Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (shoulder) has been ruled out for the Christmas Day game on Thursday against the division-rival Detroit Lions after missing practice all week with a shoulder injury, according to the team. The Vikings' offense will be a shell of itself against Detroit on Thursday, with Hockenson and quarterback J.J. McCarthy (hand) being ruled out. They will also be without running back Jordan Mason (ankle). With Hockenson missing this week, Josh Oliver should operate as the team's top pass-catching tight end. But with Max Brosmer under center against Detroit, we wouldn't recommend using Oliver as a TE2 streamer in fantasy, even in the deepest of leagues. The 28-year-old has 12 receptions on the season for 123 yards and four touchdowns in his 13 games played as the backup to Hockenson.
Dec 24, 2025 3:19 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (shoulder) was listed as a non-participant on Monday's practice report. The Vikings conducted a walk-through on Monday, so this designation is based on an estimation from the team. Hockenson handled 75% of the snaps in the Vikings' Week 16 win over the New York Giants, but he wasn't a major receiving threat with just one catch for two yards. The 28-year-old doesn't have much time to get healthy before the Vikings' Week 17 contest on Thursday against his old team, the Detroit Lions. Josh Oliver would earn additional volume if Hockenson doesn't suit up, but he could be catching passes from Max Brosmer after J.J. McCarthy (hand) was also estimated as a non-participant.
Dec 22, 2025 6:49 PM EST
Coming off his best yardage output of the season last week, Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson will see a tougher matchup in Week 16 when his team travels east to play the New York Giants. While the Giants are 2-12 and nobody's idea of stingy, they've been best against tight ends from a fantasy perspective. New York has struggled against other skill-position groups, but ranks eighth against PPR tight ends. Hockenson went for 66 yards on four catches last week at Dallas, but has been held under 40 receiving yards 10 times in 14 games as the Vikings have been erratic because of injuries and underperformance at quarterback. Second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy has looked significantly better in the past two weeks, but Hockenson has been quiet in so many games this year that managers should consider him a lower-end option with fantasy playoffs on deck.
Dec 19, 2025 4:10 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson caught four passes on five targets for 66 yards, which led the way for his team in a 34-26 victory against the Dallas Cowboys. The veteran tight end appears to be developing a rapport with young quarterback J.J. McCarthy, with whom he connected for a touchdown the week prior. As the Vikings have struggled massively throughout portions of the season, Hockenson has been a fantasy disappointment who still ranks outside the top-20 PPR tight ends. But with Minnesota prioritizing its running game and tight ends in recent weeks, Hockenson will look to continue his strong finish in Week 16 at the New York Giants.
Dec 15, 2025 8:23 AM EST
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (shin) is coming off a highlight-worthy touchdown last week, but a decrease in passing volume will once again keep him as a low-end TE2 option when the Vikings travel to Dallas in Week 15. Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy played the best game of his NFL career last week, which coincided with a tight-end-friendly gameplan. All three of McCarthy's passing touchdowns went to tight ends -- two to Josh Oliver and one to Hockenson -- but just three overall targets went Hockenson's way as Minnesota prioritized its running game. The Cowboys have been abysmal against the pass overall, surrendering the most passing touchdowns and second-most yards, but receivers have done much more damage: Dallas ranks a respectable 11th against half-PPR tight ends. While Hockenson is off the injury report, he's averaging just 3.5 catches and 28.5 yards per game, so he's best saved for formats that start more than one tight end.
Dec 12, 2025 4:14 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (shin) upgraded to a limited practice participant on Thursday. Hockenson was unable to practice on Wednesday due to a shin injury, so it's a step in the right direction for the 28-year-old to be able to play on Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15. If Hockenson were unable to play this weekend, Josh Oliver, who scored twice in last week's blowout win over the Washington Commanders, would be more attractive as a deep-league TE streamer. Hockenson caught his third touchdown of the season in Week 14, but it came on only two receptions for 12 yards on three targets. He's been pretty hard to trust as a fantasy option in 2025 with second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy struggling and missing plenty of time due to injuries. Hockenson has gone over 50 receiving yards just once in 13 games this year, making him a low-end TE2 in fantasy if he plays against Dallas.
Dec 11, 2025 5:25 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (shin) was a non-participant during Wednesday's practice session. Hockenson logged his lowest snap count of the season at 56 percent during last week's win over the Washington Commanders, catching two of three targets for 12 yards and a touchdown. Hockenson could have picked up this shin issue during the game, which led to more time on the sideline. Regardless, Hockenson will need to be monitored throughout the week. If the injury is serious enough to keep him out, Josh Oliver figures to see an expanded role during the Week 15 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. Oliver hauled in two receptions for 24 yards and two touchdowns during last week's victory.
