T.J.

Hockenson

It was Hockenson’s third touchdown grab of the season, as he remains Kyler Murray’s most trusted target in the run-heavy Vikings offense. He now has at least four receptions in four games this year. Hockenson, who came into Week 8 ranked tenth among tight ends in expected fantasy points per game, should remain in all lineups next week against the Bills.

Hockenson operated as the Vikings’ No. 2 pass-catcher on the day, seeing a lot of Kyler Murray’s targets in the flats. He caught a five-yard touchdown in the second half and finished with 35 receiving yards. Two of his targets came in the end zone, giving him a solid floor as a red zone receiver. Hockenson’s red zone usage is a good sign for his fantasy value; he is in the low-end TE1 range for Week 8 against the Lions.

Hockenson suffered a concussion in Week 5 against the Saints and was able to heal up over the Vikings’ Week 6. He demonstrated a solid connection with Kyler Murray in Week 4, posting a 13/119 receiving line against the Dolphins. Hockenson can be treated as a TE1 this week against the Colts.

Hockenson did the same yesterday and can be safely expected to start in Week 7 against the Colts’ beatable defense. Hockenson has seemingly developed a strong connection with Kyler Murray and can be started as a fantasy football TE1 this week.

Hockenson was ruled out in Week 5 against the Saints after suffering a concussion. The Vikings were on bye in Week 6. The extended absence gives Hockenson decent odds of practicing in full this week, and we expect that to be the case. An update will be provided if he is limited today. Hockenson developed a strong connection with Kyler Murray in Week 4, and warrants TE1 treatment in Week 7 against the Colts.

Hockenson was slammed into the ground on his first catch of the day. He got up slowly and was immediately checked out by the medical staff. Hockenson was eventually evaluated for a concussion and ruled out. With a bye week on deck for Week 6, Hockenson should be able to return for the team’s next game.

With just over two minutes left in the game, Hockenson took a knee at the Dolphins’ five-yard line, allowing Kyler Murray to seal the game with a trio of kneel-downs after that. Although Hockenson surrendered the touchdown, he still delivered a TE1-worthy stat line on the day. The veteran tight end served as Murray’s go-to receiver, regularly nabbing passes on short-to-intermediate slants and curls. Hockenson mostly dove forward for a couple of extra yards after catching passes, but he did manage to drag a defender on a 14-yard gain early in the fourth quarter. The Dolphins’ pass rush was very effective today, and Murray seemed to hone in on Hockenson as his primary pressure fix as the game progressed. Hockenson will be a borderline TE1/2 against the Saints in Week 5.

Running a route on 29 of the team’s 37 drop backs, Hockenson was uninvolved in the offense even after Justin Jefferson exited the game with an ankle injury in the first half. Hockenson, who has nine grabs over the Vikings’ first three games, profiles as a low-floor weekly option in a Minnesota offense that has not passed at its usual volume early in the season.

Hockenson more or less repeated his Week 1 statline, only this time on far less passing volume for the Vikings’ offense. Carson Wentz attempted just 20 throws as the Vikes went “survive and advance” mode in weather-addled Chicago. With Kyler Murray expected to return from his concussion in Week 3 in Tampa, perhaps Hockenson can post a higher-end TE2 statline.

Hockenson finished second on the team in targets, though his 17 percent target share isn’t much to write home about. He found paydirt late in the third quarter on a red zone strike from Carson Wentz over the middle of the field. Wentz was filling in for a concussed Kyler Murray, who will likely miss Week 2. Hockenson is more of a TE2 than a true TE1, but his strong Week 1 outing at least puts him on the border versus the Bears next week.