Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph is one of the most overlooked players in the NFL. With a new offense in charge for the Vikings, Rudolph will see a huge spike in production in 2018.
Kyle Rudolph’s Career
Kyle Rudolph is entering his eighth season with the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings spent a second-round pick on Rudolph in 2011 and he has turned into a lethal weapon in the passing game. In 2012, Rudolph’s second season, he made his first Pro Bowl. Unfortunately, injuries slowed his progression and he only played 17 games the next two seasons. Since 2015, Rudolph has not missed a single game and has been dominant for the Vikings. He holds the franchise record for touchdown receptions by a tight end with 37.
Since becoming the full-time starter in 2012, Rudolph has been excellent when healthy. In the four seasons he has started all 16 games, Rudolph has been among the best tight ends in the league. He put up at least 490 yards and five touchdowns in each of those four seasons. On average, Rudolph had 61 catches, 590 yards, and seven touchdowns in that span. Despite a great career, Rudolph is not often considered as one of the best tight ends in the league. That will change this season.
Tight Ends under Kirk Cousins
Kirk Cousins has spread the ball to all of his weapons throughout his career. In 2017, his tight ends accounted for 966 receiving yards, which was good for about a quarter of the total team receiving yards. However, star tight end Jordan Reed only played six games due to injury. Over his career, Reed has battled far too many injuries. When healthy, he has been an absolute stud for Washington. In 2016, Reed played in 12 games alongside Vernon Davis, and Washington’s tight ends accounted for nearly 28 percent of the team’s total receiving. But to get a fair judgment on Cousins and his tight ends, one must look at the 2015 season. That was the Cousins’ first full season as a starter, and Jordan Reed played in 14 games. Cousins and Reed connected for 87 completions, 52 yards, and 11 touchdowns.
Perhaps Cousins was getting comfortable in the offense and used his tight ends as a safety blanket. But there is no denying that tight ends play a vital role for a Kirk Cousins-led offense. As he heads into his first season with a new team, expect him to value them just as much, if not more. Kyle Rudolph has been healthy, so he should easily outperform Jordan Reed with Kirk Cousins at the helm.
John DeFilippo’s Offenses
John DeFilippo comes to Minnesota to replace Pat Shurmer, who is now the head coach of the New York Giants. DeFilippo is a brilliant offensive mind and he helped the Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl last season. Although he was the quarterbacks’ coach and not the offensive coordinator, his ideas were still prevalent in that offense. Carson Wentz and Nick Foles loved using their tight ends, and Zach Ertz became one of the best in the league last season. Ertz was third in the league among tight ends in receiving yards. He caught 74 passes for 824 yards and eight touchdowns. The Eagles also utilized Trey Burton as he totaled 248 yards and five touchdowns. His big season led to Burton signing a wealthy contract with the Chicago Bears this summer. The Eagles had arguably the best tight end duo in the entire NFL last season.
In 2015, DeFilippo was the offensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns. That season saw one of the most bizarre breakout seasons in a long time. Browns tight end Gary Barnidge, who had 619 yards in his previous 77 games, became a Pro Bowler. He caught 79 passes for 1,043 yards, and nine touchdowns. Barnidge was named to his first and only Pro Bowl that season. DeFilippo found plenty of ways for his quarterbacks to get the ball to the tight end, which spells good things for Kyle Rudolph in 2018.
Fantasy Value
Kyle Rudolph has always been a stud in fantasy, but he often goes unnoticed. He was the sixth-highest scoring tight end in fantasy last season. In 2016, he was the third-highest scoring tight end. Despite always producing, he is expected to be the seventh tight end drafted this season and is valued as a seventh-round draft pick. Getting a player of his caliber at that point in the draft is a steal and he will have a huge year this season.
The Minnesota Vikings have a plethora of weapons in place for the 2018 season, and Kyle Rudolph deserves more attention. The 2018 season will finally make Rudolph a household name.
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