Fantasy Football Player Notes

Despite missing four games over the last two years, Cook has still managed to rack up 3,572 total yards and 30 touchdowns. He's still yet to play 16 games in his four-year career, but when he's on the field, he's a surefire RB1. In each of the final 12 games he played in 2020, he touched the ball a minimum of 17 times, including 24-plus touches in nine of them. The craziest part about his numbers, though, is the fact that he has 97 receptions for 880 yards over the last two years, but just one receiving touchdown, so there's room for even more of a ceiling.

I'm not sure many realize just how difficult it would be for Jefferson to repeat his 2020 season. Not only was he a rookie, which is amazing in it's own right, but to finish with 1,400 yards on just 125 targets is ridiculous. How did that happen? Well, he caught 70.4 percent of his targets... at 15.9 yards a pop. No other wide receiver in the history of the game has totaled 1,400 yards on 125 or less targets. Bottom line... he needs more targets if he's going to live up to expectations because that's unlikely to happen again. With the defense getting back on track with Danielle Hunter (and adding in free agency), do the Vikings trend back to their run-heavy ways? Adam Thielen is a year older, but the chemistry between him and Kirk Cousins is magical. The sky is the limit for Jefferson with his talent, but will the targets follow? Don't forget this is the same team that held Stefon Diggs to 112 or less targets in 4-of-5 seasons.

It seems the torch has been passed from Thielen to Justin Jefferson, though it's not as if Thielen will just fade into oblivion. It goes back to the Stefon Diggs days where he had to share that production. While Thielen did finish as the No. 8 wide receiver last year, it was thanks to his 14 touchdowns on just 74 receptions and 925 yards. No other receiver finished higher than No. 18 with fewer yards than Thielen. He's also going to be 31 years old at the start of the season and has a history of back issues, presenting a bit of risk, though he does have a ton of proven production with Kirk Cousins, which can't be ignored.

We've been saying, "just wait until the Vikings get rid of Kyle Rudolph." That was when we were supposed to see Smith's breakout. Well, unfortunately for him, Justin Jefferson came around. Despite the Vikings inflating their pass attempts last year, the combination of Rudolph and Smith netted just 80 targets. Even if Smith received all of Rudolph's departed targets, that's no guarantee to net top-12 production. Their defense should get back on track this year, and it's not like Jefferson will become less involved. You shouldn't be paying for top-12 production, but rather hoping for it.

Yes, I'm fully aware that Cousins has continually finished as a top-12 quarterback, but my rankings are based on how I'd draft quarterbacks and not where I project them to finish. Why? Well, Cousins has stayed healthy and played all 16 games, allowing him to finish higher than those right around him who missed a game or two. But on a week-to-week basis, you're never going to say Cousins is a top-12 quarterback. He's a rock-solid QB2 in Superflex formats, but he's just a streamer in 1QB leagues. I'd rather draft someone like Trevor Lawrence for upside.

When drafting a player like Mattison, it's not going to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. He's a handcuff, plain and simple. As long as Dalvin Cook is on the field, Mattison isn't going to get more than 10 touches in a game. However, if Cook were to miss time, Mattison is a potential league winner. If you have the space on your bench for someone like Mattison, he's much better than a bye-week-filler-type player.