EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – The Minnesota Vikings need to win their final two games to avoid the worst record in the franchise’s 51-year history.

Whatever happens, coaches and players know many jobs are on the line as the Vikings (2-12) limp toward the end of the season.

There is turnover every year in the NFL, but the rate increases exponentially on a team that is going through the kind of season the Vikings are experiencing right now. They have lost six games in a row, each one seemingly more painful than the next, including last weekend’s 42-20 embarrassment at home against New Orleans.

After fighting so admirably for most of the season despite having little to show for it, Minnesota finally appeared to hit a wall.

“At some point you just have to say, ‘What the heck’ we’re 2-12, what do we have to lose?’ ” defensive end Jared Allen said after the game. “Try to make every play. A lot of people are probably going to get fired at this point anyways.”

Coach Leslie Frazier is widely believed to be safe after a long first season on the job. The Wilf family has a lot of respect for Frazier and likely wouldn’t be too pleased with paying three head coaches next year since Brad Childress is still on the payroll for another two years.

But if the Vikings are completely outclassed in the final two games — at Washington and home against Chicago — all bets are off.

Frazier said the team can’t afford to think about what’s going to happen after the season. They clearly need to put all their attention on this weekend’s game to have a chance of winning.

“I’m really optimistic about the future, as difficult and as crazy as that may sound,” Frazier said. “I think I have a good idea of what we need to do to not be in this situation in the future. So no, I’m not concerned about 2012 at this point.”

The coaches aren’t the only people under the gun as the season draws to a close. Roster spots are on the line as well.

“There’s a lot at stake,” linebacker Erin Henderson said. “They’re watching closely right now to see who’s still fighting, who’s still coming out here trying to give their best and give it their all, and look to see who they can build this team with next year and continue to move forward with.”

That includes quarterback.

The Vikings drafted Christian Ponder with the 12th pick in the first round and he had a promising start when he took over for Donovan McNabb in Week 7. But Ponder has regressed the last three weeks, and with the Vikings likely picking very high next April, a strong finish would help Ponder solidify his spot as the team’s quarterback heading into next year.

“With Christian, like so many young quarterbacks, you don’t want to base your judgment on one or two games,” Frazier said. “Give him a chance to have an off-season to get with our coaches in OTAs that are going to help him. I think it’s a little bit too early to panic about Christian.”

After not getting an off-season to prepare because of the lockout, Ponder said this one will give him a chance to catch his breath, examine his game and get on the same page with his coaches and receivers.

“Last summer I had the playbook but didn’t really know how things are run,” Ponder said. “Now being through a full season, there will be a lot of time to spend on the small details and working all the time at getting better at the things I need to get better at.”

Ponder said he played too conservatively last week, trying “to play not to lose” rather than going for the win.

Allen thinks the rookie wasn’t alone.

“What are you going to lose? Go out, make plays and try to put your best effort out there and win games,” Allen said. “Sometimes we get in a back-pedal mode and just try to maintain so we don’t get beat too bad.”

Notes: Cornerback Asher Allen and guard Steve Hutchinson did not practise Wednesday after getting concussions in the game against the Saints. Frazier said both would be evaluated throughout the week before determining if they will be available against the Redskins. … Frazier said he talked with cornerback Cedric Griffin, who was benched last week, and anticipated that he would be back on the field this week.

The Minnesota Vikings need to win their final two games to avoid the worst record in the franchise’s 51-year history.

Whatever happens, coaches and players know that many jobs are on the line as the Vikings (2-12) limp toward the end of the season.

There is turnover every year in the NFL, but the rate increases exponentially on a team that is going through the kind of season the Vikings are experiencing right now. They have lost six games in a row, each one seemingly more painful than the next, including last weekend’s 42-20 embarrassment at home against New Orleans.

After fighting so admirably for most of the season despite having little to show for it, Minnesota finally appeared to hit a wall.

“At some point you just have to say, ‘what the heck’ we’re 2-12, what do we have to lose?’” defensive end Jared Allen said after the game. “Try to make every play. A lot of people are probably going to get fired at this point anyways.”

Coach Leslie Frazier is widely believed to be safe after a long first season on the job. The Wilf family has a lot of respect for Frazier and likely wouldn’t be too pleased with paying three head coaches next year since Brad Childress is still on the payroll for another two years.

But if the Vikings are completely outclassed in the final two games — at Washington and home against Chicago — all bets are off.

Frazier said the team can’t afford to think about what’s going to happen after the season. They clearly need to put all their attention on this weekend’s game to have a chance of winning.

