John Hynes’ team has looked mediocre to downright inept far to often this season. That’s not a good look when the roster was largely kept status quo from last season. At 3-6-3, their nine points are among the worst across the entire NHL. That’s reflected in early power rankings as well.

Power rankings way down on MN Wild early

There was a time before the season started that certain insiders suggested the Minnesota Wild may be a dark horse Stanley Cup contender. Then the puck dropped and the team has imploded. It would be impossible to overlook their performance thus far, and early power rankings have them in the basement.

There aren’t many more places for the Wild to fall after dropping from 21st at both ESPN and The Athletic. Each outlet fairly assessed the reason for the fall as well.

Starting next season, Kirill Kaprizov will be skating on the richest deal in NHL history, after inking that eight-year, $17 million per year deal this fall. Unlike Scrooge, Kaprizov hasn’t been stingy since putting his autograph on the contract, with 15 points through 11 games.

ESPN

Minnesota is 3-6-3, they’ve won one of their last nine, they’ve lost five straight, they’re getting booed off the ice at home and they’re one of the worst five-on-five teams in the league. Other than that, everything is fine.

The Athletic

Kaprizov now has 16 points through 12 games, but plenty of that production has been hollow and come at less than even-strength. He’s also a -5 thus far, and has little help around him.

This was the potential bed general manager Bill Guerin made when opting to run virtually the same roster back. Despite cap space, not much has been shuffled and the young depth has yet to make a substantial impact.

It’s still early for Minnesota, but it’s getting late early for John Hynes. If the head coach can’t get better efforts rolling soon, he won’t be around to see what the eventual outcome looks like anyways. Minnesota is back on the ice Saturday against Vancouver.

The reigning champion Philadelphia Eagles comes to U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday having lost two-straight. The Kansas City Chiefs have hardly been world-beaters, and the Green Bay Packers escaped the fate of losing against Joe Flacco twice in one season.

Despite the Vikings being parked on the sidelines last week, their overall positioning in comparison to their competition took a hit.

New NFL power rankings have Vikings sliding

Each week different publications put out power rankings to place a position on where teams should be considered amongst the competition. Early on the Minnesota Vikings didn’t have much momentum behind their hopes to win a championship. That changed heading to Dublin, but has since slid again.

There was clearly a consensus as to where the Vikings were going into the bye. Coming out of it the understanding is that other teams performed well enough to make Minnesota and afterthought while they remained out of action.

Although the Vikings did win against the Cleveland Browns in London, it wasn’t exactly a dominant performance. Their lone comfortable victory this season came against the Cincinnati Bengals and backup quarterback Jake Browning.

The two questions on everyone’s minds: 1) When will J.J. McCarthy return? 2) How much faith will the staff have in him when he does? The answer to No. 1 might be this Sunday against the Eagles, but it also won’t be stunning if McCarthy needs more time to heal. If Carson Wentz is the QB again, he’ll have a chance to beat his old team while it’s down, coming off two straight losses. The Week 6 bye came at a good time for the Vikings, who also should be getting RT Brian O’Neill, LB Blake Cashman and edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel back over the coming weeks; the arrow is pointing upward. But as of right now, it’s hard to know where this team is, given the topsy-turvy start and the rash of injuries. 

Eric Edholm – NFL.com

The key to everything, as NFL.com’s Eric Edholm points out, is where Minnesota stands from an injury perspective going forward. If the return of multiple players this week can be a sign of positive momentum, and things to come, then they have a chance.

At one point it looked like the Minnesota Vikings next four games (vs PHI, @ LAC, @ DET, vs BAL) were going to be a gauntlet. That is less certain now, and if they go 2-2 or 3-1 in that stretch, they’ll remain in the thick of the playoff hunt.

Things looked ugly out of the gate against the Chicago Bears, but then J.J. McCarthy arrived for his moment. Ultimately the Vikings dominated a fourth quarter on the road against a divisional opponent to grab a victory.

Somehow the entire collective of NFL Nation reporters at ESPN decided to tune out. Despite the victory, Minnesota fell in the Week 2 power rankings.

