Vikings @ Titans
Final Score: Titans 23, Vikings 13
Writer: Geoff Ulrich @thefantasygrind (X.com)
This was one of those typical Week 3 preseason specials where some nice plays were made, but it’s really hard to glean anything big from the results, as one team (Minnesota) essentially just played their third-stringers. The Vikings are already banged up on offense, so they sat all their starting WRs and RBs, and then also made the decision to trade backup Sam Howell, so we only saw 3rd and 4th string QBs.
Cam Ward played early for a couple of series, and that was easily the highlight of this game, but Tennessee also took it easy after that (although they still won the game easily). I noted the most important performances and lines below, with the most intriguing outcomes from this game being the battle for the WR3 job in Minnesota and the depth play at WR for Tennessee as well.
Three Up
- Cam Ward – More nice throws. Ward looks poised and has real arm talent. I still worry about the supporting cast, but if Ridley et. al. can stay healthy, he has a shot at a big rookie year
- Van Jefferson – Had a really nice play in this game where he outtraced all the DBs for a 66-yard TD
- Jeshaun Jones – Likely locked himself up a roster spot and might even start the year as WR3 in Minnesota
One Down
- Lucky Jackson – Another meh outing. Once the favorite to be WR3, he’s in jeopardy of falling down the depth chart
Minnesota Vikings
Quarterback
Max Brosmer: 15/23, 161 yards, TD | 2 carries, 5 yards
The Vikings traded away Sam Howell (semi-shocker to be honest) and signed Carson Wentz directly after this game. Wenzt is not good at this point, but the Vikings bringing in a veteran to help JJ McCarthy does make sense and does help the prospects of Max Brosmer, who looked quite good again in this game.
Brosmer was obviously going up against a Titans team resting starters for the most part, but he was also playing behind a backup O-Line and was under pressure at times in this game. He made quite a few great timing throws and showcased good arm strength on downfield passes, some of which he was pressured on. His best was likely this dart.
Brosmer isn’t pushing JJ McCarthy anytime soon, but there is a world where the Vikings may choose to give him a shot if McCarthy misses time. Either way, for an undrafted free agent, he looks like a legit backup type talent who may be able to carve out a role at some point. Seems like a good depth player for the Vikings to have.
Titans show single-high, rotate post-snap to cover 2
Max Brosmer spots the rotation right away, speeds up his dropback and delivers a dart on the money for the hole shot to Fleming
This is high end QB play pic.twitter.com/p1bVhkI1K6
— Krauser (@Krauserrific) August 23, 2025
Running Back
There just isn’t much reason to note the play of any ball carrier for the Vikings in this game. The top three RBs on Minnesota (Jones, Mason, Chandler) are all healthy and rested this week, and there is nobody of note on the roster after those three.
If Minnesota got into heavy injury trouble, they would likely pick someone off waivers or make a trade.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
My biggest takeaway from the Vikings’ WR performance in this game is that a trade is likely coming down the pipe in Minnesota (Thielen likely). None of the guys who are supposed to be decent stood out, and the one guy who played well is a fringe player, who no one really knows much about (and hardly someone a team with Super Bowl aspirations wants to be relying on as their WR3).
Jeshaun Jones: 4 targets, 4 receptions, 41 yards
He was likely the best WR of this group. Converted all four of his targets and continues to get some good separation downfield. He doesn’t stand out at all based on metrics, but when a guy continues to get open like he has been doing and converts those targets into catches, does it really matter?
He should have locked himself into a roster spot and may even see significant snaps to start the year if the Vikings don’t make a trade.
Lucky Jackson: 2 targets, 1 rec, 10 yards
Has had a terrible preseason (or at least a poor Week 2) and didn’t do much to rectify things here. Made one nice grab, but it was more of a good timing throw by Brosmer than anything.
He’s inconsistent, which could mean some highlight grabs every once in a while, but the Vikings are likely disappointed that he didn’t run away with the WR3 job out of camp. Not someone I’d be interested in for fantasy even if he was gifted the WR3 role.
Myles Price: 3 targets, 1 rec, 9 yards
Good returner, but needed to do more to lock up a WR3 job. He didn’t do much either, but may still make the team, just someone to note in case the Minnesota receiver situation gets worse, because he does have punt returner speed.
Tennessee Titans
Quarterback
Cam Ward: 3/4, 36 yards
Ward only played a series, but again made a highlight reel throw that showcased his ability to read a field and has tremendous arm talent that is going to lead to some explosive plays this season.
dude Cam Ward is legit goodness
pic.twitter.com/SwhpEgo0fw— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) August 23, 2025
My one worry about Ward is his lack of weaponry. Tyler Lockett is older (0 catches from Ward in this game, 1 target), and Van Jefferson (who caught the pass above) is inconsistent.
If Ridley goes down, Ward may struggle.
Running Back
Julius Chestnut: 5 carries, 28 yards, TD
Both Tony Pollard and the still-injured Tyjae Spears sat out this game. Chestnut got the start and solidified his role on the team by punching in a one-yard score. Chestnut doesn’t have breakaway speed, but if Pollard went down, he’d be locked into short-yardage roles most likely and might be a nice source of weekly TDs for fantasy, because he is a pretty powerful between-the-tackles runner.
Spears will likely be ready for Week 1 (or 2 at worst), and with Spears being such a good receiving back, Chestnut likely won’t see much field, but he does have a path to fantasy relevance at some point, which he solidified in this game.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Van Jefferson: 3 targets, 3 rec, 102 yards, TD
Van Jefferson is one of those WRs who looks very mediocre to me most games, but then every once in a while looks like Jerry Rice, and I’m always like “why doesn’t this guy have a consistent role somewhere?”
After committing a brutal drop vs the Falcons in Week 2, Jefferson showed up with a banger, the highlight being this 66-yard catch and run.
Van Jefferson takes it 65 Yards to the house! 🔥@Titans pic.twitter.com/pdTrviwi1g
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) August 23, 2025
Did he benefit a little from sloppy CB play on that one? Sure, but the speed he showed was no joke. The Vikings do have some interesting names behind Jefferson, but he certainly will start the year as WR in this offense behind Ridley and the aging Tyler Lockett.
Given the arm of Ward, it’s possible he has some nice moments and even becomes a bye-week fill-in type of player.
Elic Ayomanor: 3 targets, 3 rec, 25 yards
Aynomanor looked solid again in this game. He got the start with Ward and played as the outside receiver with Ridley sitting. He’s a pretty solid blend of size and speed, although it is hard to draw a lot of conclusions from a game like this where he’s playing against a team clearly just going through the motions.
Still, Ayomanor took in two of his three catches in this game from Ward and has made plays all preseason. If Tyler Lockett looks too dusty, it’s possible the Titans push Ayomanor for more snaps at some point.