“I’m really optimistic about the future, as difficult and as crazy as that may sound,” Frazier said. “I think I have a good idea of what we need to do to not be in this situation in the future. So no, I’m not concerned about 2012 at this point.”

The coaches aren’t the only people under the gun as the season draws to a close. Roster spots are on the line as well.

“There’s a lot at stake,” linebacker Erin Henderson said. “They’re watching closely right now to see who’s still fighting, who’s still coming out here trying to give their best and give it their all, and look to see who they can build this team with next year and continue to move forward with.”

That includes quarterback.

The Vikings drafted Christian Ponder with the 12th pick in the first round and he had a promising start when he took over for Donovan McNabb in Week 7. But Ponder has regressed the last three weeks, and with the Vikings likely picking very high next April, a strong finish would help Ponder solidify his spot as the team’s quarterback heading into next year.

“With Christian, like so many young quarterbacks, you don’t want to base your judgment on one or two games,” Frazier said. “Give him a chance to have an offseason to get with our coaches in OTAs that are going to help him. I think it’s a little bit too early to panic about Christian.”

After not getting an offseason to prepare because of the lockout, Ponder said this one will give him a chance to catch his breath, examine his game and get on the same page with his coaches and receivers.

“Last summer I had the playbook but didn’t really know how things are run,” Ponder said. “Now being through a full season, there will be a lot of time to spend on the small details and working all the time at getting better at the things I need to get better at.”

Ponder said he played too conservatively last week, trying “to play not to lose” rather than going for the win.

Allen thinks the rookie wasn’t alone.

“What are you going to lose? Go out, make plays and try to put your best effort out there and win games,” Allen said. “Sometimes we get in a back-pedal mode and just try to maintain so we don’t get beat too bad.”

Notes: CB Asher Allen and LG Steve Hutchinson did not practice on Wednesday after getting concussions in the game against the Saints. Frazier said both would be evaluated throughout the week before determining if they will be available against the Redskins. … Frazier said he talked with CB Cedric Griffin, who was benched last week, and anticipated that he would be back on the field this week.

___

Follow Jon Krawczynski at http://www.twitter.com/APkrawczynski

I know that there’s this sort of rivalry between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers, but somehow their hatred seems to consistently spur treachery.

The Vikings have had a number of players make the move from Wisconsin to Minnesota over the last few years, including quarterback Brett Favre (indirectly) and kicker Ryan Longwell. So who would have guessed that a mere practice squad player would refuse to ditch the cheese and don the horns?

Packers’ practice squad wide receiver Tori Gurley has reportedly turned down the Vikings when they offered him a spot on their active roster.

“If you look statistically, their season is going to be over in three weeks,” Gurley explained. “We’re already locked to have a playoff spot. I’m learning from some of the best wide receivers in the game right now. The way our offense is clicking, the grass isn’t going to be greener on the other side. So just learning and taking it one day at a time, my opportunity is going to come.”

Despite his apparent enthusiasm about sticking with the Packers, the team still gave him a raise in hopes of keeping the practice squad player around.

It seems a bit naïve to pass up an opportunity for a promotion, but this isn’t the first time Gurley has turned down a potential suitor to stay with the Packers this season.

When it comes down to it, there were two options for Gurley: stick with the 13-0 Packers where he’ll probably remain as a practice squad roster until the end of the season or join the Vikings for their remaining three games and hang up the cleats by the first week of January.

Although it seems like the logical choice to choose the jump to someone else’s active roster, I’m sure Gurley had his reasons for staying in Green Bay. Whether it was the potential to play for a playoff team who’s clearly a favorite to make it to the Super Bowl or the possibility of being a small part of only the second undefeated team in NFL history, I’m sure he made the right decision for himself.

Packers’ starting wide receiver Greg Jennings was injured last week, which could mean a potential promotion for Gurley if Jennings doesn’t recover in a timely manner. There has also been speculation that veteran Donald Driver could be pondering retirement, which could also open a door for the young pass-catcher.

Regardless of the possibility that all of those reasons potentially outweighed the chance to be one of the better wide receivers on the Vikings’ roster, the choice is made and window has closed.

In case you are unaware, Gurley is an undrafted rookie out of South Carolina who decided to forgo his junior and senior seasons only to not hear his name called on draft day. During his two years with the Gamecocks, he caught 75 passes for 905 yards and six touchdowns.

Gil Alcaraz IV is a life-long follower of the Minnesota Vikings and the founder of TheVikingDen.com. For more Vikings/NFL coverage, follow him on Twitter or “like” The Viking Den on Facebook.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

MINNEAPOLIS – The New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings couldn’t have been much closer in their epic NFC title game showdown on Jan. 24, 2010, an overtime thriller that Drew Brees and the Saints barely survived on their way to the franchise’s first Super Bowl title.

