5 Vikings who have offered almost nothing to the team in 2022

C.J. Ham – FB

C.J. Ham was a player who many predicted wouldn’t make the team in 2022. It wasn’t for lack of ability or for not doing his job well, as Ham was a Pro Bowl-caliber fullback. The issue was that new head coach Kevin O’Connell simply was going to implement an offense that doesn’t use the fullback, and Ham would be expendable.

This thought was brushed aside in training camp, as there were plenty of packages being utilized where Ham was lining up in the backfield and making key blocks. As the season has progressed, those formations have been seen few and far between.

Ham has played on just 90 offensive snaps on the season. That’s an average of about 10 offensive snaps a game. He is renowned for his blocking, but his PFF grade is 47.5, which shows he’s definitely struggling in that area. He does provide the occasional first-down pickup or, as we saw against the Buffalo Bills, a sneaky touchdown on a well-drawn-up goal-line play, but those are few and far between.

Ham has had more of an impact on special teams playing on 68 percent of those snaps. He has proven to be a leader on this team, but one has to think his days with the club are numbered.

Sure, he provides value as an emergency running back and core special teamer, but for a guy who is making about $3 million a year, the Vikings should be getting more and better out of him.