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The Minnesota Vikings added a veteran presence to their group of wide receivers last offseason by signing Greg Jennings as a free agent, but having three different quarterbacks start games kept his numbers down in his first season with the team (68 receptions for 804 yards and four touchdowns). Stability under center should help this year, with Matt Cassel slated to start Week 1 and in line to possibly keep the starting job all season as rookie Teddy Bridgewater waits his turn.
Positives
In the six games Cassel started last season, Jennings had 34 receptions for 413 yards and three touchdowns. The two had instant rapport, and when compared to Jennings’ numbers in his other nine games last year (34 catches for 391 yards and one touchdown) it’s good news Cassel is the front runner for the starting job.
After missing 11 games over the previous two seasons, Jennings only missed one game in 2013.
Negatives
Jennings led the team in receptions, receiving yards and targets (105; 7.0 per game) last year, but with Cordarrelle Patterson likely to see an expanded role this year those numbers look certain to drop across the board. Jennings’ yards per catch average rebounded a bit in 2013 (11.8), but his days as a vertical threat (at least 14.0 yards per catch each year from 2006-2011) look to be over.
Jennings was once a notable touchdown scorer during his time with the Green Bay Packers, but he has just eight touchdowns over the last two seasons and he had just 12 red zone targets in 2013. For some context, Greg Little and David Nelson had the same number of red zone targets last year.
Final Verdict
Jennings is clearly no longer an every week starter for fantasy owners, but starting the season with Cassel throwing him the ball is reason for some optimism this year. Having Norv Turner running the show as offensive coordinator will also help things, but Jennings is still only draftable as a WR3 or WR4 in PPR leagues and he has less value in non-PPR formats.
Bye Week: Week 10
Projected Round: 11th Round (12-Team Leagues)
Auction Value: $1 (ESPN.com.com)
Brad Berreman is a Senior Writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter.
