Nick Vermeil
Footballguy
Me too, but very happy about Osborn. I was always an underdog but Osborn has me in the game.Going up against Cook who had 40 in my league. So it was nice to get 22 from Osborn to soften the blow.
Me too, but very happy about Osborn. I was always an underdog but Osborn has me in the game.Going up against Cook who had 40 in my league. So it was nice to get 22 from Osborn to soften the blow.
This is Osborns 2nd season with the Vikings. He was a 5th round pick last year who didn't play much, he had zero targets as a rookie.The thing i took away last night was there was more on the table and we know Thielen is likely to miss multiple games from early reports. I'd like to see Osborn get another crack in the starting line up but it should be noted 3 for 9 is not a good ration and some fo the throws were off but I also felt he played a part in one of the interceptions and that won't help in the film room and game planning...but he is a rookie and quite sensational. You can line Osborn, Thielen and JJ in 3-Wide Sets, it's almost not fair. Dalvin Cook is your SuperBack, how in hell's bells does this team ever lose a football game?
The Athletic's Arif Hasan believes increased passing volume for the Vikings offense will be a "boost" for K.J. Osborn.
Hasan said Osborn -- in a modernized, post-Mike Zimmer Minnesota offense -- could be "a high-end flex player and smart bye-week fill-in" in fantasy leagues this year. Osborn in 2021 caught 50 of his 82 targets for 655 yards and seven touchdowns as the No. 3 target behind Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen. In seven 2021 games in which Osborn saw at least six targets, he averaged 4.73 receptions, 67 receiving yards, and 0.73 touchdowns, or about 15.7 PPR points per game. More three-receiver sets for the Vikings under new head coach Kevin O'Connell should make Osborn fantasy relevant in deeper formats this season. He would presumably be Minnesota's WR2 in the case of an injury to Thielen or Jefferson.
RELATED:
Adam Thielen
, Justin Jefferson
SOURCE: The Athletic
Jun 20, 2022, 11:55 AM ET
Adam Levitan @adamlevitan
Vikings were in a 3-WR set on just 47% of their snaps last season, well below the NFL average of 61%.
That's going to change under Kevin O'Connell. Main beneficiary is late-round flier KJ Osborn. theathletic.com/3523024/2022/0…
A great WR handcuff for JJ/Thielen drafters. He may even be startable on his own depending on the format. Minny will be passing a lot more this year with O’Connell running the show.
I think that's what everyone assumes but don't forget they are stacked at the RB position with Cook, Mattison, Nwangwu, and the rookie Ty Chandler. Center Bradbury is still a liability in pass blocking and while the oline should be better there are still a lot of unknowns with the reshuffled deck there. Maybe new HC actually leans on the run a bit more than people think.A great WR handcuff for JJ/Thielen drafters. He may even be startable on his own depending on the format. Minny will be passing a lot more this year with O’Connell running the show.
Either way they should be running more 3 receiver sets with O’Connell which will provide more opportunities for Osborn. I would bet against the pass attempts going down from the conservative years under Zimmer. Osborn stock rising IMO.I think that's what everyone assumes but don't forget they are stacked at the RB position with Cook, Mattison, Nwangwu, and the rookie Ty Chandler. Center Bradbury is still a liability in pass blocking and while the oline should be better there are still a lot of unknowns with the reshuffled deck there. Maybe new HC actually leans on the run a bit more than people think.A great WR handcuff for JJ/Thielen drafters. He may even be startable on his own depending on the format. Minny will be passing a lot more this year with O’Connell running the show.
Most likely. Irv Smith Jr may eat into that a little though.Either way they should be running more 3 receiver sets with O’Connell which will provide more opportunities for Osborn. I would bet against the pass attempts going down from the conservative years under Zimmer. Osborn stock rising IMO.I think that's what everyone assumes but don't forget they are stacked at the RB position with Cook, Mattison, Nwangwu, and the rookie Ty Chandler. Center Bradbury is still a liability in pass blocking and while the oline should be better there are still a lot of unknowns with the reshuffled deck there. Maybe new HC actually leans on the run a bit more than people think.A great WR handcuff for JJ/Thielen drafters. He may even be startable on his own depending on the format. Minny will be passing a lot more this year with O’Connell running the show.
That’s my end of the barrel tight end draft choice!Most likely. Irv Smith Jr may eat into that a little though
I don't like to handcuff WRs, but he's definitely someone to target later in drafts. I think a lot of drafters will still gravitate to Thielen based on his name and historical performance, but I can very well see Osborn turning out to be their 2nd most productive receiver when all is said and done.A great WR handcuff for JJ/Thielen drafters. He may even be startable on his own depending on the format. Minny will be passing a lot more this year with O’Connell running the show.
