NFL Preview: Minnesota Vikings

QB: D+ Now that the great gray menace has decided to stay in Mississippi, the Vikings have to deal with the hard reality that all they have is Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels. That’s not going to be good enough to win the Super Bowl and maybe not even make the playoffs. What they need is a dynamic (Vick) playmaker to take pressure off (Vick)the RB’s either with his feet or arm. (Vick) I wonder if anybody is available. (Vick !)

RB: A+ Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor are as good a two back combo in the league. The only concern is the durability both backs so look for them to share more of the load this year. FANTASY TIP: Peterson should go in the top two picks but be wary of the split load and lack of receptions if you are in point-per-reception league.

WR: C Bernard Berrian, Bobby Wade and Sidney Rice are all average at best, although they do make big plays, usually off play action. No consistency or reliability in catching the ball though, partly because they aren’t very good and partly because the QB’s suck. Berrian is the only real fantasy option. Maybe a late round flyer on Rice.

TE: B Dirk Shiancoe exposed himself last year as an above average TE. Luckily he’s good enough blocking and catching where he doesn’t come off the field much although Kleinsasser is a potential red zone vulture.

OL: A McKinnie, Hutchinson and Loadholt are all excellent. Peterson is going to go huge again and whoever is the QB should have plenty of time to throw the ball. Any inflated sack numbers are due to the fact that Jackson likes to run around too much.

DL: B+ This unti depends mostly on massive DT’s Pat & Kevin Williams, if they aren’t suspended or busy in court then the DL will be fine. If not it could get ugly. Jared Allen is All Pro on the outside while Edwards and Udeze are good enough on the other side.

LB: B- Greenway, Henderson and Beber are all slightly above average. None of them are going put up big time sack numbers but they all will get a couple sacks, couple picks tons of tackles.

DB: B Winfield and Griffith are both excellent on the corners and Williams and Johnson are both pretty ok at S. The only concern is the size really, all of them are pretty small which could get to be a problem if some RB starts running wild, which probably shouldn’t happen so long as the DL’s aren’t MIA.

K/P: B Longwell is fine in a dome but a little weak in the elements. I don’t know who Kluwe is, which is always good for a punter.

COACHING: C- even without Favre, Childress seems content with Jackson & Rosenfels which is insane. This is a super bowl team if it had an average QB. They should have made a run at a Byron Leftwich type to run that offense, which is also devoid of a little imagination I must say. Probably Childress’s last go around if he doesn’t make a playoff run.

BEST CASE SCENARIO: 12-4, First in the North, Super Bowl Champions.

WORST CASE SCENARIO: 6-10, 3rd in the North. Peterson and the D will win them some games that the QB tries to lose. What we should all hope for is for Childress to suggest the team rent a boat and throw a party to try and ease some of the Favre saga. Hilarity ensues.