Three-spot drop for Minnesota Vikings in Week 2 power rankings

Coming into the season the Minnesota Vikings found themselves rounding out the top ten in ESPN’s power rankings. After a victory, they are now 13th going into Week 2.

Mason gave the Vikings exactly what they needed Monday night, and what they’ve needed for much of coach Kevin O’Connell’s tenure: a running back who can bulldoze his way to yards. Mason rushed for 68 yards in the Vikings’ win over the Bears, 54 of which came after halftime during the team’s comeback. O’Connell said Mason’s hard running helped open up the passing lanes for quarterback J.J. McCarthy and helped lead to three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Mason is technically the backup to starter Aaron Jones Sr., but he has already made a case for being their primary rusher.

Kevin Seifert – ESPN

Seifert eloquently highlights the Vikings best newcomer performance. It’s clear that Mason is a difference maker, and Minnesota has had significant aspirations for his role since acquiring him. It wasn’t just Mason’s performance that was notable though.

Quarterback J.J. McCarthy turned around a slow start to finish 13-of-20 with 143 yards, two touchdowns, and a rushing score. He overcame a third quarter pick six, and never looked bother. His ability to laugh at adversity was more telling than a 500 yard performance could have ever been.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Rookie Dominates in Debut

If you watched the game at all, it was beyond evident that Minnesota looked like a battle-tested machine that was unwilling to let anyone get in their way. A 17-6 third quarter deficit was cast aside as the Vikings ripped off 21 straight. To say it was anything but an eye-opening performance would be a blatant lie.

What about MN Vikings competition?

The Minnesota Vikings largely put themselves at a disadvantage to start Week 1 due to the intended lack of reps during the preseason. We saw that play out and it had them looking bad early. I could listen to that as a reason for the power rankings slide if it applied to their competition as well.

Cincinnati (12th) needed Cleveland to go full-on Browns in order to escape with a one point victory. Denver (11th) had Cam Ward keeping them at bay while looking entirely mediocre in all phases. Detroit (8th) looked inept as Dan Campbell no longer has his elite coordinators. Even the Rams (7th) couldn’t get anything of substance going against a middling Texans team.

Related: JJ McCarthy’s Legendary Moment in Vikings Huddle Shook Teammates, Sparked Comeback

Certainly there should be expectations that things won’t run like a well-oiled machine out of the gate. Of those teams that scuffled though, only the Vikings had a truly dominant result in which everything came together.

It’s fine that power rankings are down on Minnesota. This collection knows what they have on the field, and who they are being led by on the sidelines. That doesn’t make it any more laughable when pen goes to paper though.

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah also made key additions in both the running back and linebacker rooms. And no matter the experience level of their QB, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison will make them look better, even if we can’t see them together until week 4, following his recent three game suspension.

With or without their talented WR2, Minnesota’s supporting cast is heavily upgraded for 2025. The immediate question now is whether or not JJ McCarthy can put the Vikings’ ready-to-win roster over the postseason top during his redshirt rookie season? And soon, we’ll start to get those answers.

But what about McCarthy’s long-term future, and the team he now carries on his 22-year-old shoulders? In all likelihood, by the end of the 2025 season, we’ll have a much better grasp on what the future of this organization looks like too.

ESPN: JJ McCarthy controls the Minnesota Vikings future

That’s because, if JJ McCarthy plays well and stays healthy, fans will start to dream some dangerously optimistic dreams. And if not, we’ll figure out that he ain’t it sooner than later.

Of course, Saturday marked J.J. McCarthy’s first game exposure since his season-ending knee injury last year. The results were lukewarm, depending on who you ask. Coincidentally, that’s how ESPN insiders currently see the future of the Vikings too.

In a “NFL future power rankings” released at the four-letter network on Monday, Minnesota’s future with McCarthy at the helm ranks No. 11 out of 32 NFL teams. Very lukewarm for a top NFC contender coming off a 14-3 season. ESPN’s reasoning? In summary: they aren’t sure what JJ McCarthy is going to be yet.

The Vikings certainly have a good future with coach Kevin O’Connell and receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, along with tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill, forming their offensive core. But just how good? That depends on quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who could make or break not just this season, but the next few in Minnesota.

