Leave it to Pro Football Focus to be the voice of reason.
We’ve officially reached NFL kickoff week, and that means it’s power rankings season. While there’s not much to debate at the top — it’s the Philadelphia Eagles (and maybe the Baltimore Ravens) — experts have twisted themselves into a pretzel trying to predict where the Minnesota Vikings stand entering 2025.
To be fair, the Vikings will be breaking in a first-year quarterback in J.J. McCarthy, so some reservations should be expected. But when discussing a 14-win team that spent around $300 million in free agency to reload the roster, anything outside of the top 10 feels well off base.
Sayre Bedinger of FanSided’s NFL Spin Zone, for example, ranked the Vikings 13th in his Week 1 power rankings, two spots behind a San Francisco 49ers team that finished 6-11 in 2024 and watched 17 players leave in free agency (including DT Javon Hargrave to Minnesota).
“JJ McCarthy is coming off of a major injury and has inherited a team that won 14 games last season. The pressure is going to be off the charts for the young quarterback, but it’s nothing he’s not already used to. McCarthy has ice in his veins. It might take him some time, but he should be operating the Minnesota offense at a high level by midseason, if not sooner.”
This is about the range where the Vikings are falling in early power rankings. Pete Prisco of CBS Sports tabbed Minnesota at No. 14 entering Week 1.
The Vikings have too much talent to be a middle-of-the-pack team. Thankfully, the folks at Pro Football Focus dropped a refreshing take that Vikings fans needed before opening night.
Minnesota Vikings land in PFF’s top 10 in Week 1 NFL power rankings
Thomas Valentine of Pro Football Focus not only ranked Minnesota ahead of the 49ers (thank you, Thomas) but also landed them No. 10 overall, behind the Rams, Bengals, and Commanders.
“The roster around McCarthy is one of the best in the NFL, and the Vikings clearly have a deep playoff run on their mind, but McCarthy is still an unknown in the league.”
The Vikings had the 24th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. That means they finished eighth in the final pecking order based on regular-season win percentage and playoff results.
Did the Vikings deserve to drop five or six spots this offseason? Definitely not. They bolstered the trenches on both sides of the football and will feature arguably the most feared front seven in football on defense. It’s fair to have some concerns about McCarthy’s debut, and some thin position groups like cornerback, safety, and wide receiver, but the No. 10 spot feels about right.
Sure, Minnesota’s season will hinge on McCarthy’s ability to perform right out of the chute. However, the Vikings are uniquely positioned to support a young QB, from their stacked offensive line, to their improved rushing attack, to their elite defense with coordinator Brian Flores still spinning the dial.
The Vikings are definitely a top 10 team entering 2025. Now it's up to them to prove it.