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TE Jim Kleinsasser, Minnesota Vikings
HT: 6-3, WT: 272, Born: 1-31-1977, College: North Dakota, Drafted: Round 2
| Outlook • Career Statistics • Game Logs • Split Stats • Play-by-play • Latest News |
2008 Projections
| REC | YD | Y/R | TD | FPT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Dodds | 4 | 32 | 8.0 | 0 | 3 |
| Chris Smith | 11 | 80 | 7.3 | 2 | 20 |
| Bob Henry | 3 | 28 | 9.3 | 0 | 3 |
| Jason Wood | 5 | 45 | 9.0 | 0 | 5 |
| Maurile Tremblay | 7 | 68 | 9.7 | 0 | 7 |
Best Case
Kleinsasser may snag a few more passes than usual down around the goal line, providing a nice option if the team decides to use Adrian Peterson as a decoy. Kleinsasser's excellent blocking ability means he's typically on the field in goal line packages, so he could sneak a score or two in there. And since he has shown an ability in the past to be a solid receiving option (46-401-4 in 2003), he'd be a capable fill-in for Visanthe Shiancoe should injury strike.
Worst Case
That Kleinsasser keeps plodding along as he has for the last five years. He caught 22 passes three years ago, but has just eleven the last two seasons combined. And he's got just one touchdown since 2003. Now 31, his days as a receiving option are likely over. The team signed Shiancoe last year, and while it took him awhile to adapt to the new team, he is going to be counted on a lot more in 2008. The team also signed Bernard Berrian as a free agent, pushing Kleinsasser even further down the list of options. Nothing has changed in Kleinsasser's favor that would mean a great increase over the four passes he caught last year.
Outlook
Kleinsasser hasn't been relevant in fantasy circles for nearly five years, and even then it was for one brief season. He's much more valuable due to his blocking abilities. Having caught just eleven passes combined the past two seasons and with the Vikings having a good number of weapons ahead of him, he won't make a regular fantasy impact. If he was called upon to be a contributor to the passing game (read: only if Visanthe Shiancoe is injured), then he could provide a reliable target down around the goal line but that would likely be the extent of his value.
2008 Schedule
| Week | Opponent |
|---|---|
| 1 | at Green Bay Packers |
| 2 | Indianapolis Colts |
| 3 | Carolina Panthers |
| 4 | at Tennessee Titans |
| 5 | at New Orleans Saints |
| 6 | Detroit Lions |
| 7 | at Chicago Bears |
| Bye week | |
| 9 | Houston Texans |
| 10 | Green Bay Packers |
| 11 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 12 | at Jacksonville Jaguars |
| 13 | Chicago Bears |
| 14 | at Detroit Lions |
| 15 | at Arizona Cardinals |
| 16 | Atlanta Falcons |
| 17 | New York Giants |
2007 Game Summaries
Week 2 - The only ball thrown Kleinsasser's way was an ill-advised, off-balance toss from Tarvaris Jackson that was intercepted on his fifth pass of the game.
Week 16 - Kleinsasser was the backup tight end and caught a touchdown pass from the two yard line.
