The Viking Age
FanSided

Minnesota Vikings player rankings: Week 4 edition

By Adam Carlson

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 23: Chris Ivory #33 of the Buffalo Bills is tackled with the ball by Tashawn Bower #90 of the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 23, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 23: Chris Ivory #33 of the Buffalo Bills is tackled with the ball by Tashawn Bower #90 of the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 23, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 23: Jerry Hughes #55 of the Buffalo Bills pursues Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings as he passes the ball in the third quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 23, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 23: Jerry Hughes #55 of the Buffalo Bills pursues Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings as he passes the ball in the third quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 23, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /

10. Eric Kendricks (New)

Kendricks has been outside the top 10 for too long. The tackling machine for the Vikings once again led the way in takedowns, tying with Stephen Weatherly and Anthony Barr with seven during the game.

His five solo tackles also tied for the most on the team, and his excellent play at the line of scrimmage also resulted in a tackle for a loss. Whether he’s counted on for tackling or dropping back into coverage, Kendricks is as solid of a linebacker there is in the league.

9. Kirk Cousins (No change)

Any time the football is thrown 55 times in a game, that’s not a good sign. Cousins did complete 72.7% of his throws during the contest, but only managed to accumulate 296 yards through the air, an average of 5.4 yards per completion.

Not all of this is the fault of cousins, who was sacked four times on the day and was pressured on nearly every single one of his dropbacks. If Minnesota wants Kirk to succeed, they will need to get him much better protection against the Rams.

8. Sheldon Richardson (No change)

Coming into this game, Richardson was tied for the most pressures from the interior of the defensive line through the first two weeks. This game, he failed to register a single pressure while facing off against former Vikings guard Vladamir Ducasse and center Ryan Groy.

Richardson may have come up empty there, but he still registered 3 tackles, two of them solo. Plus, much of the damage done by the Bills running game was seemingly done while going to the outside, not up the gut against the defensive tackles.

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