Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (lower back) is expected to play in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, per head coach Kevin O'Connell.
Hockenson was unavailable throughout August due to an ear infection and a lower back injury, but he's feeling better after signing a four-year, $68.5 million contract extension with the Vikings on Thursday. After Hockenson was acquired from the Detroit Lions at midseason last year, he averaged 9.4 targets, 6.6 receptions, 55.9 yards and scored 3 touchdowns in nine full games.
Hock is the TE3 in numberFire's preseason rankings and widely considered to be in the second tier at his position with only Mark Andrews. Our models project Hockenson for 135.4 targets, 88.3 receptions, 856.8 yards, and 7.46 touchdowns this season. He has a $7,200 salary in Week 1 and we project him for 10.1 FanDuel points.
Source: Ben Goessling, Star Tribune