Well, a game in which you lose to the Saints because half your team dies with injuries isn’t exactly the kind of scenario you want to face when you go ahead and create your list of favorite Vikings players, but it’s where we find ourselves this week. Frankly, outside of the offense stalling out, there was lots of other stellar play throughout the team that did help boost some players up in my season-long ranking of favorite Vikings players in 2014. Also, with Adrian Peterson gone for another week, and slowly fading from our memory like a pleasant wet dream, we’re finding we solidify the number of actual, weekly playing Vikings players, taking over his spot.
Do we have a full list we feel comfortable with sans Peterson? No, not really. The offense in particular is glaringly void of likeable, successful talent, even more so with Kyle Rudolph out for several weeks with an injury. But that doesn’t mean everyone sucks.
So here is our ranking of favorite Vikings players for week three:
1. Cordarrelle Patterson (Previoous Week: 1, +/-0 this week)
When you’re clearly the most talented player on offense week in and week out with your star running back suspended, you’re likely not going to leave my top rankings. Patterson again had an impactful week, too, where I actually just liked him being alive, notching a solid day of receiving and showing flashes on kick returns. Thanks for being worthwhile, dude!
2. Harrison Smith (Previous Week: 2 +/-0 this week)
Smith had a huge week, and was probably one or two interceptions away from snagging the top spot from Cordarrelle this week. Smith played like a man possessed by sexy, scary devils, and it was a sight to behold. He looks awesome in Zimmer’s defense, and actually makes me happy to cheer for one of our team’s players.
3. Teddy Bridgewater (Previous Week: Unranked, N/A)
A little clarification is perhaps needed here. Teddy was likely always in my top five, even when he was riding the bench with Matt Cassel starting. But with Cassel stubbing his toe and going to injured reserve for the entire season, Teddy gets to start, and my Bridgewater Boner gets to throb. Will he move up to the top ranked spot after demolishing the Falcons this week with an offensive explosion?! MAYBE!
4. Anthony Barr (Previous Week: 3, -1 this week)
I still don’t get why people seem to hate Barr, and/or think he was an awful draft pick. He’s done nothing but lead the team in tackles 2 out of 3 of his first professional games, and with Chad Greenway getting injured as well, has acted as the defensive quarterback. Plus, he had a sack against the Saints. Grow up and like him already, people!
5. Captain Munnerlyn, (Previous Week: Unranked, N/A)
What? Munnerlyn? The guy who turned the tide against the Saints with his dumb roughing the passer call? That’s the one. Despite the dumbness of the call, I secretly really like that he body slammed Drew Brees into the turf. I think it’s funny. And him being a diminutive cornerback that did that just makes me like him more. Oh well.
Did I miss anyone or rank anyone wrongly? Let me know in the comments.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
