Here’s Where the Vikings Offense Ranks Heading into Week 6

  |  
Oct 11, 2023
Should Have Optimism
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports.

Week 5 of the NFL season is officially behind us.

The Minnesota Vikings fell to the Kansas City Chiefs this past weekend, dropping them to 1-4 on the season. Making matters worse, Justin Jefferson is headed to IR after suffering a hamstring injury in that game. Needless to say, the Vikings are in trouble.

Regardless, today we still will be breaking down where the Vikings offense through Week 5 as a whole, and where individual players stand in terms of their statistics. Shout out to Pro-Football-Reference, Pro Football Focus, and nfeloapp.com for the numbers that went into this article. Stay tuned for the defensive rankings later today as well.

NOTE: PFF Grades are sorted to include players with at least 20% of dropbacks, carries, or targets.

Team Offense

Vikings Statistical Rankings Through Week 5
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Total Offense

  • Points Scored: 110 (T-15th)
  • Total Yards: 1812 (8th)
  • Plays: 308 (20th)
  • Yards per Play: 5.9 (4th)
  • Turnovers: 12 (Most)
  • Penalties: 25 (T-3rd-fewest)
  • PFF Grade: 78.5 (5th)
  • Total EPA/play: -0.04 (T-15th)

Once again, turnovers were part of the storyline in Week 5. The Vikings had their 12th turnover of the year on the very first play from scrimmage when Josh Oliver fumbled away a 15-yard reception. It was the 8th lost fumble for Minnesota this season, and they continue to lead the league in both turnovers and fumbles lost.

Otherwise, this team has continued to move the ball well up and down the field, making the turnover troubles that much more frustrating. The Vikings are still a top-five group in terms of yards per play, and they are one of the least-penalized teams in the league.

Passing Offense

  • Completions: 137 (1st)
  • Pass Attempts: 204 (1st)
  • Net Passing Yards: 1408 (2nd)
  • Net Yards per Attempt: 6.5 (10th)
  • Passing First Downs: 73 (3rd)
  • Passing TDs: 13 (1st)
  • Interceptions: 4 (T-14th-most)
  • Passing PFF Grade: 76.3 (9th)
  • Pass Blocking PFF Grade: 76.0 (2nd)
  • Receiving PFF Grade: 71.7 (11th)
  • EPA/pass: -0.07 (22nd)

Rushing Offense

  • Carries: 91 (32nd)
  • Rushing Yards: 404 (28th)
  • Yards per Carry: 4.4 (T-11th)
  • Rushing First Downs: 17 (32nd)
  • Rushing TDs: 0
  • Fumbles Lost: 8 (Most)
  • Rushing PFF Grade: 65.6 (29th)
  • EPA/run: -0.16 (20th)

The stark difference between Minnesota’s passing and rushing offense remains apparent after Week 5. Even with four teams on bye last weekend, the Vikings remain at the very bottom of the league in carries and are among the bottom five in rushing yards.

They are also one of just two teams (joined by the Pittsburgh Steelers) with no rushing touchdowns this year. Minnesota’s passing offense will inevitably take a step back without Justin Jefferson, so they desperately need to turn things around in the running game if they want to have any chance at salvaging what’s left of the season.

Individual Players

Vikings Offense
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

QB Kirk Cousins

  • Completions: 137 (1st)
  • Pass Attempts: 204 (1st)
  • Passing Yards: 1498 (2nd)
  • Passing TDs: 13 (1st)
  • Interceptions: 4 (T-12th-most)
  • Passing First Downs: 73 (3rd)
  • PFF Grade: 77.1 (10th among QBs)

RB Alexander Mattison

  • Carries: 64 (T-17th)
  • Rushing Yards: 276 (18th)
  • Yards per Carry: 4.3 (T-18th)
  • Rushing TDs: 0
  • Rushing First Downs: 10 (T-35th)
  • PFF Grade: 60.0 (28th among RBs)

WR Justin Jefferson

  • Targets: 53 (4th)
  • Receptions: 36 (6th)
  • Receiving Yards: 571 (3rd)
  • Receiving TDs: 3 (T-5th)
  • Receiving First Downs: 28 (4th)
  • PFF Grade: 89.9 (4th among WRs)
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

WR Jordan Addison

  • Targets: 29 (T-49th)
  • Receptions: 19 (T-53rd)
  • Receiving Yards: 249 (T-42nd)
  • Receiving TDs: 3 (T-5th)
  • Receiving First Downs: 10 (T-57th)
  • PFF Grade: 65.1 (60th among WRs)

WR K.J. Osborn

  • Targets: 26 (T-63rd)
  • Receptions: 13 (T-101st)
  • Receiving Yards: 166 (T-78th)
  • Receiving TDs: 2 (T-25th)
  • Receiving First Downs: 8 (T-75th)
  • PFF Grade: 51.6 (91st among WRs)

TE T.J. Hockenson

  • Targets: 39 (T-20th)
  • Receptions: 30 (T-11th)
  • Receiving Yards: 254 (41st)
  • Receiving TDs: 2 (T-25th)
  • PFF Grade: 66.9 (16th among TEs)

NOTE: This article originally appeared on our sister-site, PurplePTSD.com.

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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.

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