Jimmy Kleinsasser

Kleinsasser is strictly a blocking tight end/full back and only caught just 10 passes even with tight end-loving Brett Favre at the helm last season.

Kleinsasser, a great blocking tight end, is a big part of Adrian Peterson's success. He will continue to block for Peterson but is a player who is defined by his toughness, not by his statistics.

Kleinsasser remains in his role as a bruising tight end with the ability to play fullback who is very useful as a blocker and good for a few tough yards from time to time. Say what you want about him, but you can never take away his title as one of the best all-time athletes from the loaded state of North Dakota.

Kleinsasser is No. 1 on the depth chart after Jermaine Wiggins bolted for Jacksonville, but he’ll battle free-agent Visanthe Shiancoe for the starting job in training camp. The tight end position was de-emphasied in the West Coast offense last year, so it doesn’t matter who wins the job. Neither will have great value, but it should be noted that the Vikes’ tight ends ranked ninth in the NFL with 18 red-zone targets.

After catching 46 passes for 401 yards and four scores in 2003, Kleinsasser partially tore his ACL in Week 1 last season and didn’t play again. He’s expected to be healthy for the start of training camp, but given the big year fellow tight end Jermaine Wiggins had, Kleinsasser will likely see a smaller role in the downfield passing game. Still, Kleinsasser should again see time in an H-Back role and could catch some passes coming out of the backfield.

Kleinsasser's move back to tight end from fullback was a success as he had a career-best season with 46 receptions for 401 yards and four touchdowns. The Minnesota coaching staff is finally confident in his pass-catching abilities as well as his blocking and Culpepper grew confident in him as a safety valve. With the release of Byron Chamberlain, he'll be the primary receiving tight end and could get a few short-yardage rushing attempts as well.

Kleinsasser was moved back to tight end from fullback last year and also became a receiving target in the offense. He should split time as the primary tight end target with Byron Chamberlain and still get a few short-yardage carries.