GOOD NEWS FOR MINNESOTA VIKINGS:He is back finally…

Nov 19, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) reacts after making a catch against the Denver Broncos in the first half at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

GOOD NEWS FOR MINNESOTA VIKINGS:He is back finally…

T.J. Hockenson is expected to return to the Minnesota Vikings’ starting lineup for the first time since tearing his ACL during last year’s Christmas Eve game against the Detroit Lions. Hockenson led the team with 95 receptions last year despite missing the final two games due to his knee injury.

He rejoins Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Aaron Jones, the best running back Hockenson will have played with during his time in Minnesota. He will also have Sam Darnold throwing him passes instead of Kirk Cousins. So how can we expect Hockenson to impact an offense that ranks 17th in yards through seven games?

 

Hockenson has been one of the league’s top-performing tight ends since the Vikings traded for him two years ago. Through 25 regular-season games with Minnesota, Hockenson has caught 155 passes for 1,479 yards, eight touchdowns, and 75 first downs. He has caught at least three passes in all but two of these games, averaging 6.2 catches and 59.2 yards per game.

Minnesota’s other tight ends haven’t been able to replicate Hockenson’s success. Johnny Mundt has been the team’s No. 3 tight end since Hockenson arrived in 2022, and he has taken on Hockenson’s role as the receiving tight end. Josh Oliver is the team’s No. 2 tight end and remains in a blocking role. Through seven games, the two tight ends have combined for 21 receptions, 165 yards, three touchdowns, and eight first downs.

 

Hockenson is a superior receiving tight end, and the Vikings use him more dynamically in the offense. According to PFF, Hockenson’s average depth of target (ADOT) was 7.5 yards with the Vikings in 2022 and 7.6 yards last year. He averaged 1.65 yards per route run in 2022 and 1.89 yards per route last season.

Without Hockenson, the Vikings haven’t been able to stress defenses consistently in the same manner. Mundt’s ADOT is only 4, while a 31-yard incompletion skews Oliver’s 8.1 mark, which he could never have caught against the Houston Texans. Mundt is only averaging 0.64 yards per route run. Minnesota uses Oliver more sparingly in the passing game, and he’s averaging 0.85 yards.

 

None of this is too surprising. Hockenson is a former first-round pick, Mundt has been a career TE3, and the Vikings signed Oliver specifically to block. So, how does Hockenson impact the entire offense outside of putting up superior stats to his backups?

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