Minnesota Vikings release depth chart: Bridgewater behind Cassel

Author:
SI Wire
Publish date:
Aug 5, 2014

The Vikings released their first depth chart of the preseason on August 5.

Minnesota recently activated safety Andrew Sendejo off the PUP list. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has been more impressive than the Vikings expected, but he is listed behind Matt Cassell. Wide reciever Greg Jennings recently said there is no ceiling to fellow Minnesota receiver Cordarrelle Patterson's potential.

In July, the Vikings cut ties with defensive end Spencer Nealy.

Offense

QB: Matt Cassel | Teddy Bridgewater | Christian Ponder

RB: Adrian Peterson | Matt Asiata | Jerick McKinnon | Joe Banyard / Dominique Williams

FB: Jerome Felton | Zach Line

WR1: Cordarrelle Patterson | Adam Thielen | Rodney Smith | Kamar Jorden / Donte Foster / Andy Cruse

WR2: Greg Jennings | Jerome Simpson | Jarius Wright | Kain Colter / Erik Lora / Ty Walker

TE: Kyle Rudolph | Rhett Ellison | Chase Ford | AC Leonard / Mike Higgins / Allen Reisner

LT: Matt Kalil | Antonio Richardson | Kevin Murphy

LG: Charlie Johnson | David Yankey | Pierce Burton

C: John Sullivan | Joe Berger | Zac Kerin

RG: Brandon Fusco | Vladimir Ducasse | Jeff Baca

RT: Phil Loadholt | Mike Remmers | Austin Wentworth

Defense

LDE: Brian Robison | Corey Wootton | Jake Snyder | Tyler Scott

DT: Sharrif Floyd | Tom Johnson | Kheeston Randall | Isame Faciane

NT: Linval Joseph | Fred Evans | Shamar Stephen | Chase Baker

RDE: Everson Griffen | Scott Crichton | Justin Trattou

SLB: Anthony Barr | Gerald Hodges | Dom DeCicco

MLB: Jasper Brinkley | Audie Cole | Mike Zimmer

WLB: Chad Greenway | Brandon Watts | Michael Mauti | Larry Dean

LCB: Captain Munnerlyn | Josh Robinson | Marcus Sherels | Julian Posey / Robert Steeples

SS: Robert Blanton | Jamarca Sanford | Mistral Raymond | Chris Crocker / Antone Exum

FS: Harrison Smith | Kurt Coleman | Andrew Sendejo | Brandan Bishop

RCB: Xavier Rhodes | Jabari Price | Derek Cox | Kendall James / Shaun Prater

Special Teams

K: Blair Walsh

P: Jeff Locke

LS: Cullen Loeffler

H: Jeff Locke

PR: Marcus Sherels | Jarius Wright

KR: Cordarrelle Patterson | Marcus Sherels

GALLERY: FANTASY FOOTBALL SLEEPER PICKS FOR 2014

2014 Fantasy Football Sleepers

Knile Davis - RB, Kansas City Chiefs

Davis is about as important a handcuff as you’ll find in the league. Davis would impact fantasy standings if Jamaal Charles goes down at any point. Davis picked up 81 yards and two TDs on 27 carries when Charles was resting Week 17 last season.

Terrance West - RB, Cleveland Browns

The rookie will need to beat out veteran Ben Tate for touches, but his upside is enormous. Browns running back coach Wilbert Montgomery recently told reporters, ''He has that Ricky Watters, Walter Payton, lure-you-to-sleep-on-the-sideline move that I can accelerate or play like I’m going to accelerate and come back inside. Those are traits I haven’t seen in a while.''

Dri Archer - RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

It’s possible that the undersized third-round pick is restricted to kick return duty in his rookie year. It’s also possible that Archer emerges as a dynamic RB/WR who could score anytime he touches the ball.

Lache Seastrunk - RB, Washington Redskins

The Baylor product is behind Alfred Morris and Roy Helu on the depth chart and has developed a reputation for having awful hands. He actually dropped 10 balls and only caught nine during his two years in college. That said, Seastrunk’s running ability would make him a fantasy asset if Morris goes down with an injury.

Ka’Deem Carey - RB, Chicago Bears

Carey is an all-around running back who is capable of stepping in and producing for fantasy owners if Matt Forte gets hurt. He’s the type of rookie who would be a hot commodity if he were drafted by a team without an elite running back.

