The Minnesota Vikings have seen solid results from 2024 free agency addition Sam Darnold and their passing game, ranking 25th in passing attempts but 13th in total yards through the first 11 weeks of the season.
However, their running game hasn’t matched that success. Kristopher Knox from Bleacher Report has suggested Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams as a possible upgrade to bolster the Vikings’ ground attack.
“The 2021 second-round pick looked like a future perennial all-star as a rookie, finishing with 1,219 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns despite making just a single start,” Kristopher Knox wrote on November 16. “Unfortunately, Williams suffered tears to his ACL, LCL, and PCL during his second season and hasn’t returned to the spotlight since.
“The Minnesota Vikings would be an ideal landing spot for Williams. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has regularly used his running backs as threats in the running and passing games—a role for which Williams is well-equipped.”
Javonte Williams has accumulated 447 rushing yards on 112 carries (4.0 YPC) over his nine starts in 2024.
“Williams was still returning to form in 2023, but he’s also entered an odd backfield rotation under head coach Sean Payton over the past two years. While the 24-year-old still leads Denver in rushing attempts and rushing yards, Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estimé, and quarterback Bo Nix have significantly cut into his rushing workload,” Knox observed.
“Putting another year between himself and the knee injury should help Williams recapture the juice he showcased as a rookie,” Knox noted. “To truly shine again, though, he’ll need to find the high-volume workload he simply isn’t going to get in Denver.”
