Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson saw his 2023 season come to an abrupt end in Week 16 with a torn ACL. As you’d expect, this is certainly going to hinder his fantasy football outlook, as it happens so close to the end of the season.
If you take Hockenson, here are some fantasy team name ideas for you to consider: “Hockenson Loogies,” “Hocktoberfest,” “Hock Crew-uh,” and “Hock Tua.”
Below, I’ll check out Hockenson’s value and determine if he’s worth adding to your team.
T.J. Hockenson’s Fantasy Profile for the 2024 NFL Season
Drafting a tight end later in your draft is a common fantasy football strategy as you “punt” on the position, load up elsewhere, and hope for the best.
Hockenson has been a premier tight end, but right now, he’s going as the TE14 and No. 121 overall. This puts him in an interesting spot to potentially be the tight end you draft later to serve as your starter.
To get started, let’s look at his 2023 statistics.
According to TruMedia, Hockenson finished 2023 with 127 targets, 95 receptions, 960 yards, and five touchdowns while running 508 routes.
These targets came from Kirk Cousins, Joshua Dobbs, Jaren Hall, and Nick Mullens. Cousins tore his Achilles and played just eight games.
In 2024, Hockenson will have Sam Darnold as his starting quarterback. Rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy has been shut down for the season after undergoing meniscus surgery.
So where’s Hockenson at in his recovery?
According to Dan Graziano of ESPN, the Vikings expect Hockenson back sometime in the first half of the season.
The Vikings have a Week 6 bye week, which could mean he’ll be back in Week 7 and still play for the bulk of the season.
So, if you draft Hockenson, you’ll already need another option for the first few weeks.
With Darnold throwing him passes, you have to factor in his limitations. No receiver has hit 900 yards in a season with Darnold as the starter. He’s 21-35 as a quarterback with 12,064 passing yards, 63 touchdowns, 56 interceptions, and has a lifetime completion percentage under 60%.
For his career, Darnold has completed 178 of 265 passes (67.2%) to tight ends for 1,824 yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
The Vikings brought in running back Aaron Jones, signaling an emphasis on the ground game in 2024. They also have star wide receiver Justin Jefferson and standout 2023 rookie Jordan Addison.
Is Hockenson a Good Fantasy Pick?
Going No. 121 overall, Hockenson is inside the double-digit rounds. I’d consider drafting Hockenson under these circumstances:
- 12-team league or deeper.
- Have a stable starting tight end already.
- In a league where the flex spot can use a tight end.
- In a league with an IR spot.
With all of that, you’ll have a tight end in place, have a spot to put Hockenson so you can pick up another asset, and the flex spot will allow me to have a spot for Hockenson when he comes back.
I do have questions about how many weapons can be viable in this Darnold-led offense, but I’m willing to give it a chance because of Hockenson’s talent.
If you don’t get him, though, I wouldn’t be upset as it’s more likely than not this doesn’t work out in 2024.