Meet the Minnesota Vikings' Unsung Heroes Powering Playoff Push
It isn't all Sam Darnold, Justin Jefferson, and Jordan Addison in Minnesota
This is part of an ongoing series profiling the unsung heroes of each team as they clinch a berth in the NFL Playoffs. Each feature includes insight gleaned from conversations with sources across the league. To ensure you don’t miss out on any of the in-depth analysis, be sure to become a subscriber to Between The Hashmarks Today!
The Minnesota Vikings are the playoff team that few saw coming, and they just might barnstorm into January with a bye week and the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has done a masterful job of competing while rebuilding. Minnesota’s stellar free agent class, including Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and, of course, fringe MVP candidate Sam Darnold, has proven to be the missing pieces propelling the Vikings from preseason afterthought to Super Bowl contender.
Darnold has leveraged arguably the league’s premier receiving duo, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison into the NFL’s fourth-highest yards per pass at 8.4 yards, and the Vikings lead the league with an average of two takeaways per game, underscoring defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ mastery of the exotic blitz concept.
While Darnold, Jefferson, and Addison are driving the offense and the Vikings’ stifling front seven make this one of the most feared teams in the conferences, there are still several unsung heroes who have been pivotal to Minnesota’s breakout 2024 campaign.
NFL General Manager’s Selection: Camryn Bynum, Safety
“He’s just a very steady player at a position that’s key to what Brian Flores likes to do.”
Josh Oliver, TE
Darnold, Jefferson, Addison, and Hockenson are all rightfully garnering heaps of praise for the Vikings’ success in the vertical passing game this season.
And, for good reason, with Darnold currently fifth in passing touchdowns, Jefferson second in receiving yards, Addison ninth in receiving touchdowns, and Hockenson making a legitimate impact despite missing six games due to injury this season.
However, Josh Oliver has emerged as an impact player in his own right and was a reliable weapon for Darnold in Hockenson’s absence.
In 13 games this season, Oliver has caught 20 of his 25 targets from Darnold while setting new career highs with 242 receiving yards and three touchdowns, averaging a whopping 12.1 yards per reception.
It’s obvious Darnold trusts Oliver. After all, the 27-year-old hasn’t dropped a pass this season, and Pro Football Focus points out that Darnold boasts a nearly perfect 150.1 passer rating when targeting him. In a crowded and talented offense, Oliver may be flying a bit under the radar but is making a major impact for Minnesota.
Pat Jones II, LB
Flores’ defense has been among the more stifling in the league while excelling at relentlessly pressuring the quarterback and forcing timely turnovers.
Newcomers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van-Ginkle have been game-changers, transforming Minnesota’s defense to one of the more feared in the entire league. However, Pat Jones has been a dynamic playmaker throughout the course of this season.
While Jones has just 39 total tackles, he’s second on the team in sacks, with seven, while adding nine tackles for loss and one forced fumble through 14 games. Pro Football Focus points out that Jones has also posted 20 quarterback pressures, while being stout against the run, garnering a 69.2 run-stopping grade as the outlet’s 40th-ranked edge defender against the run across the league.
Garrett Bradbury, C
One of the critical reasons Darnold has so drastically changed the narrative about his career this season, has been the Vikings’ dominance up front along the offensive line.
Veteran center Garrett Bradbury has been an anchor along the Vikings’ offensive line, emerging as one of the more consistently dominant players at his position across the NFL.
Pro Football Focus lists Bradbury as the No. 8 ranked run-blocking center in the sport, with a 75 run-blocking grade, while awarding him a 66.2 overall mark. A key piece of Bradbury’s breakout season and push to become a potential All-Pro selection is the fact that he has only allowed three sacks and six quarterback hits so far this season.
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As a Packer fan, I emitted a "yeeks!" when Van Ginkel signed with the Vikings. I'd seen him during his two years with the Wisconsin Badgers and I paid attention to his time with the Dolphins. Van Ginkel has quite a set of tools and he's a great weapon for Flores. Of course, Van Ginkel is a sung hero and has no place on this unsung list. Just sayin' I'm a big fan of Van Ginkel.