Less than two years later, the two franchises could hardly be further apart.

The Saints (10-3) roll into the Metrodome on Sunday as one of the model teams in the NFC, an organization with a rock solid foundation at the three most important positions — front office, coach and quarterback.

By no coincidence, the Saints are in first place in the NFC South, two games ahead of the Atlanta Falcons and tied with the San Francisco 49ers for the second-best record in the NFC. Even with the Green Bay Packers looking like the class of the league, the Saints still have a realistic shot at a return trip to the big game.

“We’re a veteran team that’s been through a lot,” Brees said. “We’ve kind of learned the formula for winning and sustaining success.”

The Vikings (2-11), meanwhile, have fallen off the cliff ever since Garrett Hartley’s 40-yard field goal split the uprights to end Minnesota’s hopes of their first trip to the Super Bowl since 1978. Brett Favre returned for one more ill-fated run the next year, a long, miserable 6-10 season in which coach Brad Childress was fired, Favre was embroiled in a texting scandal, Randy Moss came and went in about four weeks and the Dome’s roof collapsed.

“You really can’t explain it,” Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield said. “It’s crazy. The Saints, they’re still a really good football team. Drew Brees still down there, working hard, making plays. I really don’t know what’s going on. We really can’t put our finger on it.”

Start with the lack of continuity. Since that loss, the Vikings have used five quarterbacks — Favre, Tarvaris Jackson, Joe Webb, Donovan McNabb and now rookie Christian Ponder — and have had a lot of turnover on the coaching staff.

“In my mind, it seems like eons ago, seems like forever when we played them in the NFC championship game,” Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said. “So much has transpired between that time and where we are today.”

While not as catastrophic off the field, Frazier’s first season has been even tougher on the field. McNabb didn’t pan out as the quarterback who was supposed to keep the team from a rebuilding season, the secondary was decimated by injuries, Adrian Peterson has missed the last three weeks with a high ankle sprain and Ponder has experienced the growing pains everyone expected when he took over as the starter seven games ago.

The Vikings have lost five games in a row, with the only solace to be taken that a team that waved goodbye to meaningful games more than a month ago continues to show up every week and give its opponent all they can handle, including last weekend in Detroit, when the Vikings fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter but still had a chance to win the game on the final play.

“There are a lot of reasons not to really concentrate and focus and battle,” Frazier said. “And they found reasons to battle, to focus, to believe that they could get back in that game and win that game.”

Still, moral victories aren’t giving much comfort to a veteran team that remembers what it feels like to be so close.

“Me and Kevin (Williams) were laughing about it today, saying, ‘We’ve got to do something. We’ve got to turn it around. That can’t be the only memory of being close to the Super Bowl that I tell my grandkids about at some point,’” defensive end Jared Allen said.

The Saints are looking to add another chapter to a book that already includes one fairy tale finish.

Brees is playing as well as he ever has, threatening the single-season passing record and seemingly getting stronger as the season has progressed. He has topped 320 yards passing in four straight games, with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions during that span.

New Orleans has won five in a row and six of seven to keep the Falcons (8-5) at arm’s length and keep pace with the 49ers for the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs. Jimmy Graham has emerged as one of the dominant tight ends in the game and linebacker Jonathan Vilma has been back in the middle of the Saints defence for the last two games after missing four weeks with knee surgery earlier in the season.

“For us it’s been a journey,” Brees said. “We’ve been able to win a lot of games and put ourselves in pretty good position within our division and playoff wise. It hasn’t been easy by any means. We’ve had to fight through some adversity. We’ve had to fight through some injuries at key positions and certain things.

Saints coach Sean Payton, who has been in place with Brees for the last six seasons, said continuity has been the biggest key to New Orleans’ sustained success.

“When you look at ownership, GM, head coach, players on our team, the staff, there’s been a very stable program where I think everyone understands how hard it is, how difficult it is, the challenges we face in winning games and getting to the post-season,” Payton said.

With three games remaining this season, the Minnesota Vikings and St. Louis Rams are in a dogfight for the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 draft. It’s too early to know whether the winner will be awarded USC left tackle Matt Kalil, who has yet to declare for the draft and might not be on the Rams’ radar anyway, but No. 2 is a better spot to sit than No. 3 the last time I checked.

Both teams are 2-11, two games behind the front-running Indianapolis Colts (0-13) and two games ahead of the next group of teams. The NFL breaks draft-positioning ties with reverse order of strength of schedule, and as of this moment the Rams (94-75) have had a weaker schedule than the Vikings (97-72).