Dec 10, 2025 9:07 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson caught one of J.J. McCarthy's career-high three touchdown passes in a Week 14 win over the Commanders, all of which went to tight ends, with Josh Oliver bringing in the other two. With the Vikings cruising to an easy victory, there was little passing volume to go around, but Hockenson's three targets tied for third on the team. Unfortunately, leading into a Week 15 matchup against an improved Cowboys defense, Hockenson provides an almost non-existent floor if he can't find the end zone again. In his last five games with McCarthy under center, he has averaged fewer than 18 yards on 2.6 receptions per game. With all NFL teams now past their bye weeks, there should be more reliable waiver options for any fantasy managers streaming the position through the playoffs.
Dec 9, 2025 3:08 PM EST
Tight end T.J. Hockenson of the Minnesota Vikings has a strong matchup against a bad Washington Commanders defense in Week 14, but fantasy managers should consider him a TE2 option due to the team's continued struggles on offense. The Commanders allow scoring drives at the highest rate in the NFL, but the Vikings are turning over the ball at the highest rate, which has been a major contributor to the team scoring on fewer than 32% of its possessions. Hockenson is coming off his best game of the year with six catches for 59 yards at Seattle, but Minnesota will experience yet another quarterback change now that starter J.J. McCarthy (concussion) is back. Even when the Vikings' offense is at its best, the veteran tight end is the team's third option behind receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, so managers may want to reserve Hockenson only for formats that start more than one tight end.
Dec 5, 2025 3:26 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson led the team in receiving by catching all six targets for 59 yards in a 26-0 loss Sunday in Seattle. The veteran tight end was one of the very few bright spots for Minnesota, which turned over the ball five times and gained 162 total yards with undrafted rookie Max Brosmer starting at quarterback. Minnesota has now lost four straight games during which it has scored only 42 total points. The Vikings could see another change at quarterback if starter J.J. McCarthy (concussion) is deemed fit to play, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to trust anything about this offense ahead of a Week 14 game against Washington.
Nov 30, 2025 7:12 PM EST
The Minnesota Vikings' season has gone from bad to worse, and tight end T.J. Hockenson now finds himself in TE3 territory as the club travels to Seattle in Week 13. The Vikings will not only be without starter J.J. McCarthy (concussion), but backup Carson Wentz (shoulder) is already out for the season, leaving the team to start undrafted rookie Max Brosmer against a strong Seattle defense that is allowing scoring drives at the second-lowest rate in the NFL. Hockenson has cracked the top 15 PPR tight ends only once this season, and now he's relying upon a complete unknown under center. Predictably, the Vikings are the biggest underdog of the weekend, so managers rostering Hockenson may want to steer clear of this entire situation, even in formats that start two tight ends.
Nov 28, 2025 3:54 PM EST
Fantasy managers should not put much stock into tight end T.J. Hockenson when the Minnesota Vikings take on the Green Bay Packers in Week 12. The veteran has yet to reach 50 yards receiving in a game this season and is averaging just more than two catches per outing during the past month. Minnesota has struggled in back-to-back weeks with quarterback J.J. McCarthy, though Hockenson's fantasy output had diminished relative to prior years even before McCarthy returned from injury. In 10 games this season, Hockenson has finished within the top 10 fantasy tight ends only once, and managers should consider starting him only in formats that play more than one tight end.
Nov 21, 2025 3:17 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson hasn't been a consistent fantasy option all season. While he's stayed healthy, which is a plus, he has only 31 catches for 241 yards and two touchdowns. To be fair, the Vikings offense hasn't looked the best, with J.J. McCarthy still having issues adapting to life as a quarterback in the National Football League. Hockenson likely has a few more trips to the end zone up his sleeve before the conclusion of the 2025 campaign. However, since he hasn't been the most trustworthy fantasy option, managers will be rolling the dice by featuring him in their lineups for Sunday's NFC North showdown with the Chicago Bears.
