After missing the post-season for the past two years, the Minnesota Vikings have retooled their front office, coaching staff, offense, and defense in an effort to become one of the top teams not only in the NFC North but the entire league.
While they are not among the favorites to contend for the Super Bowl this season, they should be playoff-bound thanks to a mix of young exciting talent and some experienced veterans that know how to get the job done.
When it comes to naming the best Minnesota Vikings players to watch in 2022, it’s hard to argue who is the top name on the list, however, the following ten individuals will have a major impact on the success or failure of the team this season.
New head coach Kevin O’Connell has installed a new player-friendly offense that should result in more points on the board, while defensive coordinator Ed Donatell has implemented a defensive scheme that will take advantage of the team’s size, speed, athleticism, and experience.
When creating this list, those factors along with the player’s health, individual value, and game-changing ability come into play, which can affect the Minnesota Vikings’ future odds.
We fight as one.
We win as one.#Skol pic.twitter.com/NRz3UTtTCs
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 10, 2022
Justin Jefferson
Entering his third year in the NFL, the Vikings wide receiver has two Pro-Bowl honors and the Sporting News Rookie of the Year award to his credit.
While adding Jefferson to their lineup cost Minnesota Stefon Diggs, their fifth-round pick in 2015 who would have two standout years in 2020 and 2021 with the Buffalo Bills, the trade not only helped the Vikings right away but also set them up nicely for the future.
Not only would Jefferson reset the record for receiving yards by a rookie, but he would have an even better sophomore season. Entering his third season, Jefferson is already in the conversation for the best wide receiver in the league.
Ranking among the top five in at least five different offensive categories last season, it would not be shocking to see Jefferson smash his numbers from last year.
Justin Jefferson in the Vikings new offense 🤤 pic.twitter.com/Wr1ZUiJ9if
— PFF (@PFF) August 11, 2022
Danielle Hunter
The one knock against Hunter is the fact that he has had back-to-back injury-plagued seasons. After dealing with a herniated disc in his neck during 2020, Hunter only managed to suit up for seven games last year before suffering a torn pectoral muscle. Should he be able to avoid injury this season, Hunter is arguably the team’s second most valuable player.
Hunter’s value was clearly evident as the Viking’s defense struggled without him during the 2020 season and then the noticeable improvement during the first seven games last year when the two-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker recorded six sacks to start the season.
At 6’5”, 260lbs, Hunter provides the Vikings’ defense with a potent mix of athleticism, speed, and size. Should Hunter and Za’Darius Smith be able to remain on the field together throughout the seventeen-game schedule, the Vikings’ opponents will have something to fear.
.@Vikings DE Danielle Hunter is getting to the QB at a HISTORIC rate. 😤@DHunt94_TX | #SKOL
📺: #MINvsLAC — TOMORROW 4:05pm ET on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app pic.twitter.com/f3GPDxUYjp— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2019
Dalvin Cook
Vikings staff, teammates, and fans can’t help but be excited every time their running back is in possession of the pigskin.
Despite dealing with injuries over the course of his first five years in the league that have halted him from playing a complete season, the anticipation for how Cook will react to a new offense adds much more excitement.
2020 was Cook’s best season of his career, but the three-time Pro Bowler saw his stats slip slightly in 2021 due to injuries. Although he played in only thirteen games, Cook had the fifth most rushing yards in the league (1159).
If Kevin O’Connell follows through on adding Cook into the passing game, the Vikings will be much more dangerous. When, not if Cook can get into open space, either off the handoff or on the pass, there are few who can match his speed heading downhill.
Cooking up a storm, @Vikings' @dalvincook! 👨🍳#NFLTop100 💯 #NFLUK pic.twitter.com/BgaJqZ3tEZ
— NFL UK (@NFLUK) August 23, 2022
Kirk Cousins
The NFL is a quarterback’s league. While the three-time Pro Bowl pivot will not enter any water cooler conversation about the best QBs in the game, he isn’t one that will hurt you either. With possibly his best option for targets since joining the Vikings four years ago and a new player-friend