Skip to Main Content
EyePartInnerEyePartCorner
player headshot

Minnesota Vikings DST

Player Outlook
Minnesota finished as the number two defense in Fantasy last year with the fourth most sacks, the sixth most touchdowns, and five more interceptions than any other defense. A couple of those aren't the most predictive of defensive stats, so we expect some regression and rank them as a top seven defense going into 2025. DC Brian Flores is back in 2025, and the team added Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave, and Isaiah Rodgers to the defense. You can start considering drafting the Vikings in the next-to-last round of your draft.

Fantasy News

  • Colts' Mekhi Blackmon: Dealt to Indy

    Rotowire
    The Vikings traded Blackmon to the Colts in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick Monday. Blackmon will head to Indianapolis after missing the entirety of the 2024 campaign while recovering from a torn ACL. The cornerback was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Vikings, compiling 41 total tackles (34 solo), eight passes defensed, including an interception, and a fumble recovery over 15 regular-season contests in his rookie campaign. Blackmon will now step into a prominent reserve role in the Colts' secondary behind starters Charvarius Ward and Jaylon Jones in 2025.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Vikings' Tyler Batty: Dealing with knee injury

    Rotowire
    Batty will undergo an MRI on a right knee injury that he suffered during Friday's preseason game against the Titans, Emily Leiker of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports. Batty played just one defensive snap during Friday's preseason finale, and he'll go through more tests to determine the severity of his injury. He signed with the Vikings in May as an undrafted free agent and has been competing for a depth spot on Minnesota's 53-man roster for the 2025 season.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Jets' Harrison Phillips: Traded to Jets

    Rotowire
    The Vikings traded Phillips to the Jets on Wednesday for a 2026 sixth-round draft pick and a swap of picks in 2027, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Phillips is coming off a strong season in Minnesota as he racked up 56 tackles (16 solo), with 2.0 sacks, in 17 games and is now headed to New York. The 29-year-old should have the chance to serve as one of the Jets' starting defensive tackles alongside Quinnen Williams once the regular season begins.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Vikings' Josh Metellus: Returns to practice

    Rotowire
    Metellus (shoulder) returned to practice Monday, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports. Metellus landed awkwardly on his shoulder in practice last Thursday. Metellus has been a mainstay in the Vikings' secondary over the past two seasons at safety alongside Harrison Smith.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Vikings' Andrew Van Ginkel: Has undisclosed injury

    Rotowire
    Van Ginkel has been present at practices but in street clothes since Aug. 7 with an undisclosed injury, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports. Van Ginkel had a tremendous debut last year with Minnesota in which he tallied 79 tackles (50 solo), including a career-high 11.5 sacks across 17 regular-season games. It's not clear at this point if he'll be ready for the start of the regular season.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Vikings' Josh Metellus: Nursing shoulder injury

    Rotowire
    Metellus injured his shoulder during Thursday's training camp practice, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters that Metellus injured his shoulder during the team's two-minute drill, and the sixth-year safety will undergo further tests to determine the severity of the injury. Metellus has been a mainstay in the Vikings' secondary over the past two seasons, and an extended absence would open the door for Theo Jackson and Jay Ward to compete for a starting spot at safety alongside Harrison Smith.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Vikings' Levi Drake Rodriguez: Suffers ankle injury

    Rotowire
    Rodriguez was held from Tuesday's practice due to a minor ankle injury he sustained in Saturday's preseason game against the Texans, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. He's questionable for this weekend's preseason game against the Patriots. Rodriguez played just two games last season but could become a valuable depth contributor on the defensive line.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Titans' Brian Asamoah: Claimed by Tennessee

    Rotowire
    The Titans claimed Asamoah from waivers Wednesday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports. Asamoah was let go by the Vikings on Tuesday, but he won't need to enter free agency to catch on with another team after the Titans were awarded the 2022 third-round pick off waivers. He mostly served in a special teams role for Minnesota in 2024 and finished the regular season with six tackles (four solo) and one forced fumble across 17 games. With the Titans waiving Otis Reese, Asamoah brings depth to Tennessee's linebacker corps, but special teams will be the latter's clearest path to earning a spot on the 53-man roster at the end of training camp in late August.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Vikings' Mekhi Blackmon: Records five tackles

    Rotowire
    Blackmon (knee) recorded five tackles (four solo) in Saturday's preseason opener against the Texans. Blackmon tore his ACL in training camp last summer and missed the entire 2024 season. Now fully recovered, Blackmon led the Vikings in tackles versus Houston, while playing 34 defensive snaps. A third-round pick in 2023, Blackmon is expected to have a significant role in Minnesota's secondary this season.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Vikings' Alex Williams: Going to Minnesota's IR