(The Vikings can thank the 13-0 Packers for that one.)

The cleanest way for the Vikings to jump into the No. 2 spot is to finish with a worse record than the Rams. But if you watched any part of the Rams’ game Monday night against the Seattle Seahawks, you’re wondering if it’s possible for them to win another game this season.

So if both teams lose out and finish 2-14, the Vikings would need their strength of schedule to fall below the Rams’. That’s not totally out of the question. The records of each team’s first 13 opponents could change, and more obviously, the Rams’ three remaining opponents have a combined record of 27-12 — six games better than that of the Vikings’ opponents (21-18). Details are in the chart.

I know it’s a bit morbid to dice through this topic with so many games left to be played, but I get the sense that at least some Vikings fans have moved on to the draft and are salivating over the possibility of locking down the left tackle position with Kalil. That segment of the Minnesota population should be comforted in knowing that the Rams drafted Rodger Saffold in 2010 and appear to be happy with him as their left tackle of the future. So it’s possible that Kalil could be available to the Vikings even if the Rams beat them out for No. 2 overall.

I want to smack myself for even considering draft-day scenarios on Dec. 15, but such is life.

Related: ESPN draft analysts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay both rank Kalil as the second-best potential prospect in the draft after Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. Remember, Kalil is an underclassman and could return to school for another year.

Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Leslie Frazier

Conference Call With New Orleans Media

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

 

Who will start at quarterback on Sunday?

“Christian (Ponder) is our starting quarterback. Barring an injury, he will remain our starting quarterback.”

Can you discuss the status of Adrian Peterson?

“We will get our first chance to see him today at practice but we are optimistic that this is the week that we will get him back.”

Can you discuss how the team is dealing with being in a rebuilding mode?

“It is tough anytime you are going through the things that we have experienced this season but our guys have battled. We are definitely in a transition. They have battled each week and we are going to fight the good fight again this week.”

Can you discuss the attitude of the team this year?

“The resiliency of our players has been incredible. We are down 21-0 in the first quarter of the game last Sunday (at Detroit) and they could have easily tanked that game but they didn’t. There we are on the last play of the game on the 1-yard line with a chance to win the game. They have been very resilient throughout this season. It is a testament to our leadership. We just have some things that we will have to address this offseason to get some things corrected.”

What factors have contributed to the struggles of the team this year?

“There are a lot of different factors. You guys (New Orleans media) have been in it a long time and we are not the first team to play in the NFC Championship game and then disappear for a while – it happens in our league. It also happens where teams you didn’t expect all of a sudden jump up and are playing in the NFC Championship game. Things can change fast in our league. Especially in this age of free agency, this year particularly with so many things that happened in the offseason that had an effect on the regular season. There are a lot of factors that go into where we are now and where we were in 2009.”

Is New Orleans’ loss to the Rams something that you are looking closely at in film study?

“That’s a tape we will take a look at. The Tampa game also. The Green Bay game is a little different with them being a 3-4 team and it was the first game of the season. You are always trying to look for something that will give you some hope that will give you a chance against such a prolific offense and a very good football team. We will search through the tapes and try to find something that will hopefully give us an edge.”

Can you discuss how the defensive line continues to be a strength of the team?

“It has without question been the strength of our defense. We have had some troubles on the backend but our defensive line has consistently played hard for us and played well. Jared (Allen) has led the way and is having an MVP-type season.”

Can you discuss the comments that Jared Allen made to the cities of Detroit and New Orleans last week?

“I talked with him about those comments this morning. I am hoping that we won’t have any more comments like that going forward.”

Can you talk about the progress of Christian Ponder?

“He has had his ups and downs like most rookie quarterbacks that come into our league. He is battling through those things that every young quarterback goes through. Whether you are Peyton or Eli Manning – whoever it may be. Even Joe Montana. We think our team will be much better going forward as he goes through some of the growing pains of being an NFL quarterback. It’s difficult for him and difficult for our team at times but you have to look at the bigger picture. It’s an investment for our future and he is handling it pretty well.”

Two seasons ago, the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings met for the NFC championship and a trip to Super Bowl XLIV in Miami.

As you might have heard, New Orleans won that game. But Minnesota? Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

While the Saints finished 11-5 last season and presently sit 10-3 — and are playoff bound — the Vikings stumbled to a 6-10 mark last season and are 2-11 this season.

Minnesota brought in quarterback Donovan McNabb to replace Brett Favre, and that experiment didn’t last as long — McNabb was waived last month. In his place, the Vikings put in rookie quarterback Christian Ponder.

So while New Orleans is headed back to the playoffs and are angling for a first-round bye, Minnesota Coach Leslie Frazier is trying to keep his team together.

