Jalen

Nailor

Nailor got things started early in this one. The fourth-year receiver hauled in a beautifully thrown deep ball from J.J. McCarthy on the game’s opening possession, which helped set up an eventual touchdown run by Aaron Jones. Nailor would later haul in an 18-yard pass in the second quarter on a drive that ended in a field goal, and was rewarded for his efforts late in the game when McCarthy found him in the end zone for a 10-yard score in which Nailor executed a perfect toe drag to stay in bounds. Nailor was the lone bright spot for the Vikings on Sunday, but fantasy managers shouldn’t expect days like this. He can be avoided in Week 11 against the Bears.

He had another catch — for a touchdown — taken off the board in the first half due to holding penalty. While Nailor has not gone over 40 yards in any game this year, he seems to be producing fairly well when he is targeted and could be FLEX option if any of the options ahead of him in the Minnesota pecking order go down to injury.

Nailor split the WR3 duties with Adam Thielen and even running back Zavier Scott in this game. He caught a two-yard touchdown toss in the fourth quarter and brought down a two-point conversion grab. Nailor is a solid rotational player for the Vikings but doesn’t have much fantasy value heading into Week 5.

Nailor remains buried behind Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, and the backfield in the target pecking order for the Vikings, leaving little room for weekly fantasy value. He should remain on the waiver wire, until further notice.

Nailor is firmly on track to suit up in Week 1 against the Bears. Unfortunately, he could be fourth in the passing game pecking order, playing behind Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen and T.J. Hockenson. Nailor cannot be relied on to return FLEX value in 12-team leagues, instead profiling as a low-floor WR6.

The Vikings recently brought back Adam Thielen via trade, with Jordan Addison set to serve a three-game suspension, and immediately listed Thielen as the fill-in No. 2 wide receiver. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that “Minnesota envisions a key role for Nailor, especially with Jordan Addison out via suspension,” but that’s tough to trust given his injury and the recent personnel development. Nailor is best-suited to single-game DFS lineups and should really only be considered for flex duties in 14-team leagues.

He did not rule out the possibility of surgery when asked. Nailor was set up to have a big role in Minnesota’s first few games with Jordan Addison suspended, but it sounds like this hand injury has put that in jeopardy. If Nailor does miss time, the Vikings might have to volume-load T.J. Hockenson in early-season action as they likely can’t rely on anyone else in their non-Justin Jefferson receiver room to play well right away.

Nailor was expected to function as the Vikings’ fill-in No. 2 wide receiver with Jordan Addison suspended for the first three games of the season. Justin Jefferson is sidelined by a hamstring injury and Rondale Moore recently suffered a season-ending knee injury. The Nailor news leaves the wide receiver corps worryingly thin, and early-July reports on dynasty darling, rookie WR Tai Felton, indicated he may be best suited to special teams work in year one. The Vikings could make a move to acquire a proven, if unexciting, veteran to the mix.

The suspension stems from a DUI arrest that Addison eventually pleaded down to a lesser charge known as wet reckless. The Vikings were reportedly bracing for a three-game suspension already, so the news isn’t much of a surprise. Still, it confirms that they will be without their big-play WR2 for the first three games, contests versus Chicago, Atlanta, and Cincinnati. Jalen Nailor will likely step in as the team’s second starting receiver for those games, giving him some early-season fantasy appeal for managers who wait at wide receiver. To no one’s surprise, Justin Jefferson will continue to dominate targets in Addison’s absence while T.J. Hockenson could increase his role as well.

It may or may not be a three-game suspension for Addison, but it sounds like the Vikings have a good sense of what will be handed down to the third-year receiver. Addison pleaded no contest to resolve a 2024 DUI citation he received, and could learn his fate at any time between now and the start of the season. Assuming he does miss time, Jalen Nailor, who has been “getting a lot of love at camp,” per Fowler, could be in line to serve as the Vikings’ WR2 in Addison’s absence.