Five Minnesota Vikings players have secured spots on ESPN’s recently released list of the top 100 most valuable players for the 2023 NFL season, curated by ESPN’s Seth Walder. Walder explains that the ranking is based on a player’s value generated during the regular season, incorporating quantitative evidence like pass block win rates and Receiver Tracking Metrics, as well as qualitative factors such as Pro Football Focus grades. The opinions were also shared with colleagues and NFL team staff for additional insights.
The following are the five Vikings who made the list:
- No. 55: Right Tackle Brian O’Neill (Ranked 6th among offensive tackles)
- No. 70: Outside Linebacker Danielle Hunter (Ranked 12th among EDGE players)
- No. 86: Left Tackle Christian Darrisaw (Ranked 11th among offensive tackles)
- No. 88: Wide Receiver Justin Jefferson (Ranked 14th among wide receivers)
- No. 90: Safety Josh Metellus (Ranked 3rd among safeties)
Notably, the list reflects the unique characteristics of each position, with quarterbacks expected to dominate due to their higher variance in play. The rankings also consider how much value a player brings over an average starter in their position. Despite injuries to key players like Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson during the 2023 season, their impact is acknowledged, particularly Jefferson, who managed to secure a spot in the top 100 despite missing a significant portion of the year. The rankings also prompt some discussion about the positioning of certain players, such as Danielle Hunter and Christian Darrisaw, with individual perspectives on their rankings. Josh Metellus, listed as the 3rd among safeties, is recognized for his versatile and productive contributions in 2023.