I don't like to handcuff WRs, but he's definitely someone to target later in drafts. I think a lot of drafters will still gravitate to Thielen based on his name and historical performance, but I can very well see Osborn turning out to be their 2nd most productive receiver when all is said and done.A great WR handcuff for JJ/Thielen drafters. He may even be startable on his own depending on the format. Minny will be passing a lot more this year with O’Connell running the show.
As far as I know ISM is ahead of Nailor on the depth chart.I don't like to handcuff WRs, but he's definitely someone to target later in drafts. I think a lot of drafters will still gravitate to Thielen based on his name and historical performance, but I can very well see Osborn turning out to be their 2nd most productive receiver when all is said and done.A great WR handcuff for JJ/Thielen drafters. He may even be startable on his own depending on the format. Minny will be passing a lot more this year with O’Connell running the show.
His stand alone value might be decent. I'm thinking basically a WR4/5 bye week filler without any injury to Thielen, whom I think he has been declining the last 3 years, propped up by unsustainable TD %. Logically it's unsustainable....except then he does it again.
I digress. Last season only 4 teams ran 11 personnel with less frequency than the Vikings. That will change under new HC Kevin O'Connell and OC Wes Phillips, both of whom were part of the Rams offensive brain trust in 2021 (LAR ran 11 personnel a league high 86%.) Last year he actually played more offensive snaps than Thielen (missed 4 of the last 5 games) and saw 82 targets. There is def a path to 100 targets even if Thielen stays healthy (which hasn't happened since 2018) - if they get to league average for 11 personnel (47% to 61%a) and run more offensive pace increases slightly (1-2 /G), Osborn could conceivably see 200+ more snaps and 20 more targets.
His only real competition is 6th round pick Jalen Nailor - nice story out of Michigan State, has had a great camp, but almost surely headed for a career backup role.
KJ Osborn caught 3-of-4 targets for 14 yards in the Vikings' Week 1 win over the Packers.
Osborn was unable to make an impact with Justin Jefferson hogging 11 targets. No Minnesota player outside of Jefferson caught more than three passes. With Thielen also firmly ahead of him in the pecking order, Osborn looks like the odd man out in Minnesota. He can be left on the bench in all fantasy formats.
- NBCSportsEDGE
K.J. Osborn caught 10-of-16 targets for 157 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' Week 16 win over the Colts.
All were season highs for Osborn, who hasn't topped 70 yards since Week 3. The Vikings went pass-heavy after going down four scores in the first half, leading to a positive gamescript for Osborn, who led the team in both yards and targets. Osborn's role has been trending up after scoring a TD last week, but this is more of an outlier than what to expect going forward.
Dec 17, 2022, 6:22 PM ET
K.J. Osborn caught 2-of-3 targets for 20 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' Wild Card Round loss to the Giants.
Osborn operated as the Vikings' No. 3 wide receiver all season but appeared to emerge a bit down the stretch. He hit 14+ PPR points in four of his last five regular season games. If the Vikings don't add any receiver competition this offseason, he should be a double-digit round fantasy pick once again. However, with T.J. Hockenson emerging as the clear No. 2 option in Minnesota, Osborn will primarily have best ball appeal. He does not have strong odds of being a reliable weekly starter.
- NBCSportsEDGE
TheOGFantasyFootball @TheOGFantasy
KJ Osborn becomes a value in Dynasty and in Redraft.
With Adam Thielen being cut, Osborn has a clear path to being a full time WR2 if he can survive FA and the Draft.
From weeks 14-17, Osborn was WR8. Overall. 3rd Year Breakout candidate.
Mike Clay @MikeClayNFL
This positions KJ Osborn as the team's No. 2 WR and a potential breakout player in his 4th pro season.
However, Minnesota's current #3 WR is Jalen Reagor, so they're a lock to be in the WR market. Curious to see how this plays out.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said K.J. Osborn has been a “real standout” during offseason practices.
“He’s moving around, he’s playing multiple spots, taking on a leadership role, which I expected him to do in that room, and it’s just been a really cool process to see not only what his ownership of what his role was previously, but you can see it when he breaks the huddle,” O’Connell said of Osborn, entering his fourth NFL season after emerging as Minnesota’s No. 2 receiver in the final month of the 2022 regular season. Playing mostly out of the slot, Osborn caught 25 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns over the team’s final four games. He was 19th among receivers in yards per route run over the stretch. Osborn will compete with rookie Jordan Addison for WR2 duties in 2023. Addison has missed all offseason activities with an undisclosed injury. Osborn profiles as a sensible late-round pick in 12-team leagues.
