Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) does a Lambeau Leap with fans following a 31-29 victory against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, September 29, 2024, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. © Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings take their undefeated streak to London this weekend for a date with the New York Jets, a club that’s 2-2 through four weeks and needing a win to keep pace in the AFC.
Minnesota’s 4-0 start is rather unexpected, and standout players have propelled the club along the way.
So, these are the Vikings’ five MVPs through four games. They’re ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = top MVP for the team).
Cashman owns a phenomenal 73.7 Pro Football Focus grade through three games, and his specialty is pass coverage, which his predecessor didn’t necessarily showcase in 2023. He also has 34 total tackles and a sack.
The Eden Prairie native has made an immediate thumbprint on the Vikings’ defensive operations. He could be the type of player who sticks around for years. He turned 28 in May.
At 65.5, Van Ginkel’s PFF grade is nearly as sweet as Cashman’s. Van Ginkel is involved in almost every keynote defensive play, the ultimate ball hawk in Brian Flores’ top-ranked defense (per DVOA).
He’s a Swiss army knife with 18 tackles, 4 QB hits, 3 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, an interception, and a game-solidifying touchdown (at NYG). Van Ginkel has also logged 11 quarterback pressures. This man is a steal of a deal at $10 million per season.
Jones is on pace for the second-best season by a Vikings running back in franchise history, only trailing Adrian Peterson from the 2012 campaign.
He’s scheduled to accrue 1,972 yards from scrimmage, and that isn’t quite talked about enough, mainly because the media is fixated on the guys further down on this list.
But Jones deserves his flowers. He is so crucial to Minnesota’s offense.
One could put Jefferson at No. 1, and nobody would complain.
But the next guy only outranks Jefferson because he’s the one delivering the pigskin. Jefferson, though, is unabashedly the Vikings’ best player, proving as much [again] last weekend with a one-handed touchdown reception and tip-toe 3rd Down catch near the sidelines that helped the Packers’ valiant comeback attempt.
Jefferson is on pace for over 1,500 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns.
A month ago, a good season from Darnold would’ve resembled 3,500 passing yards and 25 touchdowns by season’s end.
Instead, this is his pace:
His breakneck production may not be as sustainable as Jefferson’s, but for now, he’s the Vikings’ MVP.
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.