2026 · WEEK 5 CLOSE
$361−83.9%1W+49%SINCE '26 DRAFTHIGH $2,237
AGE29Jul 3, 1997
EXP7 yrssince 2019
HEIGHT6'5"
inherits 3% of MIN targets (25% vacated, his claim 10%)
Hockenson caught all 13 of his targets for 119 yards in Sunday's 15-10 win over the Dolphins.
The veteran tight end emerged as Kyler Murray's favorite target in the absence of Justin Jefferson (ankle), and as a result Hockenson produced his first game with 100-plus yards since 2024, when he popped for a 7-114-0 line against the Bears in Week 12. Hockenson came into Sunday with just 76 receiving yards, so he could have trouble repeating the performance even if Jefferson misses another game, but Murray had success feeding the ball to Trey McBride last year with Arizona as well -- McBride posted a 29-275-1 line on 42 targets during the five games they were in the lineup together. Hockenson will look to keep rolling in a Week 5 road trip to New Orleans.
Hockenson could be in line for an increase in targets during Sunday's Week 4 matchup against the Dolphins due to Justin Jefferson being ruled inactive for the contest.
Hockenson's 2026 campaign has gotten off to a reasonably productive start, as the veteran tight end has posted a 9-76-1 line on 13 targets through three games. While Hockenson didn't reap any tangible benefit from Jefferson's early exit during the Week 3 win over the Buccaneers -- the former recorded two receptions for 11 yards on four targets -- there's a possibility he's a lot more involved against a Dolphins team that's surrendered 15 receptions for 210 yards and two touchdowns to tight ends, along with an 88.2 percent catch rate.
Everyone sharing the ball with T.J., most valuable first.
Above the line the plan was to throw; below it, to run.
Hockenson caught two of his four targets for 11 yards in the Vikings' 23-16 win over the Buccaneers on Sunday.
Hockenson struggled along with the entire Vikings offense in the contest. The team relied on a single explosive rush and a single explosive pass play over the entire 60-minute game. Quarterback Kyler Murray was unable to stoke much of a passing attack against the Buccaneers, relying on a 41-yard touchdown to Jordan Addison for nearly a quarter of his passing yards on the night.
Hockenson caught four of five targets for 36 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' 39-22 win over the Packers on Sunday.
Justin Jefferson easily paced the Vikings with nine targets on 24 total pass attempts, but it was Hockenson who was second on the team with his five looks. His 16-yard touchdown in the third quarter pulled Minnesota within five points to make it 22-17 in favor of Green Bay. Hockenson averaged a career-low 29.2 yards per game last season, but improved quarterback play and being another year removed from ACL surgery has the veteran tight end undervalued in fantasy this season.
Hockenson recorded a touchdown reception from Kyler Murray during the Vikings' final training camp practice Aug. 26, Andrew Krammer of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Hockenson played just five snaps in the Vikings' preseason opener and was rested for the final two exhibition tilts, but he's been getting in reps with the first-team offense throughout camp. After a delayed start to the 2024 campaign while he completed his recovery from a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee, Hockenson mostly stayed healthy in 2025 but was a middling fantasy option at tight end with a 51-438-3 receiving line on 66 targets over 15 games. Though Hockenson should benefit from upgraded quarterback play in 2026 after drawing targets from the likes of J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer a season ago, the closest Murray has come to supporting two fantasy relevant pass catchers was in 2024, when tight end Trey McBride (111-1,146-2 line in 16 games) and wideout Marvin Harrison (62-885-8 in 17 games) both had some utility. Justin Jefferson is locked in as the clear top weapon in the passing game and should dominate the targets, but Hockenson could struggle to see consistent volume while he's vying with the likes of No. 2 receiver Jordan Addison and No. 3 receiver Jauan Jennings for the remaining looks that don't go to Jefferson.
The TEs priced immediately above and below him.
