Dynasty Fantasy Football Free Agency Preview 2026: Minnesota Vikings

We are covering all 32 teams in 32 days. We have now covered three teams in the NFC North, so today it is time to cover the Minnesota Vikings. And that, unfortunately, comes at a difficult time. 

So we’ll start this article with an important but simple message - check in on those you love and check in on yourself. It was reported that Vikings wide receiver Rondale Moore passed away this weekend from suspected suicide. An absolute tragedy for a young man who had football left to play and a long life to live. Out of respect to him and the situation, we are not going to further mention him in the rest of this football discussion.

As we are doing with every single team, we’ll now take a look at the depth chart, the contracts, and the salary cap space for the Minnesota Vikings to make some predictions on what they might do in free agency. If there is a fantasy football spin, we’ll be sure to mention that. If you want to see where we have the Vikings' weapons ranked, become a Fantasy Alarm Member today to access our full Dynasty Fantasy Football Rankings along with our buy, hold, or sell recommendations!

*The salary cap numbers referenced in this article come courtesy of our friends over at Spotrac.com*

Minnesota Vikings Depth Chart 2026 (Fantasy Football Relevant)

KEY

• White = free agent
• Green = role is safe
• Yellow =  role in flux
• Orange = likely a depth piece
• Red = roster spot not guaranteed

Minnesota Vikings Free Agency 2026

• CURRENT PROJECTED 2026 SALARIES: $357M
• CURRENT ESTIMATED 2026 CAP SPACE: -$40M

Free Agent Types

Unrestricted free agent: Any player with four or more accrued seasons whose contract has expired. They are free to negotiate with any team.

Restricted free agent: A player with three accrued seasons and an expired contract. The CBA allowed for NFL teams to tender these players to one-year qualifying offers to retain them. Another team can sign them, but would need to provide the tendering team with compensation. In layman’s terms, if a new team signs a player, the current team can match it, or they receive the corresponding pick from the new team. These are the projected RFA tender levels per OverTheCap.com:

• 1st Round - $7,893,000
• 2nd Round - $5,658,000
• Right of First Refusal - $3,453,000

Exclusive rights free agent: Any player with fewer than three accrued seasons and an expired contract. If his original team offers him a one-year contract at the league minimum, the player cannot negotiate with other teams. If the team wants the player back, these contracts are a no-brainer, as the player either needs to play on the contract or sit out. 

Vikings Quarterback Depth Chart

J.J. McCarthy

There is enough smoke out there about bringing someone in to compete with JJ McCarthy that he has to be yellow on the chart. In fact, some are even speculating that JJ McCarthy himself might be a trade candidate. But we’re not willing to go there just yet.

We’ll discuss our overall free agency plan for the Vikings below, but it’s pretty clear that McCarthy needs to have a big offseason here. One thing that every quarterback at every level understands is that you need to run a “clean” game. That begins before the play even starts, with simply making sure everyone knows the play and is in the right spot when the ball is snapped. The Vikings had too many penalties, like false starts, delay of game, illegal formations, etc. For instance, the only team to line up in an illegal formation more than the Vikings in 2025 was the Titans. We are talking about quarterbacking issues at the fundamental level.

When the pre-snap stuff is cleaned up, then you can get into footwork and taking care of the ball; that’s when you can actually start making difference-making plays. With McCarthy, the upside is still there, but it is concerning that he had a difficult time simply running the offense - forget the big plays. That’s where he could lose this job in the offseason and, potentially, his career.   

Carson Wentz

I’ll be up front - I don’t think Carson Wentz is the answer. But he’s at least a stable player who can run the offense. If there truly is nothing else appealing out there, bringing him back to be the “threat” of benching for JJ McCarthy makes a lot of sense. They obviously still have star power, and we saw Wentz lead a stacked Eagles team once upon a time, so who knows. 

Max Brosmer

It’s extremely rare for an undrafted rookie free agent quarterback to start an NFL football game. But that ended up happening here with Brosmer, where he threw four picks, fumbled twice, and got sacked 14 times while throwing no touchdown passes. He’s not a roster lock for 2026. 

John Wolford

John Wolford is supposedly a smart and meticulous guy. Bringing him in to maybe help a young QB get a grasp on things wasn’t a bad move. But I don’t think the plan was ever to have him play. He’s an unrestricted free agent in 2026. 