VIKINGS OFFENSE

Early reports said that running back Adrian Peterson will return from an ankle injury that has forced him to miss the past three games.

He needs 128 yards to reach 1,000 on the season, something he has rushed for in each of his first four seasons in the NFL. How good has Peterson been in his career? He could rush for 425 yards over his final three games and it would still be the lowest output of his career.

Ponder started in the Vikings’ 34-28 loss to Detroit last Sunday, but Frazier said Ponder will start this Sunday despite the job that Joe Webb did in relief. Ponder complete 11 of 21 passes for 115 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. He also lost a fumble.

Webb, a triple-threat-type player more in the mold of Brad Smith than Kordell Stewart, played in the second half and was a blown facemask call away from possibly leading Minnesota to a game-tying score in the final seconds. The Vikings tried converting Webb to a receiver but needed him for depth at quarterback. He rushed for 109 yards against the Lions, and Minnesota now has its own Wildcat-esque formation for Webb called “Blazer.”

Another change in the Vikings’ offense has been the role of receiver Percy Harvin, who has 26 catches in his last three games.

VIKINGS DEFENSE

NFL sack leader Jared Allen regained his form sacking Detroit’s Matthew Stafford three times.

He has 17.5 sacks this season and needs 5.5 in his last three games to top Michael Strahan’s NFL sack record. Minnesota’s Chad Greenway is fourth in the NFL in tackles with 118 and leads a rushing defense that is ninth in the league. However, the Vikings’ defense struggles against the pass.

A quarterback would be having a pretty good season using numbers put up against Minnesota. Opponents are completing 68.2 percent of their passes, have thrown for 3,505 yards and 26 touchdowns while throwing just six interceptions. That’s good enough for a 107.1 rating. For comparison’s sake, Drew Brees’ rating this season is 105.9 for the Saints.

Starting cornerback Antoine Winfield suffered a season-ending injury last month, and Cedric Griffin, whom Frazier said was only playing because the Vikings lacked another option, was benched last week.

VIKINGS SPECIAL TEAMS

Ryan Longwell still is kicking at a decent percentage (16 of 20, 80 percent), except the Vikings just aren’t putting him in position to kick field goals.

The 15-year veteran has four attempts in his last five games, and three of those came two weeks ago in a 35-32 loss to the Denver Broncos.

Chris Kluwe is averaging 45.4 per punt but only has a 36.3 net average because the Vikings are allowing 13.4 yards per punt return, which is 27th in the league.

LAST TIME THEY MET

Sept. 9, 2010, at the Superdome

Some Saints fans might forget that while Garrett Hartley’s legs put the Saints into Super Bowl XLIV by defeating the Vikings in overtime, New Orleans also opened the next season with Minnesota.

The Saints started their defense of the Lombardi Trophy with a 14-9 victory over Favre and the Vikings. Brees threw for 237 yards and a 29-yard touchdown to Devery Henderson, and Pierre Thomas ran for 71 yards — including a 1-yard score in the third quarter which proved to be the game winner.å

Read More: Tim Tebow (QB – DEN), Denver Broncos

Is Tim Tebow a serious candidate for the NFL MVP this season? I doubt most voters would believe that, but we already see pushes around the Internet for a Tebow candidacy. He’s now 6-1 this season and has a five-game winning streak. Before Sunday’s 35-32 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, the Broncos defense had played a large role in ushering Tebow to those wins.

But on Sunday we saw Tebow improve as a passer and find a solid rapport with Demaryius Thomas for four receptions, 144 yards and two touchdown passes. All four of those passes that Tebow and Thomas connected on were important events, the two non-touchdown receptions setting up other scores.

After struggling with his passing game in previous weeks, Tebow did finish 10-of-15 for 202 yards and two touchdown passes. It’s not as flashy as Aaron Rodgers throwing for nearly 370 yards and four touchdown passes (as he did against the New York Giants on Sunday), but it was effective nonetheless.

If one wants to argue what “valuable” means in MVP, Tebow is the player most likely to fuel that debate. We can’t play what ifs here. We know that the Broncos are winning with him and maybe, just maybe, his leadership is fueling all of this, from the improved defense to the late comebacks. MVP? I’m not sure, but he certainly looks to be the team’s MVP.

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For more on Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos, visit Broncos blog Mile High Report. For news from around the NFL, visit SB Nation’s NFL news hub.

Week 13 of the NFL season was a huge day for individual performances. From a record-setting performance by Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Cam Newton(notes) to huge days by New York Jets running back Shonn Greene(notes) and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin(notes), here are the best fantasy football players from each position on Sunday, Dec. 4.

