Now that we are about halfway through the regular season, it is time to start considering which players are deserving of the Pro Bowl. For this series, we will look at the three most deserving candidates for each team. Obviously, some teams will have more or less than three players selected, but for simplicity purposes, we will discuss the top three.
Top Midseason Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl Candidates
Xavier Rhodes
Perhaps the most improved player on Mike Zimmer‘s defense this year is cornerback Xavier Rhodes. Rhodes, drafted 25th overall in the 2013 NFL Draft out of Florida State has turned the corner this year and become one of the top shutdown corners in the league. So far this season, he has faced the likes of Odell Beckham Jr, DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller, Jordy Nelson, and Alshon Jeffery. When shadowing those players, he has almost entirely shut them down. He has also doubled is career interception total already this year, picking up two in just eight games. Rhodes biggest issue throughout his career has been penalties, and that has not changed so far this year with five so far this year compared to 10 over the course of last season. Rhodes will have to cut down on the penalties while continuing to lock up top receivers over the rest of the season.
Harrison Smith
Safety Harrison Smith is the best safety in the NFL, bar none. He may not rack up the interception totals, but he is dominate in coverage, against the run, and while blitzing. He so far has amassed 42 tackles, a sack and two fumble recoveries, but his impact goes far beyond the stat sheet. He constantly creates game changing plays with his big hits and constantly disrupts opponents where ever he lines up. Further, he has not been forced do do quite as much do to the emergence of Andrew Sendejo, whose play has taken a great deal of pressure off of the fifth year man out of Notre Dame.
Sam Bradford
Before the season began, no one would have guessed Sam Bradford‘s name would be on this list, but after the gruesome knee injury to Teddy Bridgewater, Rick Spielman bit the bullet and traded for the former number one overall pick. After several injury-prone seasons, all Bradford has done is come into Minnesota eight days before the season opener, learned the playbook, dealt with the sudden resignation of offensive coordinator Norv Turner, and put up nine touchdowns to just one interception in seven games played. Bradford has done much to silence doubters, instantly building chemistry with Stefon Diggs, Kyle Rudolph, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Adam Thielen. On pace for the best year of his career, Bradford deserves to make his first Pro Bowl as well.
Honorable Mention
Although the above three players are the best Pro Bowl candidates from the Minnesota Vikings, three other players to watch will be wide receiver Stefon Diggs, Tight end Kyle Rudolph, and Punt Returner Marcus Sherels. Diggs has already caught 42 balls for 546 yards and two touchdowns compared to 40 catches for 720 yards and four touchdowns over the course of all of last season. Rudolph has immediately clicked with Bradford, already with 32 catches for 323 yards and four touchdowns, compared to just 49 catches for 495 yards and five touchdowns over all of last season. Sherels, the perpetual underdog, has already returned two punts for touchdowns and made several fantastic plays downing punts and making tackles from the gunner position along with Cordarrelle Patterson.
