5 bold Minnesota Vikings predictions for Week 17 vs. the Green Bay Packers

Bold Vikings Prediction No. 3

Josh Oliver will score a touchdown against the Packers

One of the biggest pieces of the Vikings offense was lost when tight end T.J. Hockenson went down with a multi-ligament knee injury in last week’s loss to the Detroit Lions.

But there’s a chance Josh Oliver could at least fill Hockenson's role as a red-zone target against the Packers. Oliver was signed primarily to be a blocker for the Vikings last spring, but he has shown an ability to catch the football this year as well.

In his final college season at San Jose State, Oliver caught 56 passes for 709 yards and four touchdowns and went on to sharpen his blocking skills to become one of the best road graders in the NFL.

It would be naive to think that Oliver could replace Hockenson, who had 95 catches for 960 yards and five touchdowns prior to his injury. But the Packers have had some issues handling tight ends in the red zone this season, as they've allowed six receiving touchdowns by tight ends this year.

Oliver isn’t likely to have a massive game, but if you’re looking for someone to score a touchdown this weekend, there are worse chips you could place on the table.