KyleRudolph

News: 4 hours agoRudolph brought in seven of eight targets for 68 yards in the Vikings' 28-27 win over the Panthers on Sunday.

Spin: The veteran tight end appeared poised for some extra work with position mate Irv Smith (groin) and wideout Adam Thielen (reserve/COVID-19) both out of action, but he nevertheless had a relatively quiet first half. However, Rudolph got plenty of Kirk Cousins' attention as the Vikings mounted a second-half comeback and finished tied for the team lead in receptions while checking in second in targets. It all equated to season highs across the board for Rudolph, who'll look to maintain a presence in the offense during a Week 13 battle against the Jaguars.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Minnesota placed Rudolph on the trade block last offseason, but the situation was resolved with a contract extension and the veteran tight end finishing eighth among tight ends in snaps and fourth in touchdowns (six). Of course, sharing with Irv Smith Jr. in a run-heavy offense also had its disadvantages. Rudolph's catch (39) and yardage (367) totals were both his lowest since 2014. Rudolph remains a reliable short-area target, but he's now 30 years old and figures to lose more looks to Smith in 2020. Rudolph is no more than a fringe TE2.