T.J. Hockenson Injury Update: Vikings TE Cleared for Week 7, Fantasy Football Stock Soars

T.J. Hockenson’s Fantasy Stock Faces Make-or-Break Week 7 vs. Eagles Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson entered 2025 as a consensus top-five fantasy option, but six weeks in he has yet to top 50 receiving yards in a game and owns just one touchdown on the season. With the Vikings (2-4) hosting the NFC-leading Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Hockenson’s usage, health and chemistry with new quarterback Carson Wentz have never been under a brighter spotlight. Slow Start Rooted in Role Adjustment Head coach Kevin O’Connell quietly tweaked Hockenson’s assignment after Week 3, asking him to chip block more frequently before releasing into routes. The added blocking responsibility has trimmed his route participation from 89 percent in 2024 to 75 percent this season, helping the run game but capping his upside in the seam and red zone. Emerging Chemistry With Carson Wentz Since Wentz replaced the injured J.J. McCarthy in Week 4, Hockenson has commanded a 16.2 percent target share and averaged 42 yards per game, numbers slightly above his first-three-week pace yet still below elite territory. “Carson’s always had an axe for finding the tight end,” Hockenson said Wednesday, adding that extra post-practice reps are “starting to pay off.” Injury Outlook Fantasy managers got a scare when Hockenson was limited in Thursday’s session with knee soreness—the same knee he tore late in 2023—but he told reporters the restriction was “100 percent precautionary.” Pro Football Network lists him as “likely to play” without a game-day pitch count. Why Week 7 Matters 1. Matchup spike: Philadelphia has allowed the third-most fantasy points to tight ends the past four weeks, surrendering four TDs and 68.5 yards per game to the position. 2. Target vacuum: WR Jordan Addison (ankle) is doubtful, opening an additional 6.8 targets per game. 3. Narrative momentum: A splash performance heading into a two-game road swing could re-cement Hockenson as the offense’s No. 2 option behind Justin Jefferson and silence early-season doubts about his four-year, $68 million extension. Start-or-Sit Verdict If you’ve held Hockenson this long, Week 7 is a pivot point, not a bench signal. The volume outlook and matchup create top-three positional upside; benching him now risks missing the breakout you drafted. DFS Angle At $5,300 on DraftKings and $6,600 on FanDuel, Hockenson is priced outside the top tier, making him an ideal tournament leverage play stacked with Wentz against an Eagles defense expected to funnel targets underneath. Rest-of-Season Projection Assuming health, a post-bye target share near 20 percent is within reach. Even modest touchdown regression—he averaged 0.35 TDs per game pre-injury in 2023—would vault him back into the elite fantasy tier during the playoff push. Bottom Line Sunday’s clash with Philadelphia offers the perfect storm for T.J. Hockenson to rewrite the opening chapter of his 2025 season. Whether you’re a fantasy manager weighing trade offers or a Vikings fan craving another reliable weapon for Carson Wentz, Week 7 should tell us if the buy-low window on one of the league’s highest-paid tight ends is about to slam shut.