Minnesota Vikings: Ranking the Top 10 Offensive Weapons for 2011

The outlook for the Minnesota Vikings' offense in 2011 is bleak by most accounts. The potent offense of 2009 is gone and what remains is the 2010 offense that stumbled through a dreadful 6-10 season.

Brett Favre is no more, instead Minnesota found itself another veteran quarterback in 34-year-old Donovan McNabb.

Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson is back for more in 2011 as well as Percy Harvin, who Minnesota needs to develop into a No. 1 wide receiver.

Not much that has been written about Minnesota's offense in 2011 has been positive, but here's a look at the top 10 weapons for the offense this upcoming season.

10. Whoever Wins the No. 5 Receiver Battle

This battle is currently ongoing between Jaymar Johnson, Devin Aroshamodu and Emmanuel Arceneaux.

Johnson (6’0”, 176 pounds) was on Minnesota’s practice squad in 2010 but had one catch for nine yards in 2009.

Aroshamodu (6’2”, 201 pounds) had 10 catches for 149 yards and zero touchdowns with the Chicago Bears in 2010. In 2009, he had 24 catches for 298 yards and four scores.

Arceneaux (6’2”, 211 pounds) played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) the past two seasons and showed steady improvement from one year to the next.

In 2010, Arceneaux posted 67 catches for 1,114 yards and five touchdowns (up from 63 catches for 858 yards and seven touchdowns in 2009).

9. Greg Camarillo, WR

Minnesota acquired Camarillo from the Miami Dolphins a year and a day ago for cornerback Benny Sapp.

Camarillo was unimpressive in 2010, much like the rest of Minnesota’s roster (20 catches for 240 yards and one touchdown), but has positive attributes. In 2009, he did have 50 catches for 552 yards.

He’s known as a sure-handed receiver who’ll catch anything thrown in his general vicinity. But he doesn’t possess breakaway speed that’ll leave defenses playing far off.

He’s a solid No. 4 receiver, but there are plenty of better options out there. The wide receiver position is arguably Minnesota’s biggest weakness entering the 2011 season.

8. Toby Gerhart, RB

Gerhart was Minnesota’s second round pick in 2010 after he had a Heisman-worthy senior year as Stanford’s running back (1,871 yards rushing, 27 touchdowns).

Gerhart’s rookie season wasn’t spectacular nor was it terrible. It was very average (322 yards rushing, one touchdown, 21 receptions for 167 yards).

Word out of training camp was that Gerhart arrived there in great shape and looked primed for a big 2011 season if Minnesota presented him with more consistent opportunities.

Halfway through the preseason, Gerhart has had nine carries for 29 yards (3.22 yards per carry). It’s difficult to gauge a player’s prospects for the regular season by preseason play, but he’s been unimpressive in the preseason regardless.

As Peterson’s backup he won’t be needed often, but he’ll get the occasional carry.

7. Michael Jenkins, WR

Jenkins was one of Minnesota’s few offensive acquisitions after the lockout was lifted.

In 2010, Jenkins had 41 catches for 505 yards and two touchdowns for the Atlanta Falcons.

He has never posted more than 53 receptions, 777 yards receiving or seven touchdowns in any NFL season. But he just might be Minnesota’s No. 2 receiver entering 2011.

He is a big receiver, 6’4”, 214 pounds, who can serve as a good red zone option. He can go up over shorter defensive backs and secure touchdowns in the back of the end zone. Jenkins won’t outrun many defensive players but can serve as a solid receiver.

6. Bernard Berrian, WR

Berrian probably has the edge as the No. 2 wide receiver entering 2011 but it’s not like his grasp is air tight as newcomer Michael Jenkins is neck-and-neck with Berrian.

Berrian’s time with the Vikings has been disappointing. He was brought in after the 2007 season to revive the deep ball that left Minnesota when Randy Moss was traded in 2004.

It hasn’t been a storybook ending. In three seasons with Minnesota, Berrian’s posted 131 catches (28 in 2010), 11 touchdowns (zero scores in 2010), 1,834 yards (252 in 2010).

There’s reason for hope.

