On August 5, Minnesota Vikings WR Jordan Addison was handed a three-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The punishment stemmed from his July 2024 DUI arrest.
This will a major hit for the Vikings. Vikings QB JJ McCarthy is healthy after missing all of last season with a torn meniscus, and now he will be without one his primary pass catching options. McCarthy and Addison showed a great rapport in training camp and preseason, and the 22-year-old signal caller will feel his WR2’s absence.
Luckily for McCarthy, he still boasts one of the best WRs in the league in Justin Jefferson — but the man they call Jets will need to pick up the slack.
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Fantasy Football Fallout of Jordan Addison's Suspension
Taking Addison's absence, WR Rondale Moore's season-ending knee injury, and WR Jalen Nailor's hand injury into account, Minnesota's wide receivers room is dangerously thin going into their Week 1 Monday Night rumble with the Chicago Bears. As a result, RB Aaron Jones Sr. may have a bigger role as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, while McCarthy will rely heavily on Jefferson and TE T.J. Hockenson.
And now, let's talk trickle-down.
JJ McCarthy
With a QB ADP outside the top-20 according to FantasyPros, McCarthy was already more interesting in superflex leagues than redraft.
He'll have to make quick reads under pressure as defenses plot to contain Hockenson and double Jefferson.
Due to the suspension/injury situation in Minnesota and McCarthy's inexperience, the University of Michigan product is a QB2 (or even QB3) until proven otherwise — and maybe even an early-season waiver wire dweller in 10-team leagues.
WR Justin Jefferson
Jefferson is currently FantasyPro’s WR2 behind Ja’Marr Chase, and the fact that Addison is out might push him up to WR1.
In the Addison-less first three weeks, target share could rise above 30% due to Minnesota's thinned-out WR corps, which would present him with an opportunity to start the season as the top fantasy WR.
In fantasy football, volume is everything, and while Addison is out, Jefferson will be one of the NFL's safest option when it comes to usage. Although an Addison-free offense will lead to more double coverage for Jefferson, he's proven he can beat any coverage thrown his way.
TE TJ Hockenson
Hockenson might benefit greatly from Addison being out to begin the campaign, as tight ends flourish when target funnels narrow.
His current ADP is 64 (TE6), but the early-season opportunity might push him into the top three and make him an ideal candidate for insertion into your DFS lineup.
Hockenson has the potential to accumulate short-to-intermediate volume as McCarthy's safety valve, which will be helpful in PPR leagues. Although fantasy managers may feel that they're paying a premium for the former Detroit Lion, he could justify the high cost in Weeks 1 through 3.
RB Aaron Jones Sr.
Jones might see a subtle improvement in the pass game, with more screens and checkdowns coming his way. The ex-Packer is a mid-round RB2/RB3 with a current ADP of 65 (RB26).
If he plays a bigger role in the passing game early on, he might end up being a steal in your drafts.
WR Jordan Addison
The suspension dings Addison’s fantasy relevance, naturally, but he should still be very much on your radar. His current ADP, which accounts for both his upside and missed games, sits at 88 overall (WR40), but from Week 4 on, Addison might offer WR3/FLEX value.
Addison should be considered a stash-and-wait option for fantasy managers. Drafting him means you'll need depth early, but he could help fantasy lineups in October and beyond.
Addison Suspension Shakes Up Fantasy Football
You might think that a three-game absence from a WR2 who isn't named, say, Cris Carter wouldn't be a big deal. But it most definitely is:
- Jefferson might now a better option over Chase at the 1.01/1.02 spot in fantasy drafts due to the increased volume and higher floor.
- Knowing that Hockenson will be peppered early makes his TE6 price feel more bankable in the middle rounds.
- Jones is one of the best options for a hero RB or zero-RB target in the sixth or seventh round.
- Addison's ADP in the 80s is comparable to that of Stefon Diggs, Cooper Kupp, and Ricky Pearsall. His draft stock will remain low because all of those receivers have fewer early-season doubts. However, once he returns, Addison may have the highest touchdown upside of the group, making him a boom-or-bust candidate.
Patience could be a virtue, as following Addison's return, the Vikings' offense may rank among the most well-rounded in football, providing a wealth of late-season fantasy firepower.
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