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Vikings Wide Receiver Battle: Who Starts? Who Plays Big Role This Year?

By Sam Verschaetse

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The Minnesota Vikings wide receiver battle for the other starting spot and beyond is something we should all pay attention to heading into the 2015 season.

Who starts opposite of incumbent starter and newcomer Mike Wallace?

Who has some big catches and makes some big plays for us this year?

These are all questions that will have to be answered come training camp and the first couple weeks of the regular season.

Good thing we have options, plenty of talent and some time to let these questions and this position battle play out.

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Here are my initial reactions and thoughts for wide receiver and the battles going into this year:

1. Newly added speedster Mike Wallace will be our No. 1 wide receiver. Really no surprises here. I’ve discussed my thoughts on Wallace before and I will stick to my gut feeling that this guy is going to have a big year for the Vikings. His speed, resume, experience and big play potential warrant his status as our No. 1 guy.

2. Okay, so Wallace is numero uno. Who will be opposite of him as our No. 2 starter? I say Charles Johnson. But I say that with reservation. Reason being that we still don’t know enough about him. Sure, he had a hell of a season in his limited time with the team last year, but is he truly starting wide receiver caliber? For an entire NFL season? I’d like to think so. The jury is still out on Johnson, but overall, I think he is a solid No. 2 option for this team. Plus, he and Teddy created some good chemistry last year down the stretch, so give those two a full offseason and more time to gel and the apparent connection could prove to be real.

Possible player to oust Johnson for the No. 2 spot? 

The only player I see giving Johnson a run for his money at this spot is the man with the most to prove this year: Cordarrelle Patterson.

Sep 14, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84) against the New England Patriots at TCF Bank Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Vikings 30-7. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

We all know this is a make or break year for the third-year wide receiver from Tennessee. If the fruits of Patterson’s offseason labor pay off this season, his size and speed definitely give him the opportunity to be a No. 2 pass catcher at the NFL level.

Only time will tell, but I’m going to give Patterson the benefit of the doubt and hope that he pushes Johnson for that second starting position.

In a perfect world, it would be great, entertaining and newsworthy if come training camp we have ourselves a little Johnson vs. Patterson war.

3. What about slot receiver? Can anyone say wide open battle right here? After the two starting spots, this is by far the most entertaining wide receiver battle on the horizon. This is where four to five other guys could find some playing time and make some monumental plays for the Vikings. So who is in play and who is most likely to get the most time here?

By default, Jarius Wright appears to be the front runner due to his experience at the position and his proven ability to make a difference at the position. Anyone recall that overtime win at home against Geno and the Jets and Jarius getting loose and running for an 86-yard, catch and score?

The sneaky slot receiver from Arkansas has improved each year since entering the league with 2014 as his best season to date. Last year Wright grabbed 42 receptions for 588 yards, including two scores. I am a big fan of Wright and I think that he has the opportunity to lock the slot down and make even more big plays this year.

All that being said, I think that our rookie wide receiver, Stefon Diggs, could find himself in the mix at slot as well. Used as a true utility wide receiver during his time at Maryland, Diggs has the makings of a perfect slot receiver in the NFL. His ability to get yards after the catch, coupled with his speed and change of direction skills, make him an intriguing player to watch in training camp and during preseason games.

Being a rookie is a disadvantage for Diggs because he really has no resume like Wright, but if he shows up in training camp and displays his talent during those first four preseason games, he could very well find his way into the mix this year. My gut instinct is that he will. And I highly recommend watching this kid’s highlights from college below.

4. Any other possible candidates to watch for that could make some plays at wide receiver for the Vikings this year? We can’t forget about Minnesota’s own, Adam Thielen. While I don’t really see Thielen as being a receiver who finds his way onto the field a lot this year, I still see him maximizing the most of the opportunities he will be given with the team (if we do decide to keep him on the roster that is), like he proved to do last year.

The thing with Thielen is that he plays with a chip on his shoulder and with reckless abandonment. No one will ever question this guy for his effort or heart. Every single opportunity that he was given last year, whether it was as a wide receiver or on special teams (blocked punt with a little side of scoop and score against Carolina last year), he made the most of. At the end of the day, I see the Vikings keeping him on the roster because of his effort and willingness to do whatever is best for the team. Thielen could maybe find some time in the slot, but it will be limited. Either way, it’s hard not to root for a fan favorite.

Anyone else? 

The only other player that I believe could fight for a spot in this loaded wide receiver group is another rookie, DaVaris Daniels. Daniels is somewhat of an unknown from Notre Dame. Mostly because he had to miss the 2014 season due to academic dishonesty.

I will be the first to admit that I am very skeptical of Daniels, but every year we see some unknown rookie who turns heads and finds his way onto the field. From what I saw from Daniels for the Fighting Irish in 2012 (six receptions for 115 yards against Alabama in the BCS National Championship game that season) and 2013, I think he could turn out to be a surprise in training camp. Regardless of what I think, though, it is going to be extremely hard for Daniels to crack into this talented group of wide receivers. He better make the most of his time in preseason games.

5. Projected lineup and depth chart at wide receiver (in the following order)?

  • Mike Wallace, starter, No. 1 receiver
  • Charles Johnson, starter, No. 2 receiver
  • Jarius Wright, starter, slot receiver
  • Cordarrelle Patterson, will play opposite Wallace/in the slot at times
  • Stefon Diggs, slot receiver, will share time with Wright
  • Adam Thielen, utility receiver, used when needed
  • DaVaris Daniels/Others?, TBD

6. Overall thoughts on this group of wide receivers for 2015? I think that this group has the potential to do some great things this year. The underlying theme with this arsenal is speed. This group has a lot of it and I know that Norv Turner will put it to good use in this offense. I also know that Teddy Bridgewater will make the most of it as well. Look for the Minnesota Vikings wide receivers to make a name for themselves this season.

With all of the talent and bodies at this position, this position battle is by far the most intriguing (in my opinion) heading into this season.

Let the battles begin.

Battle method to be used: Aerial Assault.

Next: Is 'The Clock Ticking' On Cordarrelle Patterson?

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