Dec 1, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) reacts during the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings have the league’s seventh-best odds to win the Super Bowl, situated around a +1700 moneyline after 12 games and 10 wins. Sportsbooks basically believe Minnesota is somewhere between the Green Bay Packers (+1600) and Pittsburgh Steelers (+2400) for Super Bowl contendership.
Multiple players are also in the mix for individual awards.
These are the four Vikings players and coaches who could realistically take home individual award hardware at season’s end. They’re ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = likeliest to win award).
Odds to Win OPOY: +6000
NFL Ranking = 5th
Only Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles), Derrick Henry (Baltimore Ravens), Ja’Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals), and Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens) outrank Jefferson for OPOY through 12 weeks.
He’s on pace for 1,471 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns on a 10-2 team. To be clear, Jefferson has already won OPOY, so this would be his second achievement if he can oust Barkley and Henry, among others, for the trophy.
An injury is the only thing that would derail Jefferson from consideration. Jefferson also really needs a signature game to reestablish his OPOY case. His odds have dipped from third to fifth in the last month. Some speculate that Jefferson is sitting on a handful of monster performances. Stay tuned.
Odds to Win DPOY: +4000
NFL Ranking = 11th
Van Ginkel has notched 59 total tackles, 15 quarterback hits, 15 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 touchdowns, and a forced fumble. He and his counterpart, Jonathan Greenard, are playing so efficiently that 1st-Rounder Dallas Turner doesn’t see the field as much as fans expected when the season kicked off.
The two defensive touchdowns put him on the map per DPOY attention, but Van Ginkel’s 2024 resume is much more elaborate than two big plays. The guy’s a tyrant on Sundays.
Odds to Win DPOY: +3000
NFL Ranking = 9th
Greenard ranks third in the NFL in quarterback pressures, trailing only Myles Garrett and Trey Hendrickson. He’s also on pace for 14 sacks during his maiden voyage season in Minnesota.
The ex-Houston Texan has directly replaced Danielle Hunter’s fantastic production from 2015 to 2023, and Greenard is even more affordable than Hunter’s current price in Houston. Hunter, too, is in the DPOY race with +1700 odds.
Greenard would need a flurry of sacks to win DPOY, but at the very least, he should snag his first Pro Bowl nod.
Odds to Win COY: +400
NFL Ranking = 2nd
O’Connell led this race until Week 8, overtaken recently by Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions, +350).
The Vikings skipper has helped reclaim Sam Darnold’s career and is rapidly exemplifying the title “quarterback whisperer.” Meanwhile, his team has won eight games in a season where it was only “supposed to” win 6.5, per sportsbooks. Most expected Minnesota to finish 6-11 or 7-10 and gain a Top 10 draft pick. Didn’t happen.
O’Connell has hit his stride as a head coach. His team would need a colossal collapse for O’Connell to fall out of this race’s Top 5. His COY cause will be greatly helped if his team ends up with a record of 12-5 or better.
Winning the NFC North — albeit a longshot — could guarantee him the COY trophy.
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, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.