcher in dynasty because I merely like the talent more then love it and I sure would not be rushing to buy him at dynasty TE3 prices right now. He's got a lot of risk to me past this year because IMO his main value is in his high usage.

I mentioned it in the post before that one, but I think Hockenson's volume comes down, perhaps by a lot. His pace was unsustainable in my opinion, and the Vikings will be FAR better on defense with an actual DC in Flores and not 75% prevent Donatell. I think Cousins probably throws about 80 fewer passes this season, he was 4th in the NFL in attempts last season. I think those targets are a lot more likely to come off of Hockenson then they are off Jefferson.

I would have him over Waller in dynasty for sure just off of age, but I think Waller sees more targets this season as long as he stays healthy. He has zero target competition and had been seeing 9.7 targets per game over the previous 2 seasons before being hurt most of last year and dealing with the addition of a target hog like Adams.

I can sort of understand being wary of Waller or Pitts, I'm a risk taker who tries to maximize ceiling, so I'm usually gonna be higher on guys with greater talent, and usually fading prior injuries. Having said that, if you have Hockenson 3rd, what's the case for him over Andrews or Kittle?

I’m not at all leery of Pitts or Waller.

I don’t see eye to eye with your thought process or conclusion on his target share which I’d predict will be second most at his position. This is why I have him #3 in redraft over everyone but Kelce and Andrews.

 

[ghostguy123]

How we feeling about Hockenson? Addison being drafted do anything to his value?

I've got Hockenson TE6. I think Addison is a bigger threat than Thielen, but more importantly, I think the defense plays a ton better with an actual DC. Hockenson has never been all that efficient of a player, so if the targets go back to being closer to his Detroit rates, his production may as well.

I feel like last year was his ceiling, but people may logic themselves out of that by thinking that "he'll be better with a full offseason with the team" when the bigger issue is the pass heaviness of the offense.

Which 5 you have ahead of him.?

Kelce, Andrews, Kittle, Pitts, and Waller.

Pitts and Waller just need to stay healthy, but they are bigger talents, and in Waller's case, should see many more targets. Pitts low production was about as fluky as it gets.

U talking redraft or dynasty?

 

[travdogg]

How we feeling about Hockenson? Addison being drafted do anything to his value?

I've got Hockenson TE6. I think Addison is a bigger threat than Thielen, but more importantly, I think the defense plays a ton better with an actual DC. Hockenson has never been all that efficient of a player, so if the targets go back to being closer to his Detroit rates, his production may as well.

I feel like last year was his ceiling, but people may logic themselves out of that by thinking that "he'll be better with a full offseason with the team" when the bigger issue is the pass heaviness of the offense.

Which 5 you have ahead of him.?

Kelce, Andrews, Kittle, Pitts, and Waller.

Pitts and Waller just need to stay healthy, but they are bigger talents, and in Waller's case, should see many more targets. Pitts low production was about as fluky as it gets.

U talking redraft or dynasty?

Redraft, though dynasty would only move Hock ahead of Waller.

 

[ghostguy123]

How we feeling about Hockenson? Addison being drafted do anything to his value?

I've got Hockenson TE6. I think Addison is a bigger threat than Thielen, but more importantly, I think the defense plays a ton better with an actual DC. Hockenson has never been all that efficient of a player, so if the targets go back to being closer to his Detroit rates, his production may as well.

I feel like last year was his ceiling, but people may logic themselves out of that by thinking that "he'll be better with a full offseason with the team" when the bigger issue is the pass heaviness of the offense.

Which 5 you have ahead of him.?

Kelce, Andrews, Kittle, Pitts, and Waller.

Pitts and Waller just need to stay healthy, but they are bigger talents, and in Waller's case, should see many more targets. Pitts low production was about as fluky as it gets.

U talking redraft or dynasty?

Redraft, though dynasty would only move Hock ahead of Waller.

