Hockenson averaged 13.0 PPR points per game in his 10 matchups as a member of the Vikings, but that number is propped up by a ludicrous 35.9 PPR point explosion against the Giants in Week 16. He even blew up again versus the Giants in the playoffs to the tune of 22.9 PPR points. Without that regular-season game against New York, Hockenson averaged 7.8 targets and 10.4 PPR points per game. That's still not bad -- only seven TEs averaged more Fantasy points per game and only Travis Kelce had more targets per game. The addition of Jordan Addison to the offense will sting, but Hockenson should remain a key part of the Vikings' pass-happy system. Hockenson's target volume should push him into the 11-point-per-game range in PPR. He's well worth a pick after 60th overall in PPR and 70th overall in non-PPR.
Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Scores first two TDs of season
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Hockenson brought in seven of eight targets for 66 yards and two touchdowns in the Vikings' 34-28 loss to the Eagles on Thursday night.
The talented tight end had already amassed eight catches during the Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers, albeit for only 35 yards. Hockenson had one less grab but much more fantasy success four days later, scoring on a pair of five-yard grabs in the second and fourth quarters, respectively. He also posted a 24-yard reception that nearly outpaced his entire season-opening output, and with 15 receptions on 17 targets thus far, he's on pace early for career-best efficiency. Hockenson will aim to keep up the momentum during a Week 3 home matchup against the Chargers on Sunday, Sept. 24.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Busy but underwhelming in loss
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Hockenson brought in eight of nine targets for 35 yards in the Vikings' 20-17 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday.
The talented tight end got his season off to a strong start reception-wise, with his catch and target totals second only to those of Justin Jefferson's on the afternoon. However, the Buccaneers' talented array of linebackers and safeties limited Hockenson to just 4.4 yards per reception with a 14-yard grab serving as his longest for the day. Hockenson's degree of involvement right out of the gate is naturally very encouraging and likely indicative of what should be expected most weeks, and he and Kirk Cousins will look to rekindle their prolific connection with a bit more downfield work in a Week 2 road date versus the Eagles on Thursday night.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Clear of injury report
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Hockenson (lower back) wasn't listed on the Vikings' first Week 1 injury report Wednesday.
Since the start of training camp, Hockenson didn't get much on-field work or any preseason action due to the combination of an ear infection and stiffness in his lower back. The issues didn't stop the Vikings from paying up for the tight end, as Minnesota rewarded Hockenson last week with a four-year, $66 million extension. Now that he's back to full health, Hockenson can turn his focus to being one of the top targets for quarterback Kirk Cousins alongside wideouts Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison and running back Alexander Mattison.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: On track for Week 1, gets new deal
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Hockenson (lower back) was nearly a full practice participant Wednesday and is on track to play Week 1 against Tampa Bay, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Hockenson missed a lot of August due to an ear infection and then a lower back injury, with his contract situation perhaps also playing a role. Everything is pointing up a week and a half before the start of the season, as he signed a contract extension Thursday after displaying his improved health Wednesday. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the extension is for four years and $68.5 million, with Hockenson's $42.5 million guarantee and $17.125 million average annual value both setting records among tight ends.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Signs extension
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Hockenson (lower back) and the Vikings agreed Thursday to a contract extension, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
The deal reportedly puts Hockenson among the highest-paid tight ends in the league, as one would expect of an eighth overall pick coming off career highs for catches (86) and yards (914). He missed a lot of time this summer with an ear infection and then a lower back injury, but the Vikings seemingly expect Hockenson to be ready for Week 1 against Tampa Bay.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Managing lower back issue
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Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said Wednesday that Hockenson missed practice due to lower-back stiffness, Dane Mizutani of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Hockenson has recovered from the ear infection that hampered him in mid-August, but the lower-back issue could sideline him for Saturday's preseason finale against the Cardinals. The starting tight end still has well over two weeks to recover before Minnesota's Sept. 10 regular-season opener against Tampa Bay, but he may have to shake off some rust if he indeed fails to log a preseason appearance.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Still limited by ear infection
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Hockenson (illness) was limited during Monday's practice, Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Hockenson warmed up and ran through installs before heading inside for treatment. The tight end has been limited due to the ear infection since Aug. 3, and it remains unclear when he'll be back to 100 percent. The Vikings have one remaining preseason game, Saturday against Arizona, and three weeks until they open the regular season against Tampa Bay on Sunday, Sept. 10. Hockenson said last week that he's "starting to get cleared up," so there doesn't appear to be too much concern about his availability, but it's certainly a storyline worth following with Week 1 approaching fast.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Dealing with illness
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Coach Kevin O'Connell said Monday that Hockenson is battling an illness, Dane Mizutani of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Hockenson's illness explains his lighter practice activity over the weekend. There's not yet real cause for concern, but the illness could end up ruling the tight end out for Thursday's preseason game against the Seahawks, if it was ever in consideration that he handle a significant amount of snaps. Hockenson still has over a month to get healthy and return to practice ahead of the Vikings' regular-season opener against Tampa Bay on Sept. 10.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Leading receiver in losing effort
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Hockenson caught 10 of 11 targets for 129 yards in Sunday's 31-24 wild-card round loss to the Giants.
The Giants were able to limit Justin Jefferson's (7-47-0) big-play ability by shading safety help in his direction, which opened up huge holes in the middle of the field for Hockenson to feast on. It was a bittersweet finish to the 2022 season for the receiving tight end, who produced new highs in receptions (86) and receiving yards (914) across 17 games between the Lions and Vikings. Hockenson thrived following the midseason trade to Minnesota, and he remains under contract next year, putting him in the upper echelon of tight ends heading into 2023.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: One catch before rest
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Hockenson caught his only target for 16 yards during Sunday's 29-13 victory versus Chicago.
