A bad summer for the Minnesota Vikings got considerably worse this week with the preseason injury to rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The hopes of a minor repair to his meniscus and a quick return to the field were replaced by the worst-case scenario. His season is over after just one preseason game.
Also happening this summer was a DUI for Jordan Addison, a torn ACL for cornerback Mehki Blackmon in the first practice of training camp, and a tragic automobile accident that took the life of rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson.
Minnesota Postseason Odds
With the move away from Kirk Cousins at quarterback and the rest of the NFC North improving over the off-season, making the playoffs was always going to be a challenge for the Vikings. Now, they are paying +300 to be at least a wild card team.
They are a distant fourth when it comes to winning the division, paying +950, and the odds get considerably longer when it comes to the NFC and Super Bowl. An NFC championship pays +4000, while a Lombardi Trophy for winning the Super Bowl pays +8000.
The over/under on regular season wins in Minnesota is 6.5.
Offensive Award Odds
Wide receiver Justin Jefferson is one of the best offensive weapons in the NFL no matter who plays quarterback. He got off to a huge start last season with Cousins at QB – three games, 27 catches, 458 yards – but he also had games of 141 yards and 192 yards when Nick Mullens was the quarterback.
Jefferson is +1300 to win Offensive Player of the Year, the fifth-shortest odds in the league, and do not be deterred because Sam Darnold is now his quarterback. Jefferson is always special.
Aaron Jones is the new running back in Minnesota, and he is paying +12000 to win OPOY. Addison is all the way down at +30000.
In MVP betting, you can get +13000 on Jefferson. Darnold is +10000 to win the MVP, but his real value is as a possible Comeback Player of the Year candidate. Darnold is sixth in CPOY betting, paying +1200. He is the highest-rated player that isn’t coming off an injury. The favorite is New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Defensive Award Odds
The Vikings had two first-round picks in the 2024 Draft. The first, No. 10 overall, was used on McCarthy. Their second, No. 17 overall, was used on Alabama outside linebacker Dallas Turner.
The high hopes for rookie success for McCarthy are now exclusively on Turner, and if anyone can shoulder the load, it is him. The SEC’s co-Defensive Player of the Year had 10 sacks last season, and in his first NFL preseason game, he also got a sack. Turner has the second-shortest odds to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, paying +450.
Turner is +20000 to win Defensive Player of the Year. Cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. is also +20000. Safety Harrison Smith is a six-time Pro Bowler with 34 career interceptions, and he is +30000 to win DPOY.
Considering the injuries and the lowered expectations this season, head coach Kevin O’Connell isn’t a bad choice for Coach of the Year. He is paying +2000, tied with Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions, Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce, and new Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan.
With over 25 years of experience as a distinguished sports writer for renowned platforms such as Fox Sports and ESPN, Kyle Garlett is a sports betting specialist who has been at the forefront of documenting the global surge in sports betting and online gaming. Based in Denver, Colorado, Kyle hosts an NFL betting YouTube show and podcast. Kyle also has two sports books published by HarperCollins.
Kyle graduated the Azusa Pacific University in 1996 with a B.A. Degree in Communication and Journalism.