Devonta Freeman - RB, Atlanta Falcons

There is a legitimate chance that Freeman will eventually start over Steven Jackson; the rookie's average draft position will skyrocket with a dominant preseason. The former FSU back should see the field a lot if he can handle pass protection.

Christine Michael - RB, Seattle Seahawks

Michael is an instant stud if Marshawn Lynch goes down. Either way, the Seahawks have hinted at a committee approach and Lynch’s brief holdout may not have helped matters for the veteran running back. Michael has the skill set to provide RB1 numbers if he receives enough carries.

Carlos Hyde - RB, San Francisco 49ers

Anyone who saw Carlos Hyde at Ohio State knew he wouldn’t get buried in San Francisco, even with a crowded backfield. He’s arguably the most talented rookie RB and is one Frank Gore injury away from fantasy stardom.

Tre Mason - RB, St. Louis Rams

Many fantasy owners are high on Zac Stacy entering the season. But ask anyone who drafted Daryl Richardson in 2013 if Jeff Fisher is afraid to make a change at running back. The dynamic rookie Tre Mason is too talented to ride the pine forever and he’d turn into a nice fantasy option if given carries.

Chris Polk - RB, Philadelphia Eagles

Even with Darren Sproles in town, Polk would hold a ton of fantasy value if LeSean McCoy were to miss time at any point. Chip Kelly’s offense turns RBs into fantasy stars and Polk is the clear-cut backup to McCoy.

Charles Sims - RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The rookie from West Virginia is expected to be an immediate handcuff to Doug Martin for fantasy purposes. Smith should contribute in passing situations early, but could steal carries from Martin as the season progresses.

Markus Wheaton - WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Wheaton is expected to inherit a starting gig with Jerricho Cotchery and Emmanuel Sanders gone. The sophomore from Oregon State has big-play ability and could easily emerge as a must-start fantasy option on a weekly basis.

Marqise Lee - WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Lee is a candidate to lead the Jaguars in receptions as a rookie, but his competition isn’t exactly elite. He should be able to rack up catches and yards with Jacksonville expected to be playing from behind more often than not.

Kenny Stills - WR, New Orleans Saints

Stills has a ton of breakout potential coming off a rookie season in which he posted 641 yards on 32 catches with five TDs. He’s a big-play threat on ever possession and should easily surpass the 46 targets he received last season. He might only need 50 catches to score double-digit TDs.

Kelvin Benjamin - WR, Carolina Panthers

The 6-foot-5, 240-pound, No. 28 overall pick is a perfect red-zone target and he could help the Panthers win games immediately. For fantasy purposes, he’s merely a WR3 or a WR4 until he proves he can be more than just a TD-dependent gamble on a weekly basis.

Tavon Austin - WR, St. Louis Rams

As a rookie in 2013, Austin only caught 40 passes for 418 yards and never really found a true role. He’s admitted that the adjustment from college to the NFL took a toll on him and he continuously dropped passes early in the season. If things click in his second year, Austin has the skillset to be a star.

Justin Hunter - WR, Tennessee Titans

The second-year receiver showed signs of his high ceiling last season with a few big games down the stretch. Hunter has the tools to develop into a WR1 in his prime and should play a prominent role on young Titans’ offense.

Jordan Matthews - WR, Philadelphia Eagles

DeSean Jackson’s departure opens the door for Matthews to step up. The 2014 season could turn into a perfect storm for Matthews to succeed with Jeremy Maclin coming off a torn ACL and Riley Cooper coming off a career season.

Eric Ebron - TE, Detroit Lions

The Lions turned heads when they selected Ebron No. 10 overall in May’s Draft. It might take a season or two for the UNC product to reach his potential, but Ebron is an elite fantasy TE in the making. He’s been compared to Jimmy Graham and has the skillset to live up to his lofty expectations.

Ladarius Green - TE, San Diego Chargers

The 6-6, 237-pound Green is an obvious red-zone target and has the tools to be an impact fantasy option if he receives ample targets. Antonio Gates, the incumbent TE in San Diego, is 34 and slowed significantly down the stretch in 2013. Green caught 17 passes for 376 yards and three TDs last season, highlighted by a three-game stretch in which he caught nine balls for 206 yards and two scores.