Analysis: Chandler had an odd season as began the year as the backup to Aaron Jones and even had a big game. He had ten carries for 82 yards in Week 2. He quickly lost the backup role after Minnesota traded for Cam Akers in Week 6. Chandler had just 12 carries for 31 yards in the final 11 regular season games, but still kept his kickoff return role. The odd part was he didn't appear to lose his role for any noticeable reason (he didn't fumble or commit obvious errors) and the Vikings had praised him early in the season. With Akers set to be an unrestricted free agent, Chandler enters the offseason as the backup but it's a mystery how the Vikings value him on the depth chart.

Analysis: Akers played the first five games of the season with Houston (amassing 147 yards rushing) and was traded to the Vikings where he initially was third string. He soon overtook Ty Chandler as the backup to Aaron Jones and had a productive second half of the season. Akers showed some big-play ability with 232 yards rushing , 48 yards receiving and three touchdowns in his last eight games. He becomes an unrestricted free agent after the season, but the Vikings would seem likely to want to bring him back considering they've traded for him in consecutive seasons.

Analysis: The Vikings drafted McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in last year's draft, likely with the expectation that he would see game action during his rookie campaign. He in fact experienced live action football, but a promising pro debut in the preseason on Aug. 10 was followed by news a few days later that he tore the meniscus in his right knee and was out for the season. McCarthy thus spent the year on injured reserve, while watching journeyman Sam Darnold have a career season. Darnold will be an unrestricted free agent in March, so Minnesota could use the franchise tag on him or figure out some sort of multi-year deal, either of which could impact McCarthy's ability to vault into the No. 1 spot on the QB depth chart. Nevertheless, for the time being, McCarthy will focus on the later stages of his recovery effort.

Analysis: Rypien was signed by the Vikings in late August after failing to make the Bears' 53-man roster at the conclusion of training camp. He spent the entire regular season as the third-string emergency quarterback behind Sam Darnold and Nick Mullens, but Rypien was waived by Minnesota on Jan. 7 to make room on the roster for Daniel Jones. Rypien was brought back to the practice squad two days later, and now that's under a futures contract, he'll be a part of the Vikings' 90-man roster when the new league year starts March 12. That will allow him to work with Minnesota's coaching and training staff during the offseason and participate in OTAs, minicamp and training camp. Rypien has appeared in 10 regular-season games since being signed by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in April of 2019.

Analysis: On a per-game basis, Addison's production was nearly identical in comparison to his rookie campaign -- he played in two fewer games in 2024 and finished with seven less catches, 36 fewer yards and one less receiving touchdown. The 2023 first-round pick had the biggest game of his career in Week 14 against Atlanta with eight catches for 133 yards and three TDs, though it also bears mentioning that he was quiet in the Vikings' biggest games, gaining zero yards on his lone catch in Week 18 against Detroit and reeling in just three of eight targets for 29 yards in the team's wild-card loss to the Rams. Addison nonetheless has proven to be a very productive No. 2 wideout behind star receiver Justin Jefferson, and Addison is set to continue in that role next season in what will be the third year of his rookie contract. It remains to be seen who will be throwing the ball to him, however, as this year's starting QB, Sam Darnold, is heading into unrestricted free agency. If Darnold departs, Minnesota could turn to 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy (knee) under center next year.

Analysis: Jones didn't look encumbered by the quadriceps injury he'd been dealing with since the Week 18 loss to the Lions, but his opportunities were limited by game script. The veteran's modest final numbers somewhat belied the fact he was a very good fit overall in his first Vikings season, as Jones' rushing yardage total was a new personal best and his receiving yardage tally was the second highest of his career. Jones is due to hit unrestricted free agency when the new league year begins in March after playing 2024 on a one-year, $7 million deal, but there may be mutual interest in a return to Minnesota.

Analysis: Jefferson's ordinary stat line Monday night underscores how effective the Rams' defense was versus Minnesota's air attack while getting to Sam Darnold for a remarkable nine sacks. The constant pressure combined with the extra attention paid to Jefferson made it difficult for the supremely talented receiver to get loose downfield for his trademark long gains, and although he finished tied for the team lead in both targets and receptions, his yardage total left plenty to be desired. Jefferson displayed plenty of chemistry with Darnold while posting the third-highest reception and receiving yardage totals of his career, but the standout receiver, who'll be playing on the second year of his four-year, $140 million extension in 2025, is likely to be operating with J.J. McCarthy, who missed his rookie 2024 campaign with a knee injury, as his starting quarterback in 2025.

Analysis: While his final stat line looks serviceable enough, it belies the uneven nature of Darnold's season-ending performance and the amount of duress he frequently found himself under from a Rams defense that collected a whopping nine sacks against him for a net loss of 82 yards. Darnold couldn't facilitate anything more than a 64-yard effort -- that total belonging to T.J. Hockenson -- for his pass catchers, and although he targeted the duo of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison a combined 16 times, that only yielded a modest 8-87 line. Darnold's fumble, which came with just over four and a half minutes remaining in the first half, also had disastrous consequences, as it was scooped up and returned 57 yards for a touchdown by Jared Verse to extend Los Angeles' lead to two scores at the time. Darnold rightfully received plenty of credit for the Vikings' standout regular season by putting together a career-best 2024 campaign in which he completed 361 of 545 passes for 4,319 yards with a 35:12 TD:INT and added a 67-212-1 rushing line, all across 17 games. However, he looked like a different quarterback in back-to-back lopsided losses to the Lions and Rams to close out Minnesota's season, and with unrestricted free agency looming for him at the start of the new league year, the topic of Darnold's future will be one of great intrigue considering the presence of J.J. McCarthy (knee) on Minnesota's roster.

