Top Five Vikings Sleeper Stories

There are quite a lot of sleeper stories going into the pre-season. I will be breaking down the top five sleeper stories.

Some of them will involve depth chart battles, big shoes to fill in, and a star player returning from an injury that brought his team down to the slumps.

These stories are great and I really don't want you to miss them. So here we go, as we are onto the next slide which starts the list of top five sleeper stories.

5. Tyrell Johnson Taking Over for Darren Sharper

With Darren Sharper leaving Minnesota for New Orleans, Tyrell Johnson will be taking over. Sharper has been getting old and his performance has been going down so with Johnson taking over, we can finally start younger and fresher starter at safety.

4. A Breakout Season Out There for Rice

No one is really talking about Sidney Rice but I, and many Viking fans, are going above that. I think Rice will have a breakout season.

Getting some pretty good stats, yards after catch, more receptions, more touchdowns, and so much more!

If he has a really good season, Minnesota's wide receiver category is pretty much solved.

3. Birk Leaving, Sullivan Taking over

With Matt Birk gone, the Vikings offensive line may be somewhat weakened. But I believe John Sullivan is a pretty good offensive lineman.

Last year as, a rookie, he played well in the pre-season. Matt Birk was one of the best centers in the NFL so, like Aaron Rodgers last year with the Brett Favre saga in Green Bay, John Sullivan has some big shoes to fill in.

But I think he can handle it.

2. Loadholt Being Starter Over Cook

Phil Loadholt was drafted in the second round in the NFL Draft this year. He is expected to compete for the starting job against Ryan Cook.

Phil Loadholt was one of the best lineman in college, so don't be surprised if he wins the starting job.

If he does win though, I think Brett Favre (if he comes to the team) will have a nice, big and strong, kid guarding for him.

1. Henderson Returning From Injury

Last year when EJ Henderson broke his toe, he was out for the rest of the of the 2008-09 season.. Minnesota really missed him.

In my very first article I was talking about how good the Vikings would do, well I said that he would of stopped the screen in the playoff where Westbrook ran for a 80 yard touchdown to seal the game.

Vikings fans will be really happy when he comes back.

He will certainly bring a boost to Minny's defensive squad.