The Good

Wide receiver Justin Jefferson has quickly become one of the best receivers in the NFL. The former LSU Tiger has taken the league by storm and is on pace for a record-breaking career. Jefferson was close to breaking the single-season receiving yards record last year when he racked up 1,809 yards. This season I expect Jefferson to in fact break that record with 2,015 receiving yards. The addition of rookie Jordan Addison will help open up space for Jefferson and allow him to do more damage.

Beyond adding Addison the Vikings also invested in the tight end position by trading for T.J. Hockenson last year. Hockenson wasted no time making his mark on the Vikings offense as he hauled in 9 receptions in his Minnesota debut. He also reset the tight end market with a record-setting 4-year $66 million contract extension that he signed last week. It shows that the Vikings are invested in him long term and rightfully so. Hockenson has quickly become a top 5 tight end in the NFL.

The Bad

For as good as the Vikings offense was last year the defense was the exact opposite. The defense struggled all year long and it eventually led to the firing of defensive coordinator Ed Donatell. The Vikings will now look to former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores to rebuild the unit. Flores has a track record of getting the most from his defenses but Vikings fans should be patient. While I expect improvement in 2023, it’s going to take a couple of years for this defense to be formidable again.

The Prediction

Looking ahead to next season I expect some regression for this Vikings team. The offense will once again be explosive but the Vikings had several wins last year that could’ve gone either way. Sill Minnesota will battle for a wild-card berth and could make some noise once the playoffs start.

2023 Record: 10-7 (2nd in the Division)

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QB DAWG Of The Week: Sam Darnold 21.90 FP

250 Passing Yards, 1 Passing TD, 1 6 Carries, 19 Rushing Yards, 1 Rushing TD (Projected: 12.26 FP)

Sam Darnold put in a solid performance to lead the Panthers to an upset victory over the Detroit Lions. The Panthers QB played his best game of the year when he threw for 250 yards and a TD to D.J. Moore. He also rushed in for a TD. The run game helped set the pace for the Panthers and made Darnold comfortable. Carolina is just a game back from the division lead as they face Tampa Bay in Week 17.

RB DAWG Of The Week: Cam Akers 34.70 FP

23 Carries, 118 Rushing Yards, 3 Rushing TDs, 2 Receptions, 29 Receiving Yards (Projected: 8.99 FP)

Cam Akers saved his fantasy owners with a performance for the ages. The Rams RB ran for 118 yards and three rushing TDs in a blowout victory over the Broncos. The LA Rams have interesting pieces for next year and Cam Akers looks to be the RB 1 next year.

WR DAWG Of The Week: Kendrick Bourne 24.90 FP

6 Receptions, 100 Receiving Yards, 1 Receiving TD, 1 Carry, 29 Rushing Yards (Projected: 2.87 FP)

Kendrick Bourne shocked everyone as he was the best WR in terms of overcoming fantasy projections this week. Bourne caught six passes 100 yards and a TD. He also had a run for 29 yards. Injuries to DeVante Parker and Hunter Henry gave him an opportunity to shine. He will need a repeat performance to help the Patriots against the Dolphins next week.

TE DAWG Of The Week: T.J. Hockenson 35.90 FP

13 Receptions, 109 Receiving Yards, 2 Receiving TDs (Projected: 12.43 FP)

T.J. Hockenson led all fantasy players this week with an amazing performance against the New York Giants. The big trade deadline acquisition caught 13 balls for 109 yards and two TDs. His move to the Vikings has been a blessing, especially with Kirk Cousins passing the rock around. He has a date with the Packers in Week 17.

DEF/ST DAWG Of The Week: Los Angeles Rams 21 FP

14-20 Points Allowed, 1 Defense TD, 4 Interceptions, 6 Sacks (Projected: 8.11 FP)

On Christmas, the Los Angeles Rams sent Nathaniel Hackett home with a dominating performance that shocked the NFL world. Cobie Durant took a pick-6 to the house as the final score. Larrell Murchison led the way with two sacks. Jalen Ramsey and Bobby Wagner each had a sack. Wagner’s interception even made Patrick Star laugh at Russell Wilson. This win basically ended the Denver Broncos season.

Thanks for reading! You can look forward to this series until the end of the season. You can check out the last installment of DAWGS Of Week 15.

The post DAWGS Of Week 16 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Reese Nasser

This upcoming season will be year three for Detroit Lions tight end TJ Hockenson. Hockenson has proven to be one of the most talented players at his position yet he hasn’t been given the credit yet. After a somewhat lackluster rookie year, the former eighth overall pick seemed to turn the corner in year two. 

After proving to be one of the lone bright spots on a poor Lions team, Hockenson should be talked about in the same regards as some of the other top tight ends in the league, but he is not. He is currently on a path to being a top-five player at the position yet his name is never brought up in discussions of the best at the position. Lets see why that might be and why he will be one of the best at the position come the end of next season. 

The Team

The Detroit Lions have been a bottom NFL team for some time now. Their last winning season came in 2017 and their last 10-win season was in 2014. They have always managed to just be mediocre and with the departure of quarterback Matthew Stafford, it makes you question just how they will look now. 

There is also a new regime leading the charge in Detroit. New head coach Dan Campbell seems to be bringing a culture change to Detroit. This change could be just what this team needs. In a trade that sent away Stafford, the Lions received Jared Goff. Goff has proven to be a capable NFL quarterback. It is still unknown how Goff will perform in Detroit but expectations will be high for the QB who was just starting in a super bowl a few seasons ago. With Hockenson being stuck on such an average team, does that attribute to his lack of attention? With other top tight ends such as Travis Kelce and George Kittle being on teams that have been at the forefront of the NFL, has that caused them to be talked about more than Hockenson?

Receiving Options 

Outside of Hockenson, there is a clear lack of options at receiver in Detroit. The next notable receiving threat on the roster is newly signed free agent Tyrell Williams. The Lions added rookie receivers  Sage Suratt and Amon-Ra St.Brown. While both of these receivers could develop into real threats, they are still inexperienced. This leads to Hockenson. In his first full 16-game season, Hockenson hauled in 67 receptions and 6 touchdowns. 

The Lions will also have to incorporate their new receivers into this offense. With the departures of Kenny Golladay, Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones. Jr, the entire offense will be entirely different. Hockenson can and should be the number one option on this roster, at least through the first few weeks of the season. 

So is this the season that Hockenson is able to put the league on notice? It should be. He is one of the most athletic and talented players at his position. His ability to both block and make plays is reminiscent of an old school tight end. He is an embodiment of Detroit and is destined to become one of the next great tight ends in football. 

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