Quarterback

Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers – 38.26 points*

Week 13 statistics: 204 passing yards, 54 rushing yards, 1 passing touchdown, 3 rushing touchdowns, 27 receiving yards

Along with setting a new NFL record for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a season, Newton had a dominating performance over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers despite only completing 12 passes. Newton’s one catch also made him the team’s leading receiver for most of the game until a Legedu Naanee(notes) reception. Newton now has 13 passing touchdowns, 14 interceptions, and 13 rushing touchdowns on the year and has been one of the best fantasy players this season.

Honorable mentions: Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers(notes) (32.96), New Orleans Saints’ Drew Brees(notes) (25.68), Minnesota Vikings’ Christian Ponder(notes) (24.44)

Running back

Shonn Greene, New York Jets – 29.40 points

Week 13 statistics: 88 rushing yards, 26 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns

A disappointment for most of this season with only two touchdowns coming into this game, Greene finished the day with 114 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns. While he likely led owners to a Week 13 win, Greene hasn’t put up RB1 numbers this season and has still only had one 100-yard rushing game this year; he is a mediocre RB2 for the rest of the season.

Honorable mentions: Tennessee Titans’ Chris Johnson (27.70), Baltimore Ravens’ Ray Rice(notes) (27.40), Houston Texans’ Arian Foster(notes) (21.20)

Wide receiver

Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings – 29.50 points

Week 13 statistics: 19 rushing yards, 156 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns

The only reliable player on the Vikings offense when Adrian Peterson is out, Harvin had the best game of his career in a near-victory over the Denver Broncos. With rookie Ponder at the helm, Harvin has now had four straight games with at least six receptions and has shown great explosiveness all over the field. View Harvin as a WR2 against the Detroit Lions in Week 14.

Honorable mentions: Indianapolis Colts’ Pierre Garcon(notes) (27.00), Denver Broncos’ Demaryius Thomas(notes) (26.40), New York Giants’ Hakeem Nicks(notes) (20.80)

Tight end

Rob Gronkowski(notes), New England Patriots – 24.60 points

Week 13 statistics: 2 rushing yards, 64 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns

The best tight end this season, Gronkowski’s three touchdowns give him 13 receiving touchdowns on the year and a touchdown in five straight games. One of the biggest threats in the NFL to score in the end zone, Gronkowski is just one touchdown catch away from being the NFL’s all-time leader in touchdowns by a tight end in a season set by San Diego Chargers’ Antonio Gates(notes) in 2004 and San Francisco 49ers’ Vernon Davis(notes) in 2009.

Honorable mentions: Green Bay Packers’ Jermichael Finley(notes) (14.70), New York Giants’ Travis Beckum(notes) (12.70), Atlanta Falcons’ Tony Gonzalez(notes) (10.00)

Kicker

Connor Barth(notes), Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 18.00 points

Week 13 statistics: 3 FG 40-49, 1 FG 50+, 1 PAT made

Not known as one of the top fantasy kickers this season, Barth made field goals from 50, 47, 46, and 44 yards against the Panthers and all in the first half. Playing for a Buccaneers offense that struggled with Josh Johnson(notes) filling in for the injured Josh Freeman(notes), Barth is an unreliable option due to the offense’s inconsistency.

Another monster day for Janikowski in fantasy football as the Raiders kicker set a team-record six field goals. Consistently giving fantasy owners six to ten fantasy points a week, he is a consistent fantasy producer with upside thanks to his strong leg.

Honorable mentions: Washington Redskins’ Graham Gano(notes) (15.00), San Francisco 49ers’ David Akers(notes) (14.00), Minnesota Vikings’ Ryan Longwell(notes)/New York Jets’ Nick Folk(notes)/Tennessee Titans’ Rob Bironas(notes) (13.00)

Team defense

Kansas City Chiefs team defense – 20.00 points

Week 13 statistics: 3 points allowed, 7 sacks, 3 interceptions

As a team dealing with their own quarterback troubles between Tyler Palko(notes) and Kyle Orton(notes), the Chiefs defense was able to step it up and shutdown Caleb Hanie(notes) in his second career start. In this game, the Chiefs defense set a season-high in sacks and also forced a fumble by Hanie (who did recover the ball) in a dominant performance over an inexperienced quarterback.

Honorable mentions: Pittsburgh Steelers team defense (19.00), San Francsico 49ers team defense (18.00), Baltimore Ravens team defense (15.00)

*Points are determined by Yahoo! fantasy football default scoring settings.