K.J. Osborn caught 3-of-6 targets for 31 yards in the Vikings’ Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers.
As the Vikings’ No. 3 wide receiver, Osborn grabbed three receptions with six targets. He saw a couple of targets in the end zone, but one went through his hands and another was a pick thrown by Kirk Cousins. Osborn also drew a defensive pass interference in the end zone to extend a Vikings drive. Facing the Eagles next week, Osborn is best on fantasy benches for now.
- Rotoworld
The Athletic reports K.J. Osborn will “slide seamlessly into the ‘X’ receiver role” formerly held by Justin Jefferson (hamstring).
Osborn’s experience in the Minnesota offense, according to The Athletic, makes him the favorite to fill in for Jefferson, who will be placed on injured reserve for at least the next four weeks. Will a wideout with a career yards per route run of 1.12 work as Jefferson’s replacement? Of course not. But Osborn — who caught five of eight targets for 49 yards in Week 5 against the Chiefs — will play a full complement of snaps and run the requisite pass routes in a pass-heavy Vikings offense to have some fantasy viability over the next month. Look for T.J. Hockensen to see an unseemly target share wit Jefferson shelved. Rookie Jordan Addison will also see a boost.
Ed Werder
#Vikings expect TE TJ Hockenson to play today vs. #Saints but still affected by his rib/oblique injury. He won’t play as many snaps as normal but will be on field in key situations.
WR K.J. Osborn is unlikely to play despite clearing concussion protocol. Coach-player decision.
He is OUT per Kevin SeifertMaybe Ed Werder is right that Osborn won't play today but this is the only person I have seen making a call on this so far on what is a game time decision.
Osborn cleared concussion protocol this week, but the Vikings are being cautious with him.
Patriots agreed to terms with WR K.J. Osborn, formerly of the Vikings.
Originally a fifth round pick of the Vikings, Osborn didn’t play offensive snaps until his second season, operating as the Vikings’ No. 3 receiver for the past three seasons. He was targeted 75 times in 2023, finishing with 48 receptions for 540 yards and three touchdowns. Osborn can play on the outside and in the slot, now joining a Patriots team expected to add a rookie quarterback. He joins Kendrick Bourne, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and DeMario Douglas in a middling Pats receiving corps. Osborn projects to be a fantasy WR5 at best for 2024.
Like this fit. He's not bad.Patriots agreed to terms with WR K.J. Osborn, formerly of the Vikings.Originally a fifth round pick of the Vikings, Osborn didn’t play offensive snaps until his second season, operating as the Vikings’ No. 3 receiver for the past three seasons. He was targeted 75 times in 2023, finishing with 48 receptions for 540 yards and three touchdowns. Osborn can play on the outside and in the slot, now joining a Patriots team expected to add a rookie quarterback. He joins Kendrick Bourne, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and DeMario Douglas in a middling Pats receiving corps. Osborn projects to be a fantasy WR5 at best for 2024.
Like this fit. He's not bad.Patriots agreed to terms with WR K.J. Osborn, formerly of the Vikings.Originally a fifth round pick of the Vikings, Osborn didn’t play offensive snaps until his second season, operating as the Vikings’ No. 3 receiver for the past three seasons. He was targeted 75 times in 2023, finishing with 48 receptions for 540 yards and three touchdowns. Osborn can play on the outside and in the slot, now joining a Patriots team expected to add a rookie quarterback. He joins Kendrick Bourne, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and DeMario Douglas in a middling Pats receiving corps. Osborn projects to be a fantasy WR5 at best for 2024.
Two unknowns...will Osborn be the 5th option? He could just as easily be 1 or 2. Secondly, we know what the scheme has been, but how much does Jayden Daniels (or Maye) change that?Like this fit. He's not bad.Patriots agreed to terms with WR K.J. Osborn, formerly of the Vikings.Originally a fifth round pick of the Vikings, Osborn didn’t play offensive snaps until his second season, operating as the Vikings’ No. 3 receiver for the past three seasons. He was targeted 75 times in 2023, finishing with 48 receptions for 540 yards and three touchdowns. Osborn can play on the outside and in the slot, now joining a Patriots team expected to add a rookie quarterback. He joins Kendrick Bourne, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and DeMario Douglas in a middling Pats receiving corps. Osborn projects to be a fantasy WR5 at best for 2024.
I liked him in Minn with the high volume passing attack, but in NE, there won't be any targets for WR5 on the depth chart in the run heavy scheme.
But who knows with the new coaching regime.