Hockenson played just 33 snaps on offense, as he and fellow starters were rested in the second half. He'll have a much larger role in this week's home playoff matchup against the Giants.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: May not play full game
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Head coach Kevin O'Connell intimated Friday that Hockenson and other key starters on offense and defense may not play the entirety of the Vikings' Week 18 game in Chicago, Joe Nelson of SI.com reports. "We've got a pretty clear cut plan with how we want to go about the whole game, but we're going to go in with the expectation of our guys going and try to get off to a good start and play good football," O'Connell said.
Minnesota is assured no worse than the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoffs regardless of how this weekend's games transpire, but since the Vikings will need a win over the Bears plus a Cardinals win over the heavily-favored 49ers to climb to the No. 2 seed, O'Connell may not have much incentive to expose key players to an injury heading into the wild-card round. While Hockenson and all of the Vikings' other starting skill-position players look poised to play at least one series, the uncertainty of whether they'll play much beyond that makes it tough to reliably project any in Week 18 season-long or DFS lineups.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Seven grabs in Sunday's loss
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Hockenson caught seven of 12 targets for 59 yards in Sunday's 41-17 loss to the Packers.
The tight end tied K.J. Osborn for the team lead in receptions on a day when the Vikings offense mostly struggled and didn't score its first touchdown until well into the fourth quarter. Hockenson has caught at least three passes in every game since being traded to Minnesota and is just 102 receiving yards short of his first career 1,000-yard campaign, but with the team having nothing to play for in Week 18 except playoff seeding, he may not see a full workload against the Bears.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Finds end zone twice in career day
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Hockenson caught 13 of 16 targets for 109 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday's 27-24 win over the Giants.
The 13 grabs were a career high for the tight end, while his 100-yard performance was his first as a Viking and the third of his career. Hockenson had just a 13-143-0 line on 23 targets over his prior three games combined and won't get to face the Giants' defense every week, but he could still be productive in Week 17 against the Packers.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Nine targets in OT win
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Hockenson caught three of nine targets for 33 yards and also secured a two-point conversion in Saturday's 39-36 overtime win over the Colts.
Outside of catching a game-tying two-point conversion with 2:15 to play, Hockenson didn't contribute much to Minnesota's historic comeback from a 33-point halftime deficit. The tight end has been targeted at least six times in all six of his games as a member of the Vikings, and he should continue to play a prominent role in Minnesota's high-powered offense in Week 16 against the Giants.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Strong numbers versus old squad
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Hockenson secured six of eight targets for 77 yards in the Vikings' 34-23 loss to the Lions on Sunday.
Facing his old squad in the highly familiar environment of Ford Field, Hockenson finished second in receiving yards and tied for second in targets as well on the afternoon for the Vikings. The talented tight end's yardage tally was also his highest since his Week 9 Minnesota debut, and he's now recorded at least five catches in five of his first six games with Minnesota. Hockenson next takes aim at the Colts defense in a Week 15 home matchup on Saturday afternoon.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Top DFS Play
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Hockenson has already been an enormous part of the Vikings offense ever since he arrived. I can't imagine they don't get him at least one touchdown in his first game against the Lions.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Held to 33 yards
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Hockenson recorded four receptions on six targets for 33 yards in Sunday's 27-22 win over the Jets.
Hockenson tied Adam Thielen for second on the team in targets, and he now has at least six targets in every game since joining the Vikings. He accounted for a significant portion of his production with a 13-yard reception early in the fourth quarter on a drive that resulted in the game-winning touchdown. Despite the consistent opportunity, Hockenson has now racked up fewer than 50 receiving yards in four consecutive games.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Finds end zone in win
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Hockenson brought in five of six targets for 43 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' 33-26 win over the Patriots on Thursday night.
Hockenson was Kirk Cousins' top non-wideout target for the night, and he scored his first touchdown as a member of the Vikings with a one-yard grab late in the first half. Hockenson has quickly put together a robust 26-192-1 line over his first four games in Minnesota, sending him into a Week 13 home matchup versus the Jets with plenty of momentum.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Struggles with drops Sunday
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Hockenson caught five of nine targets for 34 yards in Sunday's 40-3 blowout loss to the Cowboys.
Hockenson actually led the Vikings in receiving despite his meager output in an embarrassing loss. Minnesota's prized deadline acquisition struggled with drops Sunday, failing to pull in two throws that hit him in the hands on consecutive plays near the end zone. The 25-year-old is struggling to find separation in his new scheme, averaging just 7.1 YPC in three games since being traded after posting a mark of 15.2 with Detroit. Hockenson remains a premier fantasy asset due to his high target rate (9.3 targets/game with MIN). The athletic tight end is hoping to be thankful for his first touchdown as a Viking when Minnesota takes on New England on Thanksgiving.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Seeing heavy volume with Vikings
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Hockenson caught seven of 10 targets for 45 yards in Sunday's 33-30 overtime win over the Bills.
Hockenson has been targeted 19 times in two games with the Vikings, catching 16 of those for 115 yards. His steady diet of targets from Kirk Cousins has elevated Hockenson back into the upper echelon of the thin tight-end position, especially in PPR formats. The former Detroit tight end will face the Cowboys in Week 11. Dallas held Hockenson to four catches for 48 yards as a member of the Lions in Week 7.