Ben Solak – ESPN

Related: JJ McCarthy’s Leadership on Full Display in Vikings Return; O’Connell Giddy…

All eyes are on McCarthy in 2025 and beyond. He now has a clear path to assume control of the Vikings’ offense and take it to another level after missing the entire 2024 season due to a knee injury. He has all of the physical and mental tools to be a star and has the best coaching staff one could ask for in O’Connell and QB coach Josh McCown. He just needs to do it.

Louis Riddick – ESPN

One person does not make a team, but it’s hard to argue that a quarterback doesn’t define a 53-man roster. If the MN Vikings have the real deal in McCarthy, then they can win this year and into the future.

In what is expected to be his lone preseason exposure, McCarthy completed 4-of-7 passes for 30 yards on Minnesota’s opening drive, which ended in a Will Reichard 48-yard field goal.

If McCarthy ain’t it, Vikings’ future could go downhill fast…

The Chicago Bears host the Minnesota Vikings for Week 1 of the regular season. It is from then on that McCarthy will need to establish himself and show he can pay off a Vikings roster that gained and retained a lot of veteran talent during the offseason.

Right now the Minnesota Vikings are generating plenty of hype in the NFC North. On paper they have established veteran talents that should help to supplement a defense looking to take the next step. Seth Walder cautions that the bottom falling out represents disaster.

The Vikings will have a bottom-five defense in EPA per play. By this point, defensive coordinator Brian Flores will have been poached for another head coaching job and veterans like safety Harrison Smith, defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen and edge Andrew Van Ginkel will have aged out.

Seth Walder – ESPN

Related: What We Learned About the MN Vikings’ QB Situation vs Texans

It’s true that Allen and Hargrave bring a renewed focus to the interior defensive line. Each come with injury concerns though, and they aren’t getting any younger.

Yes, the Minnesota Vikings are setup to win now and they’ve done a good job of preparing for the future. But if they don’t hit on McCarthy, then ESPN is saying that none of that really matters. And in all reality, they’re probably right.

Team president Tim Connelly got deals done with both Naz Reid and Julius Randle. He then drafted big man Joan Beringer, who is already being called the steal of the NBA Draft.

Minnesota still needs point guard insurance behind Mike Conley, and Rob Dillingham isn’t certain to be the answer. Despite that level of uncertainty, the roster still warrants plenty of high praise.

Power rankings lean into Minnesota Timberwolves established talent

It’s still early in the offseason, and the roster shuffling is not yet done for the MN Timberwolves. That said Law Murray put together a summer edition of NBA Power Rankings over at The Athletic. Tier one is what he dubbed as “top contenders” and that’s where Minnesota sits.

“Two out of three isn’t bad. Minnesota kept the frontcourt together by re-signing Randle and Reid. It wound up losing Alexander-Walker, but Minnesota has three players who could vie for Alexander-Walker’s minutes in Terrence Shannon Jr., Jaylen Clark and Rob Dillingham. Minnesota also used a first-round pick on center Joan Beringer to replace Garza. Minnesota lost combo forward Minott, so there’s a spot for another forward that Minnesota should look to add. Overall, Minnesota is in a good position to attempt to win the West after losing back-to-back conference finals.”

Law Murray – The Athletic

Checking in at fourth, the Timberwolves are behind only Oklahoma City, the New York Knicks, and Cleveland Cavaliers. Denver rounds out the top five before the next tier drops down to “In a Good Place.” That’s not a bad situation to be in when considering there is still more work to be done for Chris Finch’s rotation.

Terrence Shannon Jr. showed out during Summer League action in Las Vegas, and he seems poised for a breakout season with additional minutes opening. Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s departure will be something the team needs to work through, but they have time to settle in.

TERRENCE SHANNON JR. FLIES IN FOR THE SLAM!

The Timberwolves win the first Summer League game in Las Vegas 😤 pic.twitter.com/nv8DNrvq6c

— NBA (@NBA) July 10, 2025

The Western Conference remains a gauntlet and the MN Timberwolves know that more than anyone. They still need to make the final moves that can get them over the top, but they are clearly one of the best franchises in the sport right now.

Related: Minnesota Timberwolves Pick Called Steal of NBA Draft

If Finch can get the job done in the Western Conference Finals this season, Anthony Edwards would be set up to bring home the franchise’s first championship.

