Minnesota Vikings: Five players whose stock is on the rise
By Dan Zinski
Sep 14, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings center Joe Berger (61) rests along the sidelines in the game with the New England Patriots at TCF Bank Stadium. The Patriots win 30-7. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
1. Joe Berger
There was nowhere to go but up for journeyman lineman Joe Berger after his brutal performance week 1 against San Francisco.
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And “up” is exactly the direction Berger’s play has gone since he was worked over by the 49ers and their blitzing defense.
Adrian Peterson has put up back-to-back 100-yard games the past two weeks and Berger’s blocking has been a big reason why.
Berger has also done a better job in pass protection since that debacle in Levi’s Stadium.
The Vikings obviously want John Sullivan back in at center as soon as possible, but Berger’s play the last two games has proven that he can hold down the spot until Sully is ready.
It didn’t look good for Berger that first week but then again he was hardly the only Viking player who struggled in that game.
Now if the Vikings could just get Brandon Fusco turned around.