Brett Rypien

Rypien was waived by the Colts and claimed by Minnesota, but never appeared in a game. He’s an unrestricted free agent.

• Reserves/Futures: N/A

VIKINGS QB FREE AGENCY TAKE: After firing Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the Vikings have yet to name a permanent replacement (Rob Brzezinski is the interim GM). If I were in their position, I would follow the formula that the Colts used last offseason. And that’s basically to go out and find someone, hopefully at a value, that has at least replacement-level QB ability and can play a “clean game” as we discussed. That gives you a litmus test to measure JJ McCarthy against.

Let’s say, for instance, they are able to trade for Mac Jones. If JJ McCarthy is head and shoulder better than Jones, you have a guy. If they are at least even, you probably stick with McCarthy. If Jones simply beats out McCarthy, you start him instead. That’s what happened with Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson, and the team started 8-1 before injuries set in. Here are some guys who would fit the bill for that approach.

• POSSIBLE FREE AGENT OPTIONS: Mac Jones (via trade), Tua Tagovailoa (via trade), Malik Willis, Marcus Mariota, Kirk Cousins, Jameis Winston, Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacoby Brissett (via trade)

Vikings Running Back Depth Chart

Aaron Jones

Aaron Jones wasn’t necessarily the problem in Minnesota. But he has had recurring injury issues - notably hamstring and AC joint issues. So his roster spot isn’t necessarily safe, as he can be released to save $8M in cap with $6.8M in dead cap.

We will know for sure whether Aaron Jones will be on the team or not in 2026 because he has a $2M roster bonus due on March 13th. They would be throwing money away letting that hit and then cutting him after, so they basically have three weeks to make that decision. If he is released, he would almost certainly catch on somewhere as part of a committee. 

Jordan Mason

When Jones missed time with injury last year, Jordan Mason was the main beneficiary, playing 60-70% of the snaps. His 4.8 yards per carry was pretty serviceable given the conditions of the team, but he didn’t offer much in the pass game even when Aaron Jones was out. When Jones returned, he took the bulk of the work in most games.

Even if Jones is gone, Mason isn’t super appealing to me due to the lack of upside in the pass games. They would almost certainly bring in a complimentary pass down back or even bring in a three-down starter. If Mason has any trade value in your leagues, I’d try to move him. 

Ty Chandler

Ty Chandler probably would have been the pass-down back while Aaron Jones was out, but he missed virtually the whole season with a knee injury he suffered in Week 1. He’s an unrestricted free agent and not a lock to return in 2026. That said, he contributes on four different special teams units when healthy, so he could be back. 

Zavier Scott

Scott was the man who was called on to assist with pass duties when times were tough in the Minnesota backfield. He’s actually a converted wide receiver, so that makes sense. He also plays some special teams and can easily be brought back as an exclusive rights free agent, so he could hang around for depth.  

C.J. Ham

Fan favorite C.J. Ham announced his retirement from the NFL following the 2025 season. Wishing him good luck in whatever is next. 

• Reserves/Futures: Zavier Scott

VIKINGS RB FREE AGENCY TAKE: If the Vikings hold onto Aaron Jones, they don’t need to make major moves. Basically, just bring back Ty Chandler and/or Zavier Scott, and you are pretty covered. If Aaron Jones is gone, they could sign a top back, or they could just sign a complementary pass-catching back to work with Jordan Mason. Here are the options.

• POSSIBLE FREE AGENT OPTIONS: Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker, Travis Etienne, Rico Dowdle, Kenneth Gainwell, Rachaad White, Kareem Hunt

Vikings Wide Receiver Depth Chart

Justin Jefferson

Some folks out there are suggesting the Vikings trade Justin Jefferson. But why exactly would they do that? They are a good team that just needs to figure out quarterback. How does trading away their best player in his prime help them? It doesn’t even help their cap situation. To me, it’s a lot of people thinking about how the trade helps their favorite team (like the Bills) with zero consideration to whether the Vikings have any interest in doing that.

And that’s a bit of a problem for fantasy football. We bet on talent in dynasty. But the “QB proof” label only applies to floor. Guys like Justin Jefferson and Terry McLaurin have been good examples of that. Personally, I’m holding Jefferson, but if it’s midseason, you are playing to win, and he’s once again having a down year, sometimes you have to do what you have to do. 