Kittle over Hock seems off to me for dynasty for sure

 

[Biabreakable]

I see where travdogg is coming from. The Vikings were close to 700 passing attempts last season. So that number might go down some as I do think part of the reason pass attempts were so high is because of how bad the defense was.

I wish I was as optimistic about the Vikings defense improving. I'm not really. They lost some of their better players and haven't added much talent to that side of the ball to replace them.

 

[TripItUp]

Hock's value will never be higher, but the problem with trading him is that Tightend is so shallow. Who are you going to replace him with?

 

[Payne]

I don't see how he is below TE3 on anyone's list. Maybe pass attempts do drop. But maybe not. They just cut Cook. This is a passing offense and he is the #2 option. Period.

TE 6?? No way. Sorry.

 

[ghostguy123]

I don't see how he is below TE3 on anyone's list. Maybe pass attempts do drop. But maybe not. They just cut Cook. This is a passing offense and he is the #2 option. Period.

TE 6?? No way. Sorry.

In dynasty I still see Kelce as the first TE off the board every time. Then Pitts, then Andrews.
At worst I see him as 4, but honestly you could argue he's the top dynasty TE and I wouldn't fault anyone ranking him as such.

 

[Cjw_55106]

I see where travdogg is coming from. The Vikings were close to 700 passing attempts last season. So that number might go down some as I do think part of the reason pass attempts were so high is because of how bad the defense was.

I wish I was as optimistic about the Vikings defense improving. I'm not really. They lost some of their better players and haven't added much talent to that side of the ball to replace them.

I think this is a bit overblow.
Byron Murphy >>Cam Danzler
Patrick Peterson is a loss, but second rounder Andrew Booth should be back to healthy.
Dalvin Tomlinson is a decent size loss.
Kendricks could be viewed as a big loss, but he didnt really fit the scheme and had his worst season in a long time. Asamoah will get the chance.
Lewis Cine is another guy that missed significant time and will be back.
I think adding Flores alone will make the unit better.

 

[Biabreakable]

I see where travdogg is coming from. The Vikings were close to 700 passing attempts last season. So that number might go down some as I do think part of the reason pass attempts were so high is because of how bad the defense was.

I wish I was as optimistic about the Vikings defense improving. I'm not really. They lost some of their better players and haven't added much talent to that side of the ball to replace them.

I think this is a bit overblow.
Byron Murphy >>Cam Danzler
Patrick Peterson is a loss, but second rounder Andrew Booth should be back to healthy.
Dalvin Tomlinson is a decent size loss.
Kendricks could be viewed as a big loss, but he didnt really fit the scheme and had his worst season in a long time. Asamoah will get the chance.
Lewis Cine is another guy that missed significant time and will be back.
I think adding Flores alone will make the unit better.

I think Petersons lack of speed was part of why the Vikings played so much zone. He isn't what I consider to be a big loss as far as personnel talent.

Zadarius Smith, Tomlinson and Kendricks are big losses though, although I agree Kendricks did not play well last season.

There is talk about the Vikings trading away Hunter as well.

For a team that was very bad on defense last season it might be even worse. Harrison Smith is another year older.

The players you mention are unknown as far as if they are any good or not.

It would be hard for the defense to be worse and Flores could be a big improvement I agree, but what if Flores needs better players to run the defense like he wants to? He might have to do things he doesn't want to as well to cover the personnel weaknesses.

Regardless the Vikings are a passing team and I don't see that changing much. I would be very happy to be surprised with a big improvement to the defense, I just don't see a reason to feel confident about that.

 

[Faust]

Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson did not practice Saturday but was present on the sidelines.

There have been rumors swirling recently of a potential “hold in” for Hockenson, who is set to play under the fifth-year option of his rookie contract in 2023 and become an unrestricted free agent after the season. Whether the missed practice relates to his contract status or an injury not yet reported remains to be seen, but it is notable that he was not on the field in pads with the rest of the team on Saturday.

 

[Faust]

Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson points toward ear infection as reason for camp absence

 

[Faust]

Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell said T.J. Hockenson is dealing with lower-back stiffness.

