The Minnesota Vikings have seven games left of the 2024 regular season agenda and are in firm command of reaching the playoffs, so long as they finish the season with a 2-5 record, at worst, the rest of the way.
The 3 Most Improved Vikings Players thru 10 Games
Minnesota has won three straight and will hope for a fourth dub this weekend at the Chicago Bears.
And performances from rejuvenated players in 2024 have helped the club achieve the current 8-2 record.
These are the three most improved Vikings players through 11 games of 2024 listed alphabetically.
1. Sam Darnold (QB)
Darnold is on pace for 4,058 passing yards, 34 total touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. He’s also firing up one of the best Vikings quarterback seasons of the last 15 years. Have a look at Darnold’s EPA+CPOE compared to other Vikings signal-callers since the Brett Favre era:
- 2013 Josh Freeman = -0.051
- 2009 Brett Favre = 0.175
- 2020 Kirk Cousins = 0.150
- 2019 Kirk Cousins = 0.148
- 2025 Sam Darnold = 0.135 <———
- 2023 Kirk Cousins = 0.134
- 2017 Case Keenum = 0.131
- 2023 Nick Mullens = 0.112
- 2021 Kirk Cousins = 0.108
- 2016 Sam Bradford = 0.099
- 2015 Teddy Bridgewater = 0.090
- 2022 Kirk Cousins = 0.081
- 2018 Kirk Cousins = 0.066
- 2013 Christian Ponder = 0.062
- 2014 Teddy Bridgewater = 0.058
- 2012 Christian Ponder = 0.045
- 2013 Matt Cassel = 0.043
- 2023 Joshua Dobbs = 0.020
- 2011 Donovan McNabb = 0.019
- 2010 Brett Favre = 0.018
- 2010 Joe Webb = 0.009
- 2011 Christian Ponder = -0.009
The man has substantially improved as a member of the Vikings’ roster.
2. Byron Murphy (CB)
Murphy produced a mediocre 58.0 Pro Football Focus grade in 2023, his first as a Viking. He played decently.
Fast forward to Year No. 2 in Minneapolis, and Murphy has nudged that mark to 70.5. His pass coverage is stickier, his interception prevalent. He’ll be a free agent in 3.5 months, but Minnesota will likely re-sign him to a two-year deal or so.
Suddenly, Murphy has transformed into a noteworthy asset and a dependable starting cornerback, which was the vision when general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah signed him in 2023.
3. Josh Oliver (TE)
T.J. Hockenson returned to the Vikings’ lineup a few weeks ago, and Josh Oliver decided, “Hey, I am going to play well, too.”
Oliver has produced TE1 numbers in the last four games, a wonderful compliment to Hockenson, who is easing his way back into the offensive operations.
The veteran pass-catcher will miss Sunday’s game with a bad ankle, but Oliver has markedly improved in Year No. 2 with the purple team.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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