The Minnesota Vikings released their unofficial Week 1 depth chart on Tuesday and Shaun Hill was listed as the team’s starting quarterback. Listed in the backup slot behind Hill is quarterback Sam Bradford, who the Vikings acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles last Saturday.
Shaun Hill listed as the Vikings’ starter for Week 1, could effect entire team’s fantasy value
Minnesota’s current quarterback situation could impact the production of their offense’s skill players. We explore the fantasy implications.
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Since Bradford has not even been with the team for five days yet, a safe bet can be placed on Hill starting under center for Minnesota this Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
Fantasy Impact: At least for the beginning of 2016, fantasy owners should do their best to stay away from any of the Vikings’ quarterbacks. Hill has never been known as a player to light up the stat sheet in his career and it is too early to see how involved Bradford will be with Minnesota’s offense this season, if at all.
The downside of the Vikings’ quarterback conundrum may be the effect it has on the team’s other offensive skill players. Running back Adrian Peterson should not see a real difference in his production but the targets for receivers Stefan Diggs and Charles Johnson and tight end Kyle Rudolph could end up being on the lower side if Minnesota decides to run a more basic offense.
There are some Vikings players that do have a potential to break out in 2016. But for now, Peterson remains the only safe bet for fantasy owners.