Even more, the last couple days have provided positive updates on injured stars Carlos Correa, Byron Buxton and Matt Wallner. If Minnesota can keep the 2025 train on the tracks over the weekend against the Kansas City Royals, the next 50 games of the MLB season hope to provide more stability for our favorite nine.

Minnesota Twins crack top ten in latest MLB power rankings

For a team that was among the worst in baseball through the season’s first three weeks, this sort of a turnaround brings welcomed change.

Not only are the Minnesota Twins now second in the AL Central Division, chasing Major League Baseball’s best team, the Detroit Tigers, but they’ve also climbed all the way to 10th in ESPN’s latest MLB power rankings.

10. Minnesota Twins

“The Twins won 13 straight games — the longest winning streak in the majors in 2025 — to erase a dismal start and plant themselves in the postseason picture before Memorial Day. But even that blistering stretch was accompanied by injury woes. Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton landed on the seven-day concussion injured list Friday after the two collided while pursuing a shallow fly ball. Pitching has fueled the Twins’ turnaround — their staff is tied for fifth across the majors in ERA — but the club will need its stars healthy and productive to stay within striking distance of the Tigers in the competitive AL Central.”

Jorge Castillo – ESPN

Last week, Minnesota stood 16th in ESPN’s power rankings. The six-spot boost is the result of a stretch in which they went 5-2. The Twins finished a sweep of the Baltimore Orioles before taking a series each against Milwaukee and Cleveland.

Other outlets view Minnesota’s climb a bit less excitably. The Athletic, although publishing a couple of days earlier, has the Twins at 13th (up from 16th). USA Today has the Twins at 11th (from 18th), MLB has them 9th (from 18th) which is where CBS Sports and NBC Sports have them as well (from 14th and 16th respectively).

Only ESPN published their recent update on May 22nd, so they have accounted for the latest schedule developments.

It’s obviously still early, but the Twins haven’t seen postseason odds this high at any point during the season thus far. They are very clearly trending in the right direction, and now must avoid another sustained downfall.

Rocco Baldelli’s teams have gotten off to slow starts previously. The Detroit Tigers haven’t been the best team in baseball for quite some time. There is still a gap to make up between the two teams, but that is what the Minnesota Twins must be striving for.

Related: Royce Lewis is Back and Better Than Ever… on Defense

After a weekend series with Kansas City that starts tomorrow, the Twins don’t play another divisional opponent for a month. They’ll close out June with a three-game road set against the Tigers. Where the teams are then should be fascinating to watch.

Then, came the NFL Draft, where the Vikings held the fewest number of picks (4) in franchise history and the fewest in the 2025 draft. After sticking and picking at No. 24, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah maneuvered throughout the next six rounds, eventually compiling a class of five new rookies. Oh, and don’t forget about the 20 UDFAs they signed after the draft.

Minnesota Vikings land in Top 10 of post-draft NFL Power Rankings

No matter the time of year, the NFL has power rankings available that help fans follow along with who is seen by league analysts as the best teams. Of course, that doesn’t mean those experts are right. Look no further than last season, when the Vikings were picked to finish at the bottom of the NFL. We all know how that turned out.

This year, however, the post draft power rankings appear much higher on Minnesota than what we saw last offseason. The Athletic, for example, has the Vikings ranked as the 9th-best team in football in their post-draft rankings.

9. Minnesota Vikings

First pick: OL Donovan Jackson

After adding veteran defenders Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave through free agency, the Vikings focused on offense during the draft with Jackson, third-round wide receiver Tai Felton and a Saturday trade for quarterback Sam Howell. The exception to the offensive approach was a big one — 6-5, 276-pound edge rusher Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins out of Georgia.

The Athletic

LG Donovan Jackson — Minnesota’s first round pick — figures to be the day-one starter at left guard this season, as long as offseason workouts and training camp go according to plan. 3rd round pick WR Tai Felton looks primed to factor in early, as well, and EDGE Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins continues to be talked up as a nice addition.

