3 Vikings Players Who Have Exceeded Expectations
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The Minnesota Vikings take their undefeated streak to London this weekend for a meeting with the New York Jets, a franchise thatās 2-2 through four weeks and needing a win to keep pace in the AFC.
3 Vikings Players Who Have Exceeded Expectations
Minnesotaās 4-0 start is rather surprising, and several players have exceeded expectations.
Minnesota Head Coach Kevin OāConnell joined KFANās Dan Barreiro after 2024 Vikings Training Camp practice at the TCO Performance Center. July 31st, 2024. The Vikings finished 7-10 in 2023, OāConnellās second season. The team is expected to win about six or seven games in 2024.
So, these are the three Vikings players who have exceeded expectations through four games. Theyāre ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most exceeded expectations).
3. Blake Brandel (RG)
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Way back in March, Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips spoke highly of Brandel despite most fans wondering why he was on a pathway to start.
āIām really excited about Blake. I feel like he gets bigger every time I see him. Heās just a massive man on the inside. But heās in great shape, heās always been very coachable,āĀ Phillps told reportersĀ in May at organized team activities (OTAs). āYou talk about technique, fundamentals, footwork, hand placement, all the things that are critical for the O-line ā one false step for an O-lineman could be a catastrophe ā itās been very encouraging so far with him stepping into that starting spot on the left.ā
Now, Brandelās PFF grade has hovered around 70.0 all season.
Phillips continued, āI think itāll only grow, the more experience, the more reps he gets. Heās been a guy that, any time heās been put in a game at several positions, has come through for us. We havenāt forgotten that. I think heās earned this opportunity.ā
The guy is a legitimate starting guard.
2. Aaron Jones (RB)
John Jones-Imagn Images.
Jones will turn 30 in two months, and that means that he should be slowing down, at least per his peersā historical production.
But heās not.
Jones is on pace for about 2,000 yards from scrimmage this season, which would be a McCaffreyian outcome. Running backs do, however, get hurt, so that could occur to Jones at any time. Still, Jones is performing marvelously for the Vikings, and his consistency is the straw that stirs the drink on offense.
1. Sam Darnold (QB)
John Jones-Imagn Images.
Darnold ranks tops in the NFL per touchdown passes with 11 and ranks third per EPA+CPOE, an efficiency metric measuring expected wins added. Itās the first time in his seven-season career that heās experienced this magnitude of support from weapons like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Aaron Jones. Soon, heāll get to play around with T.J. Hockenson, too.
Overall, some optimists pegged Darnold for a āBaker Mayfield seasonā in terms of reclaiming his career. They were wrong ā heās producing a Patrick Mahomes season through one month.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, āThe Sopranos,ā Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.Ā
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
