Cole takes Henderson's job

It seemed last week as though Vikings coaches were considering moving LB Audie Cole outside after an impressive start in the middle.  Instead, Cole started at MLB again in Week 13, despite Erin Henderson's return.  The team initially said only that Henderson missed Week 12 to tend to a personal matter.  Turns out he had been arrested for DWI earlier that week.  Combine that with unspectacular on-field performance, and you get an opportunity for Cole.  HC Leslie Frazier praised Cole's Week 13 play -- just as he did the week before -- which makes it seem likely that Cole will keep the job.  Henderson could resurface on the weak side, which he played before moving to the middle this season.  But he's a reserve for now and likely no more than a 2-down player even if he gets back into the lineup.  Feel free to drop him from your fantasy football team in IDP formats.  Grab Cole if available after he tallied 9 tackles and a pass breakup in the OT win over the Bears.

Three months after the Vikings released him, LB Erin Henderson said he's sober, resolving his off-field issues and hoping for another chance in Minnesota.  "I completely understood where the organization was coming from and what they needed to do for themselves moving forward," Henderson told the St. Paul Pioneer-Press on Wednesday.  He also said that GM Rick Spielman told him "if I can continue to take care of myself from what I need to take care of, then there's always a chance that I can get back up there. So the door was left open."  Henderson spent 30 days in a rehab program this offseason after 2 DUI arrests within a month and a half in 2013 and recently reached plea deals in both cases.  The Vikings remain in need of LB help.  Dallas also popped up with a need this week after MLB Sean Lee's ACL tear.  Look for Henderson to sign somewhere this summer.  The right landing spot could position him as a sleeper in the 2014 IDP rankings.

Vikings LB Erin Henderson got charged with drunken driving Wednesday, his 2nd such charge within the past 6 weeks.  Henderson previously got picked up on Nov. 19 and wound up a surprise inactive for the ensuing game as he dealt with a "personal issue."  Combine these 2 arrests with the fact that he has played his way out of a 3-down role at 2 different LB spots for Minnesota the past 2 years, and Henderson might not make it to the 2014 season with the Vikings.

The Vikings announced today that LB Erin Henderson will move back to the weak side, his starting spot over the previous 2 seasons.  That means LB Audie Cole will remain in the middle after replacing Henderson there each of the past 2 weeks.  Henderson has had particular issues in coverage in recent seasons, which makes him a poor bet for 3-down work.  We'll take Cole as the stronger IDP option the rest of the way and wait to see Henderson's role this week before projecting him forward.

Vikings MLB Erin Henderson returned to the team Monday after missing Sunday's game at Green Bay because of a personal matter.  That leaves coaches deciding what to do with LB Audie Cole.  The 2nd-year man made his 1st start in Henderson's place Sunday and delivered a team-leading 13 tackles.  HC Leslie Frazier acknowledged Monday that Cole played well and could compete for into an outside position going forward.  Minnesota has Henderson and strong-side LB Chad Greenway locked in but has lacked an answer on the weak side all year.

Vikings MLB Erin Henderson will miss this weekend's trip to Green Bay while he deals with a personal issue.  We've seen no further info on exactly what the situation might be, but it removes a potential top 10 LB from IDP lineups this weekend.  Audie Cole will start in Henderson's place, with rookie Mike Mauti sharing time if his knee is healthy enough.  Neither should be on your fantasy radar.  The situation adds tackle upside to strong-side LB Chad Greenway.