Related: Doesn’t Seem Like Kevin O’Connell is a Fan of “Unique” NFL Offseason Rules; Expects Major Changes

Taking an offensive guard, after signing Will Fries (Guard) and Ryan Kelly (Center) in free agency, solidified a Minnesota Vikings offensive line that Kwesi and head coach Kevin O’Connell promised to fix this offseason, a mission that got more serious when it was clear 2024 first round pick J.J. McCarthy would be taking over as QB1.

J.J. McCarthy throwing a football pic.twitter.com/DpK4dZ31vj

— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) April 29, 2025

The Vikings still have some questions at the cornerback position, but this roster really doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses anymore. That should make them one of the most dangerous teams in the NFC, something The Athletic agrees with.

Who good are the new-look Vikings?

Kevin O’Connell, who won his first Coach of the Year award last season, undoubtedly plays into the optimism, as well. While Detroit remains the gold standard amongst NFC North teams — ranked 5th in The Athletic’s power rankings — it’s clear the Minnesota Vikings are on the rise. Why is Green Bay ranked 7th? Who knows…

It’s certainly plausible that the Minnesota Vikings win less games in 2025 but are a better team. After winning 14 games last season, there isn’t a lot of room for improvement… outside of winning a postseason game. When projecting the Vikings’ 2025 season, that should be the ultimate goal.

Last year, the Vikings’ warts were evident. They couldn’t run the ball when they needed to, and struggled in interior pass pro. That shouldn’t be a problem anymore. Same thing can be said on defense.

Related: Local Scoops Insider Offers Interesting ‘Apology’ for Viral Mean Tweets

While Andrew Van Ginkel (11.5 sacks) and Jonathan Greenard (12.0 sacks) wrapped up the quarterback plenty, the interior defensive line struggled. Minnesota’s investment on both sides of the ball there will pay dividends. Even with secondary concerns, the talent up front could help to mitigate them.

Regardless of where the power rankings fall now, or as the season gets underway, the Minnesota Vikings should be a force to be reckoned with in 2025.

Before flipping the page to 2025, it’s worth looking back at the year that was. Minnesota actually comes out with a solid finish amongst the 134 teams at the FBS level.

Minnesota Gophers within striking distance of the top 25

The AP Top 25 is a weekly measuring stick of performance. Losses to Iowa and Michigan set the Gophers back midseason, but a victory against Rutgers probably would have elevated them into the group nearing the end of the scheduled season.

In a final ranking of teams this season, The Athletic put Minnesota at 39th.

Of the teams ahead of the Gophers in this grouping, only Baylor and Vanderbilt had lower preseason expectations. Max Brosmer transferred in and transformed the quarterback position for P.J. Fleck.

Related: 2025 Minnesota Gophers Football Schedule Released + Early Record Prediction

Max Brosmer (Minnesota) is probably my favorite Day 3 QB. Absolute machine on intermediate throws and is by far the best anticipatory passer that I’ve watched. I’d draft him just to specialize as my 3rd & medium QB.pic.twitter.com/wJCRgekYKi

— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) January 17, 2025

There’s probably arguments to be made that neither Vanderbilt or Georgia Tech belong ahead of the Gophers. That said, both had some very strong wins this season. Vandy knocked off Alabama and lost to Texas by just three points.

The Gophers wind up neck and neck with Iowa. Their position immediately following makes sense after the Hawkeyes showed up to Huntington Bank Stadium and took home the win. That was certainly a matchup that Minnesota felt like got away.

Next season for the Maroon & Gold

Next season is a big one for Fleck. Quarterback uncertainty looms with Drake Lindsey as the top returner. Georgia Tech transfer Zach Pyron also will compete for that starting role. If the offense can look similar, then a double-digit win total is not out of the question.

Related: Gophers Football All-Time Great Lands Coaching Job at Kent State

There is little chance that Minnesota knocks off either Ohio State or Oregon on the road, but they should be competitive in every other game. A top 25 ranking next season isn’t out of the question. Fleck has plenty to build on here.

Minnesota Twins inching up power rankings

The Minnesota Twins finished off a sweep of the Chicago White Sox over the weekend. Those results pushed the Twins to a 12-1 record against baseball’s worst team this season. Despite an ugly first two games against the New York Mets, they finished that three-game set on a high note. In the first power rankings following the trade deadline, The Athletic bumped Rocco Baldelli’s club up a spot.

