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The 2024 season was like a dream for the Minnesota Vikings. With no Kirk Cousins and rookie J.J. McCarthy out injured, it was veteran Sam Darnold who stepped up huge. The Vikings finished with 14 wins—the most ever for a Wild Card team. Unfortunately, the glass slipper shattered in the playoffs, as the Vikings dropped a Wild Card game to the Los Angeles Rams. Darnold is gone, so what will the Vikings do in 2025?

Off-Season Changes

The Vikings saw a host of players depart. Chief among them was Darnold. He earned a big free agent deal to lead the Seattle Seahawks. Backup quarterbacks Daniel Jones and Nick Mullens also departed. That means things will fall to McCarthy. Also on offense, the Vikings lost center Garrett Bradbury, who left for the Patriots. The team also lost left tackle Cam Robinson and right tackle David Quessenberry. Defensively, the team saw defensive tackle Jerry Tillery and cornerback Shaq Griffin.

It was a quiet off-season for additions. The team traded for Sam Howell, who will serve as a backup quarterback for McCarty. The Vikings also brought in free agent Rondale Moore to bolster the receiving group and traded for Jordan Mason to provide depth at running back behind Aaron Jones. The team added veteran center Ryan Kelly to bolster the offensive line. It was a quiet draft, too, with the Vikings using a First-Round pick on guard Donovan Jackson.

Fantasy Impact

The big unknown is McCarthy, who was injured early in the pre-season as a rookie. It’s like starting over in 2025, this time behind a worked over offensive line. He wasn’t part of a big pass-heavy offense in Michigan, but coach Kevin O’Connell has done well with quarterbacks. Still, McCarthy is a low-end QB2/QB3 for me. I have questions about how well he’ll adjust to the NFL game.

In the backfield, Jones was great in 2024. He finished as RB14 and was a big part of the offense. I suspect he’ll be a key for the Vikings again, and I like him as an RB2 this season. Mason acquitted himself well for the 49ers last season and should be in the mix in Minnesota, too. He’s likely not a great week-to-week play unless Jones misses time, but he’s got some deep league flex appeal.

In the passing game, Justin Jefferson is one of the best receivers in the game. He’s a Top 3 option at the position for me. His fellow receiver, Jordan Addison, had a great 2024. He finished as WR21 last year. But he faces a three-game suspension to start 2025 and questions about passing volume. He’s a WR3 for me. Meanwhile tight end T.J. Hockenson is healthy, and I think he’ll have a bigger role. He’s a TE1 for me.

The Bottom Line

The Vikings were a massive surprise in 2024, ending up as one of the best teams in the regular season. Do they have some more magic for 2025? It’s certainly possible, but I have reservations about McCarthy and where this offense will shake out this season. I think the Vikings take a sizeable step back and end up falling short of the playoffs.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.