Jerome Simpson has agreed to terms with the Minnesota Vikings on a one year deal.
Simpson will be suspended for three games for being caught with multiple pounds of marijuana but will have a good opportunity to rehab his value with a one-year prove it deal with the Vikings.
Simpson and Harvin make a formidable one-two punch and Christian Ponder has to be elated that he now has another solid receiving option to throw the ball to.
Fantasy Impact:
Jerome Simpson – Simpson should slide into a flex role with the Vikings as he operates as the number two receiver in name. With that said the Vikings made a habit of taking Harvin off the field in certain scenarios last year which could in turn lead to Simpson becoming the number one receiver on this team as far as statistics go. Simpson will be a hyped sleeper as the fantasy football campaign nears so add him to your cheat sheets with the knowledge that he could well be the top fantasy wideout on the Vikings.
Percy Harvin – Harvin gets an upgrade as opposing defenses will now have to worry about Simpson as well. While Harvin possesses vertical ability, he is more adept at the short to intermediate routes and using his game-breaking ability to generate yards-after-the-catch. Harvin will remain a WR2 but still has a WR3 floor. Harvin may see his yards per catch dwindle for the fourth consecutive season but is a good bet to surpass the 87 receptions he recorded last year which make him a viable WR1 threat in PPR leagues.
Christian Ponder – Ponder now has two legit wide receiver options and may find some value as a bye week filler. The Vikings may add more talent via the draft which would put Ponder in very low end QB2 status. The Vikings will remain a run-first team but we expect Ponder to pass the 200 yards per game threshold in his sophomore season.
Adrian Peterson – Opposing defenses will have to give a little more respect to the Vikings vertical game with Simpson in town and that is music to the ears of Adrian Peterson and his fantasy owners. Only in his sixth NFL season Peterson should see more yards per game at a higher per carry clip and has the opportunity to restake his claim as the best running back in fantasy football.
