Fansided
Fansided

Minnesota Vikings: Top 5 breakout player candidates for 2018

By Sayre Bedinger

ORCHARD PARK, NY - AUGORCHARD PARK, NY - AUGUST 10: Dalvin Cook #33 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the ball during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on August 10, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)UST 10: Dalvin Cook
ORCHARD PARK, NY - AUGORCHARD PARK, NY - AUGUST 10: Dalvin Cook #33 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the ball during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on August 10, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)UST 10: Dalvin Cook /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next

The Minnesota Vikings look like one of the best teams in the NFL on paper, but which five players could be in line for a breakout season?

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 27: Ben Gedeon #42 of the Minnesota Vikings lines up at the line of scrimmage against the San Francisco 49ers in the preseason game on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 32-31. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 27: Ben Gedeon #42 of the Minnesota Vikings lines up at the line of scrimmage against the San Francisco 49ers in the preseason game on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 32-31. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

The Minnesota Vikings are expected to be among the top four or five teams in the NFL going into the 2018 season, especially after their big-money addition of Kirk Cousins at the quarterback position.

The Vikings’ roster looks as good as just about any in the NFL, but which players could end up having individual breakout seasons in 2018?

It’s important to remember that with a roster as loaded as the Vikings, ‘breakout’ is relative to the number of snaps these players can realistically expect.

Here are five candidates for a breakout year…

5. Ben Gedeon, Linebacker

The former Michigan Wolverines star linebacker had 25 tackles in 16 games with nine starts in his rookie season in the NFL, and he looks poised to take a leap in year two.

The Vikings have elite talent at every level of their defense, and on paper, Gedeon has a long way to go in catching up with the production of Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks.

Gedeon showed in his final year at Michigan his versatility, racking up 94 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks.

He does a great job attacking the line of scrimmage and making plays in the run game.

His role may be limited primarily to run downs, but Gedeon is physical and has great size to play in the ‘mud’.

He should have a significant role in the Vikings’ 2018 defense.

Home/Power Rankings