Will Kyler Murray actually elevate the Vikings offense?
Yahoo Fantasy's Matt Harmon and senior NFL reporter Jori Epstein check the 'fantasy hotline' and discuss camp developments around Murray's fit in Minnesota and his potential drop off as a run threat. Check out the full conversation on the "Yahoo Fantasy Forecast" podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify or wherever you listen.
Video Transcript
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Every Thursday, we are taking your most pressing questions for Fantasy Hotline.
@MooseFFB, "Is Kyler Murray actually a viable quarterback to support the players going around him, from a fantasy standpoint?
Haven't heard much of his performance since being named starter."
You were in Minnesota.
Was.
What did you see from the Kyler Murray experience?
Yeah, I think we gotta start off by the context for Kyler Murray this season and for the Vikings this season, is that, yes, this is still a Kevin O'Connell offense, but they hired Frank Smith, who worked under Mike McDaniel in Miami to revitalize the run game, and they're all super impressed with that.
I talked to Aaron Jones about this- I talked to Justin Jefferson, and they think that that is really going to allow them to have a level of balance.
And so when you say, well, Kyler, and does that really fit what KOC's doing?
I think that Kyler's run threat paired with new run game principles is probably more of a problem for defenses than Kyler's run threat with the Vikings offense as it looked last year.
I'm interested to see this fit.
I think it was pretty clear for me, even when I was there on their first day of practice, and there had not been a decision yet at quarterback, that they believe the ceiling was much higher with Kyler, and that's what they wanted to go for.
I think Kyler is gonna be very motivated.
I think you and I talked at, the Combine this year about how I had people telling me Kyler's the guy you might not wanna put on your team, but you don't wanna play against.
Not that you don't- Yeah wanna put him.
I'm not trying to- Yeah trash the guy, but, like, he's not Patrick Mahomes right now, but that he's such a problem for defenses that they can't stand game planning against him.
And now you put him with Justin Jefferson, among others?
I think there's a lot they can do.
I will say he and Jordan Addison were more on the same page when I was there than he and Justin Jefferson.
It was early in camp, so that's not necessarily- Yeah what it's gonna look like next month.
That was what it looked like when I was there.
And I think the fascinating thing about Kyler is that we've seen the rushing drop off of late.
You know, 29 carries for 173 yards, obviously got injured and, you know, soft benched last year.
In 2024, 78 for 572, 2023, 4 for 244.
He used to have, like, 133 carries, 819 yards in his second season, 11 rushing touchdowns, 88 carries in 2021.
I think m- one of my, one of my theories is, like, they've signed Kyler, it's a one-year deal, they're really intent, and I agree with you, about fixing this run game.
I think this is the Kevin O'Connell feels like he gives lip service to, like, fixing the run game every year- Yeah but this year they've actually made, like, a coaching move to go, you mentioned Frank Smith, that's a big one, to fix this thing.
I really feel like Kyler's gonna be a big part of the designed run game, 'cause it's like, he's here on a one-year deal, you know?
If it works out, it works.
If not, eh, move along.
Well, I think there's the designed run game, but also, like, those are his rushing yards.
You still have the times he escapes the pocket and throws downfield.
Yeah.
And I feel like if they say It, it kinda just keeps the defense honest a little bit, because I think that part of Kyler's legs is gonna be actually running, and a lot of it is gonna be extend the play and get downfield.
I remember talking to one of his college offensive linemen back at the Combine when they were coming out, and he was just like, "Blocking for Kyler is such a pain," 'cause you just, like, the play is never over.
And again, this is not Kyler of six years ago, I get that.
But I do think that fearing Kyler going out will create some more opportunities.
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