Analysis: Jones joined the Vikings' practice squad in late November after being released by the Giants. He wasn't elevated to Minnesota's active roster during the regular season, but he was signed to the active roster this past Tuesday. As the emergency quarterback, Jones will not be allowed to play Monday unless starter Sam Darnold and backup Nick Mullens were both to be taken out of the game due to injury, illness or ejection.

Analysis: Akers wasn't able to practice Saturday due to an illness, which left him questionable for the Vikings' playoff opener. Despite the ailment, he'll be able to suit up Monday and serve as the primary backup to starting RB Aaron Jones, which has amounted to 6.2 touches for 29.1 yards from scrimmage per game and three total TDs in 12 appearances for Minnesota this season.

Analysis: Chandler sat out Friday's practice due to an ailment, but he returned to practice in full Saturday and doesn't have an injury designation for Monday's game. No. 1 RB Aaron Jones (foot) is also without an injury designation for the wild-card contest, and Cam Akers (illness) is expected to suit up despite being deemed questionable, per Alec Lewis of The Athletic, so Chandler will likely work as Minnesota's No. 3 running back and primary kick returner.

Analysis: Jones is tending to a quad injury that has lingered since he exited the Vikings' Week 17 win against the Packers in the second half. He was able to suit up this past Sunday at Detroit and turned 15 touches into 75 yards from scrimmage. With an illness going around the RB room -- Ty Chandler showed up on Friday's report but doesn't have a designation for Monday's contest, while Cam Akers is listed as questionable due to an ailment -- Jones could be a true workhorse in Minnesota's playoff opener if either or both of his position mates are compromised. As for Jones, the oft-injured back played a full slate for the third time in his eight-year career in 2024, reeling off 1,546 yards from scrimmage and seven total TDs on 306 touches in 17 regular-season contests.

Analysis: It appears as if there's a bug going around in the Vikings backfield, as Ty Chandler didn't practice Friday due to an illness. In any case, Akers is likely going to reprise his role as the backup to Aaron Jones (quadriceps) in the playoff matchup Monday night. Expect official confirmation to occur ahead of the 8:00 p.m. ET kickoff.

Analysis: Chandler will have three days to recover before Monday's game against the Rams in Glendale, Arizona. There won't be much impact on the gameplan if his illness lingers, as Chandler has been third on the depth chart behind Aaron Jones (quadriceps) and Cam Akers for a while now.

Analysis: Jones played through the same injury during last week's loss to the Lions, taking 15 touches for 75 yards while playing 62 percent of snaps on offense. He'll likely play again Monday against the Rams in Glendale Arizona, having managed limited practice participation Thursday and Friday.

Analysis: For a second week in a row, Jones is enduring practice restrictions due to a quad injury. During Monday's loss at Detroit, he still handled 62 percent of snaps en route to 15 touches for 75 yards from scrimmage, while backup RB Cam Akers had a 31 percent snap share and eight touches for 69 total yards, most of them on a 58-yard rush. Jones will have two more chances to log a full session this week before the Vikings potentially tag him with a designation for Monday's wild-card contest at the Rams.

Analysis: Nailor stepped up his production during Minnesota's final two regular-season games, a span in which he combined for an 8-134-1 receiving line on nine targets. The 2022 sixth-round pick also had a hot start to the season, but from Week 8 to Week 16 he totaled just 67 yards on offense, albeit with two scores. Across 17 regular-season games, Nailor tallied 28 catches for 414 yards and six touchdowns on 42 targets. Nailor will work to remain productive behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison during Monday's road wild-card matchup against the Rams.

Analysis: Akers played his usual No. 2 backfield role behind Aaron Jones on the road at Detroit, a game in which he logged his first breakaway run of 40-plus yards on the season. Across 12 regular-season games with Minnesota, he has logged 64 carries for 297 yards (4.6 YPC) and one touchdown, while securing 10 of 11 targets for 52 yards and two scores. He also appeared in five games with the Texans. Akers will continue working as Jones' backup during Monday's wild-card matchup against the Rams.

Analysis: After signing with Minnesota's practice squad in late November, Jones was never elevated to the 53-man roster for the final six games of the regular season. Even so, his ample starting experience during his time with the Giants could make him a candidate to usurp Nick Mullens as the Vikings' top backup option if starter Sam Darnold were to miss time at any point during Minnesota's upcoming postseason run. Jones is still scheduled to hit free agency this offseason, though by adding him to their roster, the Vikings will net a compensatory draft pick if the signal-caller signs elsewhere.

Analysis: Darnold picked the worst time to revert to his New York Jets' form in Sunday's battle between juggernauts for both the NFC North crown and the No. 1 seed in the conference. His offensive line did him no favors while star wideout Justin Jefferson committed multiple drops, so the quarterback's horrid stat line can't be entirely placed on his shoulders. It is worth noting that Darnold had his ankle rolled up on by a teammate late in the contest, but he did not miss any game action after getting up gingerly. Minnesota's signal-caller will have to rally quickly to get his offense back to previous levels as the No. 5 seed Vikings prepare to visit the Rams in the wild-card round of the playoffs next Monday.