Minnesota Vikings: Offensive weapons ranked near the top of the NFL

The Minnesota Vikings have an impressive group of offensive weapons who have been ranked near the top of the entire NFL.

The Minnesota Vikings have some issues on the offensive side of the ball. Kirk Cousins appears to be a league-average quarterback at best and their offensive line has some real issues that could hold them back again in 2019. However, when it comes to their offensive skill position players, the Vikings are in good shape.

This group is led by wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen, who have become arguably the best wide receiver duo in the entire NFL. Both Diggs and Thielen are top ten wide receivers who have proven to be steady playmakers and have massive upside.

Dalvin Cook leads the running backs, and while health is a concern with him, he is a dynamic back who can take it from the house from anywhere on the field. Cook is an explosive back who has legitimate breakaway speed and also has nice power at the point of attack and impressive contact balance. If he can stay healthy, Cook will be a big-time playmaker for the Vikings.

At tight end, the Vikings have put together an interesting duo. Veteran Kyle Rudolph is as steady as they come, while rookie Irv Smith provides great long-term upside. Simply put, the Vikings have a nice combination of floor and ceiling at the tight end position.

Bill Barnwell of ESPN recently ranked the offensive arsenals of all NFL teams. Based on what we know about their weapons, it is not surprising to see Barnwell rank the Vikings at number five. Here is what he had to say about their offensive arsenal.

"“How far can two star wide receivers take you? The Vikings have the best one-two punch in the game with Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen, and though the eight consecutive 100-yard games Thielen posted to start the 2018 season probably won’t pop up again this season, the 28-year-old has topped his receiving yardage total four consecutive times,” Barnwell wrote.“Mike Zimmer still insists on Minnesota running the football — a curious emphasis given that the Vikes have these two wideouts and are paying their quarterback $28 million per season — but don’t bet against Thielen making it five in a row.”"

While the Vikings’ offense has some issues, their offensive playmakers can legitimately cover many of the holes on that side of the ball. Diggs and Thielen are going to make Cousins look better than he actually is and Cook, if healthy, will make the most out of a tough offensive line situation.

When it comes down to it, this is a talented offensive squad with impressive upside in 2019 and beyond. We may not think about them in this way, but make no mistake about it, the Minnesota Vikings have one of the best collections of offensive skill position talent in the entire NFL.