The stigma of in-division trades is all but gone, but the Minnesota Vikings made a notable deal for Detroit Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson at the 2022 trade deadline. As the legit No. 2 target for Kirk Cousins over the rest of that season, Hockenson had 60 catches and 86 targets over his first 10 games as a Viking.
In 15 games during his first full season with the Vikings, before he suffered a torn ACL in Week 16 of the 2023 season, Hockenson had 95 receptions (on 127 targets) for 960 yards and five touchdowns. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson missing several games was a big factor in his production, but Hockenson stepped up.
Through Week 17, the typical end of the fantasy football season, Hockenson finished as the TE3 in full PPR scoring and if he had played in Week 17 he would have surely finished as the TE2. With a Week 17 performance roughly half of his per-game average in Week 17, he would have finished as the TE1 in full PPR.
Hockenson was of course sidelined into last season as he recovered from his knee injury. In 10 regular season games he had 41 catches (on 62 targets) for 455 yards without a touchdown, and he ended on a solid note in the playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams (five receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown).
In a Substack post noting some player performances from Vikings' minicamp, Judd Zulgad of SKOR North had a notable takeaway about quarterback J.J. McCarthy's arm strength.
"McCarthy’s most impressive throws are the intermediate ones over the middle. On those passes, he combines a strong arm with accuracy. This could make McCarthy and Justin Jefferson a dangerous combination for opposing defenses. It also could result in a big season for tight end T.J. Hockenson."
Zulgad is not alone in his sentiment about Hockenson. He is now further removed from his major knee injury, and a reliable tight end can be a god-send for a young quarterback.
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson should take back his place in fantasy TE hierarchy in 2025
In a recent column, ESPN fantasy sports analyst Eric Karabell made some "don't be surprised if.." predictions for the 2025 fantasy football season. He put a specific threshold in play for Hockenson, suggesting a return to top-five tight end status this year.
"Hockenson was always likely to disappoint eager fantasy managers in 2024 as he fought back from a serious knee injury late the prior season. Frankly, we should ignore Hockenson's 2024 numbers and remember his impact in 2022 and 2023. Don't worry about new QB J.J. McCarthy. A healthy Hockenson will easily eclipse 100 targets."
Before his injury-shortened 2024 campaign, Hockenson topped 100 targets and was a top-five fantasy tight end regardless of scoring format (standard, 0.5-point PPR, full PPR) in three of the previous four seasons.
The circumstance Hockenson has bolsters the idea he'll return to being a top-five fantasy tight end this year, to the point it would not be a big surprise. If his underachievement as a touchdown scorer turns the other way with McCarthy under center, there's a path to finishing as the TE1.