One Expensive Viking Has Vanished
The Minnesota Vikings have spiraled through two weeks of the regular season, mainly because of injuries and a quarterback developing on the fly.
The Vikings are 1-1 through two games, and after a rough outing in Week 2, one playmaker appears to have wholly disappeared, at least for the time being.
The team is 1-1, with Carson Wentz expected to take the reins of QB1 this weekend while J.J. McCarthy recovers from a high ankle sprain.
Along the way, tight end T.J. Hockenson has vanished. He’s simply not a factor in the purple offense.
Vikings TE a Total Afterthought
Is Hockenson due for a breakout performance?
Where’s T.J. Hockenson?
Through two games, Hockenson has 4 receptions for 27 yards. That’s puny. In fairness to Hockenson, he has not been targeted often by J.J. McCarthy, so it’s not like the veteran tight end has a bad case of the drops or anything in that realm.
It’s just that Hockenson has not been featured in an offense that has struggled profusely for seven of eight quarters to start the 2025 campaign.
And without wide receiver Jordan Addison, who is suspended until Week 4, Minnesota needs all the pass-catching help it can find.
Too Expensive for No Production
Hockenson is the NFL’s fourth-highest-paid tight end, earning $16.5 million per season. If he were a common tight end, like Josh Oliver or Johnny Mundt, nobody would care about the diminutive production through two weeks.
But at the $16.5 million price point, the man point-blank has to be showcased on offense to earn a return on the dollar. It’s the whole reason a team spends the big bucks at tight end — to get an edge on the opposition that oftens employs run-of-the-mill options at the roster spot.
A Product of the Offense’s Struggles
Hockenson’s small contributions are likely the sign of a struggling offense, on the whole. Heading into Week 3, Minnesota ranks 30th in the NFL per offensive DVOA, a far departure from the heyday of Kevin O’Connell’s operation, with quarterbacks like Kirk Cousins, Sam Darnold, and even Nick Mullens.
The McCarthy-led offense has sputtered through seven of eight quarters early in 2025, with the 4th Quarter in Week 1 as the lone exception.
When the offense returns to form — if the offense returns to form — Hockenson will likely feast.
It’s just that the guy is supposed to be a part of the fix to ailing offense, not just an ornamental perk when things are going well.
Rebirth with Carson Wentz?
McCarthy suffered a high ankle sprain on Sunday Night Football and is out for 2-4 weeks. The injury clears a path for veteran journeyman Carson Wentz to take the baton indefinitely, and some believe Wentz will revive his career in the Twin Cities because that’s what quarterbacks do with O’Connell’s tutelage.
If so, Hockenson will probably bounce back to form. That is — as soon as the offense starts humming, Hockenson will be right there to partake.
In the past, when the good version of Wentz has hit on all cylinders, he is not afraid to use tight ends.
More on Hockenson
Pro Football Focus‘ Beckett Mesko noted on Hockenson this week from a fantasy football perspective: “Hockenson’s managers have endured a frustrating two weeks. The veteran tight end is averaging just 3.4 PPR points per game thus far. Hockenson owns a 17.6% adjusted target share, which is tied for 22nd at the position. While there are growing pains to be expected with a new quarterback at the helm, the lack of targets is an ever-growing red flag.”
“Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy suffered an ankle sprain in the team’s Week 2 loss to the Falcons, so Carson Wentz will be under center in Week 3, a contest for which I will likely bench Hockenson and look for a streamer. Temperature Check: Very worried; benched until further notice and droppable in small leagues.”
SI.com‘s Thomas Carelli on Hockenson and Minnesota’s offense: “I do not anticipate Carson Wentz to be very good, but he may be servicable enough. He does not have any fantasy football value unless you are in a truly deep league of 16 teams, at the minimum. This game is survive and advance. As for Justin Jefferson and TJ Hockenson, they are both must-starts, but with reduced value.”
“McCarthy has not been elite by any means, but he slings the football. I am not so sure that Wentz will be permitted to sling the ball as much as McCarthy and that a run-script is likely more in store. Jefferson should drop a few spots on the rankings, as does TJ Hockenson.”
With or without McCarthy, Hockenson is due for an explosion, which could occur with Wentz. Stay tuned. Minnesota has three games left before the truly difficult section of the schedule arrives. Now would be an apropos time to turn it around.
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