Hockenson missed several weeks of training camp with an ear infection that affected his equilibrium and is now “day-to-day” with this back issue, according to O’Connell. These could all be legitimate concerns, but we can’t gloss over the fact that Hockenson is entering the final year of his rookie deal and in search of a new contract before the start of the season. Hockenson caught 60 passes for 519 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games with the Vikings last season and was one of the league’s most heavily-targeted tight ends. He’s a top-three fantasy tight end if healthy, but these awkward few weeks are concerning with the season drawing closer. If he were to miss time, backup tight end Josh Oliver would be on the fantasy radar as a low-end TE2.

 

[zeeshan2]

[Russini] The Vikings and tight end T.J. Hockenson have been working on an extension, but both sides are far apart, per league sources. Hockenson wants to reset the market with a historic contract extension for tight ends.

 

[Zeppelin]

[Russini] The Vikings and tight end T.J. Hockenson have been working on an extension, but both sides are far apart, per league sources. Hockenson wants to reset the market with a historic contract extension for tight ends.

This is a big reason why the Lions traded him.

 

[SayWhat?]

[Russini] The Vikings and tight end T.J. Hockenson have been working on an extension, but both sides are far apart, per league sources. Hockenson wants to reset the market with a historic contract extension for tight ends.

This is a big reason why the Lions traded him.

And 100% the reason he’s had a debilitating “ear infection” and now a sore back.

 

[travdogg]

[Russini] The Vikings and tight end T.J. Hockenson have been working on an extension, but both sides are far apart, per league sources. Hockenson wants to reset the market with a historic contract extension for tight ends.

This is a big reason why the Lions traded him.

This 100%. They knew exactly what they were doing.

Hockenson is a good, but not great TE. He's a jack of all trades type ala someone like Heath Miller, or maybe what Tyler Eifert would have been if he could have stayed on the field. That's not a guy who deserves anything close to a record setting extension.

 

[jon_mx]

[Russini] The Vikings and tight end T.J. Hockenson have been working on an extension, but both sides are far apart, per league sources. Hockenson wants to reset the market with a historic contract extension for tight ends.

This is a big reason why the Lions traded him.

This 100%. They knew exactly what they were doing.

Hockenson is a good, but not great TE. He's a jack of all trades type ala someone like Heath Miller, or maybe what Tyler Eifert would have been if he could have stayed on the field. That's not a guy who deserves anything close to a record setting extension.

And the Lions replace him with a guy who:
- studies the playbook and will always be where he Is supppse to be.
- actually is an excellent run after the catch guy and doesn't fall down to avoid contact.
- puts in 100 percent on every play, even when blocking or on a decoy route.

In Hock's years with Detroit, he never won them games. He would put up good individual stats, but was not a team guy. Fantasywise a top TE, but I was glad the day they got rid of him.

 

[travdogg]

[Russini] The Vikings and tight end T.J. Hockenson have been working on an extension, but both sides are far apart, per league sources. Hockenson wants to reset the market with a historic contract extension for tight ends.

This is a big reason why the Lions traded him.

This 100%. They knew exactly what they were doing.

Hockenson is a good, but not great TE. He's a jack of all trades type ala someone like Heath Miller, or maybe what Tyler Eifert would have been if he could have stayed on the field. That's not a guy who deserves anything close to a record setting extension.

And the Lions replace him with a guy who:
- studies the playbook and will always be where he Is supppse to be.
- actually is an excellent run after the catch guy and doesn't fall down to avoid contact.
- puts in 100 percent on every play, even when blocking or on a decoy route.

In Hock's years with Detroit, he never won them games. He would put up good individual stats, but was not a team guy. Fantasywise a top TE, but I was glad the day they got rid of him.

I came so close to ending my post by saying I wouldn't be shocked if the Lions had the better TE by 2024, but didn't want to be that dismissive of Hockenson, who I've truthfully always been below consensus on, including thinking he should have gone closer to 28th than 8th in the 2019 draft.