Jordan Addison

The Jordan Addison trade rumors have a little bit more steam to them in my opinion. He’s in the last year of his deal, and they have a chance to pick up the fifth-round option. He’s had a few off-field incidents during his rookie contract here, including speeding and a DUI. If either wideout is getting traded, Jordan Addison would be the better candidate. And that would probably be a good thing for his fantasy value rather than playing in the shadow of Justin Jefferson on a team with QB issues.

That said, they do have cap issues. So keeping Addison on a cheap deal, even if they don’t plan to extend him, also makes sense. So this isn’t a situation like, say, Brandon Aiyuk, where a trade is incredibly likely. Well, leave it at “it’s possible”. 

Jalen Nailor

Jalen Nailor was the clear WR3. But they didn’t always use heavy three-WR sets. He played 83% of the snaps in the game where Jordan Addison was suspended, but next played more than 70% of the snaps in any of the other meaningful games as they opted for two tight end sets or fullback usage. With C.J. Ham retiring, maybe he could pick up more snaps, but he really needs a trade or injury to the other WRs to have fantasy upside. That is, if he’s back in Minnesota in 2026. He’s an unrestricted free agent as it stands.     

Tai Felton

Felton didn’t contribute much on offense, but he did play the fourth-most special-teams snaps of any player, contributing on four units. He’s on a cheap rookie deal, so I expect him to be back. 

Myles Price

Myles Price was one of the top return men in the league, as he returned the third-most kicks and third-most punts in the league. He’s also on a cheap deal, so I expect him to remain with the team as well. 

• Reserves/Futures: Dontae Fleming, Joaquin Davis, Jeshaun Jones

VIKINGS WR FREE AGENCY TAKE: If the Vikings don’t trade Jordan Addison, and we don’t really believe they will, then they can simply bring back Jalen Nailor and be fine. If either one is gone, they end up in an interesting spot because they don’t have a lot of cap space. Justin Jefferson is your big split end, so you’d really just have to find some affordable slot/flanker options. Here is what is out there that wouldn’t break the bank. 

• POSSIBLE FREE AGENT OPTIONS: Marquise Brown, Greg Dortch, Kalif Raymond, Tyquan Thornton, Tutu Atwell, Dyami Brown

Vikings Tight End Depth Chart

T.J. Hockenson

The Vikings do have some obvious moves they can make to clear cap, like cutting Javon Hargrave. But that won’t get them there, so they will need to either release or restructure certain guys. With T.J. Hockenson, that decision will happen fairly soon, as he has a $2.3M roster bonus that becomes guaranteed if he’s on the team on March 13th. 

A restructure is the easiest way to keep him around and save money. Quite frankly, for his fantasy value, him being traded or released would probably be best. It’s one thing to compete for targets with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison if you have Kirk Cousins or Sam Darnold. With JJ McCarthy or anyone else in that range, it hurts his upside. 

Josh Oliver

Josh Oliver is one of the better blocking tight ends, and there is virtually zero cap relief from trading or cutting him. Simple as that. If Hockenson were gone, we wouldn’t be going crazy to get him in fantasy, though, as he’s not much of a pass-game asset. .

Ben Sims

Sims was released by the Packers and claimed by the Vikings. He was primarily used for blocking on special teams. I don’t expect them to tender him as an RFA, so he’ll be an unrestricted free agent. 

Ben Yurosek

Yurosek primarily blocked and played special teams as well. He’s on a cheap rookie deal, so he could hang around, but undrafted guys on the fringe of the roster are never a lock.

Gavin Bartholomew

The sixth-round pick got banged up and was never really elevated to take over the TE3 role. I do expect him to hang around as depth in 2026 on his rookie deal.  

• Reserves/Futures: Bryson Nesbit

VIKINGS TE FREE AGENCY TAKE: As of now, the Vikings are pretty set at tight end. If they do move on from T.J. Hockenson for cap reasons, they won’t have the money to go out and spend up on guys like Kyle Pitts or Dallas Goedert. They’d likely either draft someone or find a pass-catching complement to Josh Oliver in free agency. Here are the pass-catching TE options that could be reasonably priced. 

• POSSIBLE FREE AGENT OPTIONS: Chig Okonkwo, Noah Fant, Darren Waller, Greg Dulcich, 

Dynasty Fantasy Football Rankings

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