The Vikings selected RB Ty Chandler in Round 5 of the NFL Draft. A 5th-year senior, Chandler transferred from Tennessee to North Carolina last year. “Ty Chandler came to Carolina with loads of potential and we thought he'd have a tremendous year," HC Mack Brown said. "That's exactly what he did. He grew into the offense with his combination of speed and quickness, and was extremely productive for us. Ty was also great in the locker room as an experienced presence and went on to be voted captain by his teammates.” Chandler does bring top-end, 4.38 speed — but he’s on the smallish side at 204 pounds. He also turns 24 prior to Week 1. He’ll likely start out as a practice squad guy with the Vikings likely to stick with Alexander Mattison and Kene Nwangwu behind Dalvin Cook.

The Vikings grabbed LB Brian Asamoah early in Round 3 of the NFL Draft. Asamoah is smallish at 6'0, 226 pounds, though that's closer to the norm by current NFL standards. He tested well leading up to the draft (74th percentile speed score) after solid college production. Asamoah is likely at least a year away from the opportunity for real playing time in Minnesota, though, with Eric Kendricks and free-agent addition Jordan Hicks in the way.

The Vikings selected CB Andrew Booth in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft. Booth might have slid in the draft for injury concerns, but his most recent issue was just a sports hernia. His college numbers don’t point to huge IDP upside in the NFL: 68 total tackles, 5 INTs and 9 passes defensed across 3 seasons. Booth goes to a Minnesota secondary that presents immediate opportunity to compete for a starting gig.

The Vikings spent the final pick of Round 1 on Georgia S Lewis Cine. NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah lauded Cine's physicality but called him inconsistent in coverage. Cine did get his hands on 9 passes in his final Bulldogs season but totaled just 2 INTs across his 3 campaigns. He could be in for immediate starting duty with Harrison Smith the only incumbent safety starter in Minnesota.

LB Jordan Hicks is expected to sign a 2-year, $10 million deal with the Vikings, according to multiple reports. NFL insider Adam Caplan reports that it has a max value of $12 million and carries $6.5 million in guaranteed money. The Cardinals released Hicks this offseason, but the money from Minnesota points to him landing a starting gig next to Eric Kendricks. Expect LB Anthony Barr -- also a free agent -- to land elsewhere.

QB Kirk Cousins is signing a 1-year extension with the Vikings. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that it's worth a fully guaranteed $35 million, locking him in through 2023. The deal also adds a no-trade clause. This move confirms that Cousins will at least remain Minnesota's starter through the 2022 season -- and likely through 2023 as well.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Cardinals are releasing LB Jordan Hicks. The 30-year-old was reportedly on the trade block last summer after Arizona drafted LB Zaven Collins in Round 1, but Hicks remained and spent the whole season as a full-timer. He finished among the top 20 fantasy LBs. Hicks' departure should clear the way for Collins to step in next to Isaiah Simmons -- assuming Collins is ready. His wildly disappointing debut campaign figures to keep Collins' price from climbing too high in 2022 IDP drafts. We'll see whether Hicks lands anywhere.

Former Rams OC and new Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell wants to use WR Justin Jefferson in a role similar to the one Cooper Kupp played last year. “The one thing about Cooper Kupp this past season is he lined up in a lot of different spots. It was hard for defenses to really know where he was," O'Connell said. "I see that with Justin. I see an incredible, incredible skillset, but I also see a player we can move around. We can make it hard for defenses to know where he’s going to be. He doesn’t have to line up in the same spot all the time. He doesn’t have to run the same type of routes all the time. He’s dynamic with the ball in his hands. He’s willing in the run game. This guy’s a special, special player." It's no surprise that O'Connell will make Jefferson the focal point of his passing game. But it's exciting to hear about a more diverse role -- especially considering the season Kupp just had.

There have been some rumors of potential for QB Kirk Cousins to be traded this offseason. It doesn't sound like new Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell is on board with that notion, though. "Kirk is our quarterback," O'Connell said Wednesday in Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine. "I'm excited about that. I'm excited about building an offense for him." We wouldn't echo excitement for Cousins as a fantasy QB, but his production has outperformed his ADP for several years now. So we have no problem with Cousins as an early best-ball pick -- especially when stacked with WR Justin Jefferson or WR Adam Thielen.

The Vikings are expected to name Rams OC Kevin O'Connell their new HC, according to multiple reports. The move can't be made official until after the Super Bowl. The 36-year-old O'Connell was a 3rd-round pick of the Patriots back in 2008. He washed out of the league after just 5 seasons and took his first coaching job with the Browns in 2015 under OC John DeFilippo. O'Connell worked for HC Chip Kelly in San Francisco in 2016 before spending the next 3 seasons in Washington, earning the OC title in 2019. He's spent the past 2 seasons as Rams OC, although HC Sean McVay has called the plays.

The Vikings have fired HC Mike Zimmer and GM Rick Spielman, NFL Network reports. It ends an 8-year run for Zimmer and a 16-year run for Spielman in Minnesota. Zimmer's tenure brought just 3 seasons of double-digit wins and 2 playoff victories. We'll see who the Vikings hire to run the show going forward.

Saints DE Marcus Davenport (ankle) is active for today's game against the Falcons. Use him as planned in IDP lineups.

Vikings QB Kirk Cousins has been activated from the COVID list. He's expected to start Sunday's finale vs. the Bears, despite Minnesota having nothing to play for. Cousins isn't an exciting fantasy option, but his return is excellent news for WR Justin Jefferson and the rest of the Vikings' skill-position players.

Vikings QB Kirk Cousins has tested positive for COVID and will miss Sunday night's game against the Packers. That leaves Kellen Mond and Kyle Sloter as the only 2 QBs available. Combine that with a forecast of 5 degrees at kickoff on Sunday night, and Minnesota's offense does not look like a good source for passing-game upside this week. Justin Jefferson will still belong in most lineups, but you should be able to find better options than players such as WR K.J. Osborn and TE Tyler Conklin.

Update: ESPN's Courtney Cronin reports that QB Sean Mannion is expected to be activated from the COVID list today and is expected to start against Green Bay.

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook has been activated from the COVID list. He'll be back for Sunday night's game vs. the Packers -- and should be back in fantasy lineups.

Vikings HC Mike Zimmer said Monday that he's "hopeful" to get RB Dalvin Cook back for Sunday night's game vs. the Packers. Cook is eligible to be activated from the COVID list on Saturday, so there won't be any surefire news on his Week 17 status until then. If Cook manages to play vs. Green Bay, he'd do so without a single practice rep this week. But we'd still expect to see him in a high-volume role.

Saints DE Marcus Davenport (shoulder, knee) is active for tonight's game against the Dolphins. He should be in for plenty of snaps, as New Orleans has 2 reserve DEs on the COVID list.

Saints DE Marcus Davenport is questionable for Monday night's game against the Dolphins, with shoulder and knee injuries. He managed limited practices all week, though, and played his normal snap allotment in last week's win over the Buccaneers. We'd bet on Davenport playing. The late kickoff, however, obviously adds risk to waiting on him in your IDP lineup. Consider securing Saints DT David Onyemata -- or another available starter from the game -- as insurance if you plan to use Davenport.

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook has been placed on the COVID list. That very likely knocks him out of Sunday's game vs. the Rams and means another start for RB Alexander Mattison, who just came off the COVID list on Wednesday. As we've seen both this season and last, Mattison is a high-end RB1 whenever Cook is out.

Vikings RB Alexander Mattison has been activated from the COVID list. He'll be back to give RB Dalvin Cook a few breathers in Sunday's game vs. the Rams.