Well, it was him or writing “Getting guys back from the injured list.” Listen, Richards has had a fine career as a middle reliever and occasional opener. His best pitch is his changeup, and he carves up lefties with it. But landing Richards didn’t save the Twins from scorn, as it was clear their primary intent at the trade deadline was to keep payroll in check. The Twins are counting on the team they started with this spring to propel them to the postseason. They’re right on track to do that. They just need to get guys back from the injured list.

Stephen Nesbitt on the Twins

As Stephen Nesbitt points out, the Twins largely sat out during the trade deadline. It’s clear that bringing their own talent back will be the largest additions. Minnesota has a chance to take their spot even further with a key series win over the Guardians this weekend. For now, they have moved up from seventh in the last rankings.

Related: Twins Usher Makes Wild One-Handed Catch; Audra Martin Sings for Target Field Crowd

Guardians give Minnesota Twins more opportunity

Minnesota has been tracking the Cleveland Guardians for months now. Thus far in 2024, the Twins have yet to beat the best team in the Central. Cleveland has a 5-0 record with a +15 run differential against Minnesota. Plenty of that could be blamed on the slow start by the Twins, but they will soon have a chance to prove it.

The Guardians come to Target Field for four games in three days. They are set to play a doubleheader against Arizona on Wednesday, and then will immediately have another doubleheader against the Twins on Friday. It’s hard not to think that the Twins will be in a good spot, but that means they have to execute on it. August games against close divisional foes are must win situations, and the results will be reflected in the next iteration of power rankings as well.

The latest update from @JoelReuterBR ⚾️

Full rankings 👉 https://t.co/sjX6MZJaI6 pic.twitter.com/FhNqVb6l1B

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) August 5, 2024

Maybe if the Twins can handle Cleveland, Bleacher Report will acknowledge their existence as well.

Related: Minnesota Twins Farm System Climbs into Top 5

Latest MLB power rankings push Minnesota Twins up

After winning series against the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros, the Minnesota Twins continue to rise in the latest power rankings. MLB.com has been rolling out weekly MLB power rankings for years now, and rarely do the Minnesota Twins get love. Still five games shy of the Cleveland Guardians, Rocco Baldelli’s team is ranked as the eighth-best team in the league.

The @Astros enter the top 10 as Nos. 5-1 remain the same in this week’s Power Rankings.

(MLB x Traveller Whiskey) pic.twitter.com/9vIfuJW71I

— MLB (@MLB) July 8, 2024

Right now, the Twins are playing better baseball than they have all year. Their 52-39 record puts them on pace for 92 wins, and there is reason to believe they could surpass that mark. Relatively healthy, and with young players producing, the Twins are firing on all cylinders.

There is some questionable criteria when it comes to these power rankings. The New York Yankees sit fifth, despite having gone 4-18 in their past 22 games. New York has a better record than Minnesota, but they aren’t playing better baseball right now.

Related: Carlos Correa is Completely Obsessed with WAR

The Twins rank around the same spot (top 10) in other recently updated MLB power rankings, too. That includes at The Athletic, which updated theirs today and moved them up one spot to No. 8 too. Their rankings include odds for each team to make the playoffs and how it compares now to the preseason. The Twins odds are up to 85.8%.

8. Minnesota Twins

Preseason playoff odds: 65.3 percent
Current playoff odds: 85.8 percent

The preseason playoff odds are created in laboratory conditions by scientists who hate baseball and, more specifically, your team. But they’re still limited by the information that’s available to them, and when the cold, unfeeling computers scanned the Twins, they saw a lot of potential hiccups. Carlos Correa looked like he was on the downside of his career already. José Miranda was just a replacement player with a .566 OPS. Sonny Gray was gone, and the Twins didn’t bother to replace him. All of these factored into the preseason odds.

The Athletic MLB Power Rankings (July 9)

Minnesota’s goal isn’t to just move up the MLB power rankings though. The Twins have their sights set on repeating as AL Central division champions. Having won five of their least seven, and five straight series, they are stacking the deck in their favor. Coming out of the All-Star Break, they’ll have a fun sprint to the finish.