5 Vikings That Could Have A Breakout Season

With the 2023 NFL season just around the corner, many locals are wondering: is sports betting legal in Colorado? Fortunately, the answer is yes. And football season often leads to plenty of action in this state.

Needless to say, most people in Colorado root for the Denver Broncos, the state’s team. But given how disappointing last year’s campaign was, chances are some will be looking forward to switching sides.

If that’s the case, they could turn to a team that made the playoffs last season and won its division: the Minnesota Vikings. Of course, the campaign didn’t end in the way the team expected, but they still fared more than decently in the regular season.

Even so, the Vikings roster has gone through some major changes in the offseason. With that in mind, we’ll dig deep into the roster and talk about the top five players expected to have a breakout campaign in Minnesota.

5 Vikings Breakout Candidates

5. Byron Murphy

With veteran Patrick Peterson no longer in the picture, the much younger Byron Murphy is expected to fill in for his follow former Arizona Cardinal. His numbers don’t exactly pop out — one interception in four seasons is subpar, to say the least — but the physical tools are there.

Murphy is quite efficient when it comes to press-man coverage, and he gives the team enough positional versatility to be granted a lot of snaps and playing time next season. Also, it might be now or never for him.

4. Josh Metellus

Josh Metellus was only able to make a handful of starts last season, subbing in for Harrison Smith. He’s spent most of his time with special teams, but his versatility as a linebacker or a guy who could play everywhere in the secondary is something Brian Flores will simply love.

GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has been quite high on Metellus for a while, and it’s not like Lewis Cine or Camryn Bynum have done enough to widen the gap between them and Metellus as the starting safety.

3. Akayleb Evans

To be honest, Akayleb Evans has already surpassed expectations. He did much better than expected in a somewhat unimpressive CB room, so he’s obviously expected to keep improving in his sophomore season after playing 162 snaps on defense last season.

He logged two passes defended, 23 tackles, and three tackles for a loss despite having his first season cut short due to a couple of concussions. He should have plenty of opportunities to be on the field, as the Vikings’ CB room is still subpar, to say the least.

2. Ty Chandler

Most fantasy football players will rush to pick up Alexander Mattison as the obvious Dalvin Cook replacement. Nonetheless, don’t be surprised if Ty Chandler winds up outplaying him and getting that starting spot at some point in the season.

Chandler will have a complementary role at the very least, but his upside is significantly higher than Mattison’s. He’s a much better fit in passing downs and has much better hands, logging 73 receptions for almost 700 receiving yards in college.

1. K.J. Osborn

The Minnesota Vikings drafted Jordan Addison to be the Robin to Justin Jefferson’s Batman. And while that might be the case at some point, K.J. Osborn is already next in line, and the rookie wideout might need some more time to develop.

Osborn is likely to step up in Adam Thielen’s role. He already exceeded the 600-yard mark in his first two seasons in the league, and he’s had some big games. He’s fast, athletic, and a solid route-runner, and he should have his hands full when defenses double-team Jefferson.

Colorado Viking | Minnesota Sports Fan