Sources:

Who’s Hot Week 13, Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football

Fantasy Football Cam Newton, CBS Sports

Shonn Greene Game Log, Yahoo! Sports

Percy Harvin Game Log, Yahoo! Sports

Fantasy Football Rob Gronkowski, CBS Sports

Connor Barth News & Notes, Yahoo! Sports

Kansas City at Chicago Box Score, Yahoo! Sports

More from this contributor:

Most Popular Last-Minute Drops for Week 13 Play: Fan’s Take

Most Popular Last-Minute Pickups for Week 13 Play: Fan’s Take

Most-dropped Players into Free Agent Pool for Week 13: Fan’s Take

Most-added Waiver Wire Free Agents for Week 13: Fan’s Take

Six Star Players with Bad Fantasy Matchups for Week 13: Fan’s Take

Austin Chang is a lifelong football fan, San Francisco 49ers supporter, and fantasy football player since 2005. Follow him on Twitter @_austinchang.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

By Dave Campbell, Associated Press

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings have been down all year. Now they’re even more depleted.

The transaction list released by the Vikings resembled a virtual white flag, with four key players placed on injured reserve with five games to go in a second straight dismal season. Two safeties, a wide receiver and the long snapper are out, joining two of their best three cornerbacks.

These are positions that lacked depth at the beginning of the year. But as tantalizing as securing that second overall draft pick for 2012 can be — assuming the winless Indianapolis Colts are on their way to locking up No. 1 — the Vikings (2-9) haven’t abandoned their goal of finishing the season with success.

The ultracompetitive nature of professional sports makes it nearly impossible for coaches and players to think that way, for one. The Vikings will face legitimate playoff contenders in four of their last five games, another motivating factor. Plus, there’s the fear of rushing a rookie into action too soon.

“If you don’t feel like he’s quite ready and you put him out there just for the sake of saying, ‘We want to look at him in a game,’ and now the kid fails or he jeopardizes someone else’s health because he wasn’t ready,” coach Leslie Frazier said, “then that’s not the wisest thing to do.”

Frazier said this week’s moves were not made because of the team’s record. Only long snapper Cullen Loeffler and wide receiver Michael Jenkins would have a chance to return if the Vikings were still in the race for a playoff spot. So they’ve been left with no choice but to elevate the status of a handful of young players.

Strong safety Tyrell Johnson, who started three games this season to fill in while Jamarca Sanford and Husain Abdullah were injured, tore the hamstring tendon away from the bone in his right leg. Frazier said Johnson will need six months to recover. He was scheduled to have surgery Wednesday.

Abdullah also is done for the year, due to lingering concussion symptoms. That means sixth-round draft pick Mistral Raymond will start at safety next to Sanford, with Jarrad Page now backing them up. Page was signed Tuesday after being let go recently by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jenkins, who leads the team with three touchdown receptions and is second in catches and yards, has torn meniscus cartilage — Frazier didn’t say which knee — and will have surgery Thursday. His season-ending injury prompted the team to re-sign rookie Stephen Burton, a seventh-round draft pick who has been on and off the roster.

