Surprise Player Expected to Benefit from TJ Hockenson’s Absence

As the Minnesota Vikings kick off their 2024 NFL regular season, they will do so without T.J. Hockenson . That means there will be opportunity for other players to step up.

Obviously, the Vikings will need other tight ends — Josh Oliver, Nick Muse Johnny Mundt — to step up. But some of TJ’s production could be put on the shoulders of one unlikely source, too.

Minnesota Vikings to feature C.J. Ham in Hockenson’s absence?

Undrafted out of Division II Augustana (Sioux Falls, SD) , the local kid out of Duluth, MN has spent the entirety of his seven-year professional career with the Minnesota Vikings. In 2024, fullback isn’t even a position every team employs, anymore.

That’s the opposite in Minnesota. C.J. Ham was drafted by the Rick Spielman + Mike Zimmer regime. But even under pass-happy, modernistic play caller and head coach, Kevin O’Connell, Ham has stuck around.

In his latest 53-man roster prediction, The Athletic’s Alec Lewis writes that, not only is Ham a “shoo-in” to make the final roster, but the Minnesota Vikings insider bets (or would bet) that the fullback’s snap count “will climb noticeably”, while T.J. Hockenson is sidelined.

There won’t be much deliberation here. Aaron Jones , Ty Chandler , Kene Nwangwu and C.J. Ham are shoo-ins. Jones and Chandler will shoulder the bulk of the rushing workload, and if I were a betting man, I’d wager Ham’s offensive snap count will climb noticeably — at least until T.J. Hockenson returns.

Alec Lewis on C.J. Ham’s role for the Minnesota Vikings at The Athletic

Last season Ham had just a single rushing attempt in Kevin O’Connell’s offense. He was targeted nine times and hauled in seven of those passes. His 32 total yards were the lowest mark of his career. Ham still made the Pro Bowl for his overall contributions, but the offensive impact has nowhere to go but up.

Related: Former NFL GM Urges Vikings to Trade for… Mr. Unlimited?

Ham may find himself split out, or starting on the line, in order to provide quarterback Sam Darnold some additional looks. As a fullback it doesn’t take a substantial amount of receiving production to move the needle.

C.J. Ham has never ran for more than 149 yards in a season. His best receiving total ever, was 34 yards, back in 2021. But it sounds like he could threaten both of those career highs in 2024, now that he will stack up extra snaps early on, while Sam Darnold is still getting used to KOC’s offense (and looking for dump off options).

C.J. Ham’s usage could result in career year

Hockenson will be out for a handful of weeks , and the Vikings may roster just three other tight ends. The wide receiver room is top heavy, but Jordan Addison might not be ready to go for Week 1, and could face a suspension. In the backfield, Aaron Jones has an injury history, and Kene Nwangwu is unproven .

Ham is a veteran commodity for O’Connell, but hasn’t been unleashed much. He could find himself in an opportune scenario to contribute both on the ground and through the passing game. At the very least, the veteran will look to take pressure off of quarterback Sam Darnold.

Related: Jordan Addison Dealing With Significant Ankle Sprain

The Vikings may need to piece their playmakers together for the first few weeks. That could result in more arrows pointing towards the favorite fullback.

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