Former Viking Brett Favre never created a connection with Berrian in his two seasons as Minnesota’s starter. With Favre out and Donovan McNabb in, there’s hope that Berrian can at least regain his 2008 numbers (48 grabs, 964 yards, seven touchdowns).

Berrian should be motivated to prove he’s still a talented receiver in 2011, especially since Minnesota asked him to restructure his contract in order to remain on the team.

If that’s not motivation enough for Berrian to improve his play, I don’t know what is.

5. Kyle Rudolph, TE

If not for a hamstring injury, many felt that Rudolph was a first round talent coming out of Notre Dame. At 6’6”, 259 pounds, Rudolph is a very big receiver for any quarterback to throw to.

In two preseason games, he’s caught four passes for 32 yards and zero touchdowns.

He’s shown good hands by catching passes poorly thrown and making it look easy in two preseason games.

By the end of the year, depending on Shiancoe’s 2011 production, Rudolph could be Minnesota’s No. 1 tight end. The talent is there. It’s just a matter of whether the opportunity is there.

Regardless, Rudolph should play a large role in Minnesota’s passing game in 2010 and could work his way up to Donovan McNabb’s No. 2 target (it seems unlikely that Percy Harvin would get dethroned). 

4. Visanthe Shiancoe, TE

As was the case with so many Vikings in 2009, Shiancoe posted his best numbers of his career that year (56 receptions, 566 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns).

But as the Minnesota team suffocated in 2010, so did Shiancoe. He scored Minnesota’s first touchdown of the 2010 season but had only one more the rest of the season.

Shiancoe should return closer to his 2009 numbers in 2011 as he and fellow tight end Kyle Rudolph should become more integral in the passing game—especially with Minnesota’s unimpressive receiving core.

Shiancoe is a fast tight end with reliable hands and a big frame (6’4”, 250 pounds). He should be a good safety outlet for quarterback Donovan McNabb.

3. Donovan McNabb, QB

Minnesota needs McNabb to be phenomenal in 2011 as the talent of its receivers is average at best entering 2011.

McNabb had a marginal 2010 season (3,337 yards passing, 14 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, 77.1 passer rating). But Washington was like the plague in 2010: nothing went well (McNabb and defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth feuded with coaches and battled injuries).

McNabb’s out to prove he’s got more left in the tank and as Minnesota’s quarterback, he’ll need to be a top weapon for the team in order for it to be successful in 2011. But McNabb has had a good track record of doing more with less in Philadelphia, so it may not be too big of a stretch to think he can do well in Minnesota.

In Minnesota, McNabb gains a fresh start filled with fresh faces. With Adrian Peterson in the backfield, Percy Harvin at receiver and Kyle Rudolph and Visanthe Shiancoe at tight end, there are pieces for McNabb to regain his 2009 form (3,553 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 92.9 passer rating). 

2. Percy Harvin, WR

Harvin is as exciting of player to watch with the football as there is in the NFL. As a return man, running back or wide receiver, Harvin can run around or through defensive players. He’s an electrical player.

In 2011, the Vikings will need him to step up and become a No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL. And he has the skill-set to do so, it’s just all a matter of whether it’ll all come together in 2011.

With an aged Brett Favre and unqualified quarterbacks (Tarvaris Jackson and Joe Webb) in 2010, Harvin still had 71 receptions for 868 yards and five touchdowns in 14 games (60 receptions, 790 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games in 2010).

Harvin has been under-utilized in the Minnesota offense in the past. If offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave places Harvin in the backfield and lets him partake in running plays or more screen plays, Harvin could be even more effective in 2011. 

1. Adrian Peterson, RB

Peterson is without a doubt one of the top two running backs in the entire NFL. So, why would anyone else rank above him with regards to the Vikings’ offense?

Peterson, if healthy, is guaranteed to pick up at least 1,250 yards (his lowest career total was in 2010 when he had 1,298 yards rushing). He got his fumble problem under control in 2010 (one fumble) after a 2009 season where he fumbled the ball six times.

Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave has an offense that wants to get the running back more involved in the passing game. If Peterson rushes for what he has with regards to yards and touchdowns (his career low was 10 touchdowns in 2008) then Peterson should be one of the best offensive players in the NFL.