Leslie Frazier has one person on his coaching staff dedicated to watching replays and a couple of others who help out to make sure that he is notified when a call on the field has the potential to be overturned.
When that system broke down at a crucial moment during the Minnesota Vikings’ latest loss, it prompted Frazier to call for an examination of how the process works — or doesn’t — as the frustrations of this lost season continue to mount.
On third-and-goal in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to Atlanta, the Vikings gave the ball to Percy Harvin. He was stopped near the line of scrimmage by the Falcons defense, which also stuffed Toby Gerhart on fourth-and-goal from the 1 to keep the Vikings from carving into a 10-point deficit.
Replays appeared to show Harvin getting the ball across the goal line on his second effort. Frazier said Monday that the coaches who are charged with monitoring replays never brought the possibility of a challenge to his attention, a fact that appeared to give the usually reserved coach quite a bit of pause as the Vikings (2-9) prepare to enter the final portion of his first season on the job.
“We’ve got to review our communication based on that play alone,” Frazier said. “We’ve really got to review that going forward. Seeing the play and realizing that there was a chance to maybe get a challenge in there is something that we have to re-look at it how we’re communicating between myself and the guys upstairs.”
Harvin said after the game that he was lobbying for Frazier to challenge the call in what the receiver called a chaotic environment. The flag was never thrown and Gerhart went nowhere on the fourth-down play called by offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, preserving Atlanta’s lead and sending the Vikings to another loss.
Frazier did not identify by name the coaches responsible for helping with the replay reviews, and this one likely would have been a close call. Harvin’s initial forward progress was stopped on the play, but his knees never hit the turf and he lunged the ball across the goal line on his second effort.
“When our season is where it is and the way our season has gone, anytime you’re in a game like that, a close game, and we’ve been in a lot of close games this year, one play sometimes or one sequence can turn the game,” Frazier said. “We’ve seen that in our case a number of times when we don’t execute correctly from a coaching standpoint, just like our players. It will cost you. We’ve got to continue to work as a team and as a staff and get those situations correct.”
The latest coaching difficulties turned up the heat on Frazier and his staff as an impatient fan base looks for signs of improvement in what is shaping up as one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history.
“We’re certainly at a frustration level that is pretty out of sight right now,” linebacker Chad Greenway said. “All you can do at this point at 2-9 is come in each week and try to improve, play better within the scheme and just make the plays that are there.”
Defensive coordinator Fred Pagac is leading a unit that is ranked 19th in the league and has struggled to force turnovers and deliver impact plays. Musgrave has been up and down with the 30th-ranked offense, helping rookie quarterback Christian Ponder get acclimated to the NFL, but also calling some head-scratching plays that have stunted drives in key situations.
Frazier defended the run call on Sunday, saying it was the execution that was lacking.
“It’s an ongoing process as you evaluate what you’re doing offensively, defensively, special teams-wise based on the personnel that you have,” Frazier said. “You have to as a coach try to figure out a way to adjust to your personnel.”
The cold, hard reality is sinking in. This season is over and the focus has turned to the future, and players and coaches alike know that jobs are on the line going forward, starting with Sunday’s home game against Denver.
“In a lot of cases you’re playing for your job for next year and what you can bring to the team,” Greenway said. “In a lot of cases, if you’re a young guy and this is your opportunity, this is your chance to step up and shine and make some plays to give yourself a position on this team next year.”
Notes: The Vikings signed TE Mickey Shuler to the practice squad. Shuler was drafted a seventh-round draft choice in 2010 who was claimed off waivers by the Miami Dolphins that year. Shuler played in six games last year for the Dolphins but has not played in a game this season.

One day before the Oakland Raiders battle it out with the Minnesota Vikings at Mall of America Stadium in Minneapolis and already I’m to get nervous. But that’s what happens before every game that involved the Silver and Black, and this season every game has been an important one to win.

After the Raiders outstanding performance against the Chargers in San Diego, a victory for a second consecutive week will show they’ve made a big dent in overcoming some of their issues this year, including problems on defense. And stopping the Vikings’ great running back Adrian Peterson, will be key.

Michael Bush(notes) has done an exceptional job filling in for the injured Darren McFadden(notes), running for 157 yards in the game at San Diego, but it would be difficult to compare him against the Minnesota running back, and they may have the edge on this one, even if it’s just slight one.

The Vikings were stomped on by Green Bay Monday night, losing 45-7, in one of their worst losses of the decade. Peterson was held to just 51 yards in that game, and their rookie quarterback, Christian Ponder(notes) completed less than half of his passes and threw an interception. Minnesota’s record fell to a dismal 2-7, and their two wins came against the Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals, both with losing records.

Comparing the Raiders new quarterback, Carson Palmer(notes), to Ponder, Palmer has the clear edge, really getting his rhythm with the team in the game at Qualcomm Stadium. Oakland’s head coach, Hue Jackson, said one of the reasons he brought Palmer in, despite some who criticized his decision, was his leadership skills. Palmer is already proving to be a leader in his short time with the team, and Jackson said, as with everyone else on the Silver and Black, he has a high expectation of winning every time.

The biggest task might fall to Raiders left tackle Jared Veldheer(notes) who will try to slow down one of the best defensive end’s in football, Jared Allen(notes). Jackson remarked, “He’s as good as there is in football,” Raiders coach Hue Jackson said. “The guy has 13 1/2 sacks, and it’s not by accident. He doesn’t make any magical things happen, he just goes and plays extremely hard. What we have to do is get him blocked.”

That’s a lot of pressure on Veldheer, but he feels he’s up for the task and wants to do much of the job alone. Jackson said he’ll get him some extra help if he feels he needs it. This game may be closer than we might expect, but the Raiders are favored, and this time I don’t think they’ll disappoint. With the AFC West in a tight race this season, especially after the win by the Denver Broncos on Thursday, each and every game is a must win.

Just win baby!

K.C. Dermody grew up in the Bay Area of California, and has been an Oakland Raiders fan from the time she could walk. She has continued her loyalty to the team through its many ups and downs over the decades, and has been privileged to meet several of her favorite players, including famed quarterback, Jim Plunkett . Follow her at www.facebook.com/KCDermodyWriter or on Twitter @kcdermody.

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