    Rotowire
    Williams (undisclosed) reverted to the Vikings' injured-reserve list Friday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. Williams wasn't picked up by another club after Minnesota waived him with an injury designation Thursday, so he's now going on the team's injured-reserve list. He'll spend the entire season there unless the two parties reach an injury settlement.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Alex Williams: Waived by Minnesota

    Rotowire
    Williams (undisclosed) was waived/injured by the Vikings on Thursday. The defensive tackle will revert to Minnesota's injured-reserve list unless he's claimed on waivers by another team. If Williams reverts to IR, he will need to reach an injury settlement with the Vikings to have a chance to play in 2025. The Middle Tennessee State product signed with the Vikings in the spring as an undrafted free agent.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Vikings' Josh Metellus: Returns to practice

    Rotowire
    Mettellus (ankle) participated in Minnesota's practice Monday, Cole Smith of USA Today reports. Mettellus had missed the previous two practice sections after injuring his ankle but is now healthy again. The 27-year-old had a strong outing last season, recording 103 tackles (63 solo) and two interceptions across 17 regular-season games and will look to keep producing during the upcoming campaign.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Vikings' Chaz Chambliss: Ready to practice

    Rotowire
    Chambliss (foot) was activated off the active/PUP list Monday. After dealing with a foot injury during the first week of camp, Chambliss returned to practice Monday. The 22-year-old signed with Minnesota as an undrafted free agent in May after spending his entire college career at Georgia. He'll face an uphill battle to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Vikings' Josh Metellus: Extends contract with Vikings

    Rotowire
    Metellus (ankle) signed a three-year, $36 million contract extension with the Vikings on Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. The deal includes $25 million guaranteed. Metellus has played 34 regular-season games (27 starts) over the past two seasons, and he recorded 219 tackles (141 solo), 2.5 sacks, 10 pass breakups, five forced fumbles and three interceptions in that stretch. Metellus is a utility player in Minnesota's defense. He's listed as a safety but often lines up as a box linebacker and a slot cornerback, leading to high tackle counts for IDP purposes. According to Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, Metellus is still dealing with a minor ankle injury that will keep him out of Saturday's practice, but he should return to action Monday.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Jihad Ward: Expected to sign with Titans

    Rotowire
    The Titans are expected to sign Ward imminently, NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports. The Titans suffered the surprising loss of Lorenzo Carter when he retired Tuesday, and Ward could fill a comparable pass-rushing role. Ward has multiple sacks in four of the last five seasons while playing for three different teams.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • NaJee Thompson: Tries out with Cardinals

    Rotowire
    Thompson (knee) tried out with the Cardinals on Wednesday, Howard Balzer of USA Today reports. Thompson has seemingly recovered from the knee injury that led the Vikings to waiving him with a failed physical designation back in April. The 25-year-old last appeared in a game during the 2023 season, when he recorded seven tackles (five solo) across 15 regular-season games with Minnesota and will now look to catch on with a new team.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Vikings' Chaz Chambliss: Lands on active/PUP list

    Rotowire
    Chambliss (undisclosed) was placed on the active/PUP list by the Vikings on Monday. The undrafted free-agent signing can return to the team at any point during training camp and the preseason once he's ready to practice. Chambliss will need to jump back into action relatively quickly to have a chance to make the team behind starters Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard. The Georgia product did lead the Bulldogs with 6.5 sacks in 2024, and he recorded 86 total tackles during a four-year college career.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Saints' Jonathan Bullard: Signs with New Orleans

    Rotowire
    Bullard agreed to a deal with the Saints on Saturday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. The defensive end originally visited the team in June and previously played for Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley in Chicago, per Garafolo. With the Vikings last year, Bullard started all 17 regular-season games for the first time in his career, recording 41 tackles (21 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and three pass breakups. The veteran should have a chance to compete for a role in New Orleans as well.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Stephon Gilmore: Wants to play this season

    Rotowire
    Gilmore, who remains unsigned, hopes to play in 2025, Bobby Kownack of NFL.com reports. "I want to play this year, it's just got to be the right situation," the veteran cornerback recently noted on The Money Down podcast. The 34-year-old finished the 2024 regular season with 56 tackles and one interception in 15 games for the Vikings. For now, however, the five-time Pro Bowler appears inclined to wait until he finds the right fit for what would be his 14th NFL campaign, and it's plausible that once injuries hit during training camp later this month, Gilmore's options in that regard could increase.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Seahawks' Shaquill Griffin: Reuniting with Seattle

    Rotowire
    Griffin agreed to terms Wednesday on a one-year, $3 million contract with the Seahawks, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports. Griffin, who suited up for all 17 regular-season games with Minnesota in 2024, now joins forces with Seattle on a one-year deal reportedly worth up to $4 million. The 29-year-old brings reliability and experience to the Seahawks' cornerback corps, and he'll likely spend training camp competing with Josh Jobe for the No. 3 gig behind starters Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon.
    ... See More ... See Less
Show more Fantasy news