Nov 14, 2025 11:47 PM EST
After three straight weeks of low volume, Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson should not be relied upon in standard formats when his team plays host to the Chicago Bears in Week 11. The former Iowa Hawkeye is still playing a commanding number of snaps, but has just six catches in the past three weeks and ranks as the No. 24 overall PPR tight end. Given that he has been a top-five fantasy tight end twice with Minnesota, it's fair to say Hockenson has been among the bigger fantasy disappointments of the season thus far. The Bears rank 20th against PPR tight ends, though second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy has consistently favored receiver Jalen Nailor, not Hockenson, as the team's third option behind receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Hockenson should only be considered a TE2 option in formats that play more than one tight end.
Nov 14, 2025 6:39 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson should be considered a low-end TE2 option with his team taking on the Baltimore Ravens in Week 10. The veteran burned his former team, the Detroit Lions, with a touchdown catch last week, but Minnesota completed only 14 passes for 143 yards behind first-time starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy, albeit in a big victory. The Ravens currently rank 10th against half-PPR tight ends, and Baltimore has held its past three opponents to an average of 13 points. In McCarthy's three starts this year, Hockenson has a total of 10 targets, and there could be more bumps in the road with what is effectively a rookie quarterback learning on the fly. Hockenson is still a distant third in the Vikings' passing game pecking order behind receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, so relying upon the tight end is a tough sell this week.
Nov 7, 2025 5:59 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson should be viewed as a TE2 option when he takes on his former team, the Detroit Lions, in Week 9. It's been a disappointing season so far for Hockenson, who hasn't quite looked the same since an ACL tear in late 2023 and now ranks as the No. 22 fantasy tight end at the halfway point of this season. None of the Vikings played well in a Week 8 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, but Hockenson had just three targets, two catches, and 26 yards receiving. The veteran tight end and the Vikings will now turn back to second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who missed the past five games with an ankle injury. In McCarthy's two starts this year, Hockenson had just four catches for 27 yards, and both of those took place before receiver Jordan Addison returned from a suspension. With the Vikings struggling and Hockenson set to be the team's third option, at best, he should be played only in formats that start two tight ends.
Oct 31, 2025 4:34 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson caught two of three targets for 26 yards in Thursday night's 37-10 loss to the Chargers. After back-to-back games with six receptions, Hockenson took a step back in this game with his quietest performance since Week 2 against the Falcons. It was a struggle for the Vikings offense as a whole, as the Chargers dominated them up front. Veteran quarterback Carson Wentz was under heavy pressure most of the night, and the team averaged just 3.1 yards per carry. The 28-year-old tight end tied Jordan Addison for the second-most receiving yards on the night, which speaks to the struggles of the passing game. Hockenson will look to get back on track against his former team, the Detroit Lions, in Week 9.
Oct 24, 2025 10:09 AM EST
With the Minnesota Vikings set to travel to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers this Thursday, tight end T.J. Hockenson is a solid TE2 option with some additional upside. The downside for the big tight end is that he's clearly the team's third option behind two stellar receivers, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and will be reliant upon backup quarterback Carson Wentz. The positive part is he's still averaging 6.5 targets per game with Wentz, including one red-zone target per week. The Chargers have been strong against fantasy tight ends, but are still allowing points on 46% of opposing drives -- one of the worst rates in the league -- and just surrendered 281 total receiving yards to Indianapolis last week. With the Chargers' foremost concerns likely centered around stopping the run and the Vikings' receivers, Hockenson could have a handful of key chances to do some damage.
Oct 22, 2025 10:07 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson was among the many at U.S. Bank Stadium who was not thrilled that his apparent fourth-quarter touchdown catch was overturned by replay on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. The big tight end made an acrobatic play in which he caught the ball in the air, though it came in contact with the ground while in his hands as he fell to the turf. He juggled as he turned over, regathered, and stayed in bounds, but replay determined the play -- called a touchdown on the field -- should be overturned. "New York can't call in and say it's not a catch when every other ref out there says it is," Hockenson told reporters after the game. "That's all there is to it. It's just crazy." Hockenson finished with a solid six catches for 49 yards, but the touchdown that wasn't surely irked a few fantasy managers as well.
Oct 20, 2025 10:27 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson is a middle-of-the-pack TE2 option with his team set to play host to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7. Not only has the veteran tight end's production swung wildly from week to week, but the Eagles have been particularly good against fantasy tight ends, holding them to the fourth-fewest points. However, Hockenson has had better production with Carson Wentz, who will start Sunday with J.J. McCarthy (ankle) listed as questionable as he returns from injury. Still, Hockenson has finished among the top 15 fantasy tight ends just once in five tries, making him hard to trust in formats that play only one tight end.
Oct 17, 2025 4:45 PM EST
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