Minnesota VikingsOur read
Written Sun 12:01 am Central, for week 6
The Vikings are off in week 6 of 2026, so Demond Claiborne scores nothing this week and his next game is week 7 at home against the Colts. He's buried third in the Minnesota backfield behind Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason anyway, with 1 PPR point a game and no touchdowns across four games this season. There's no projection to chase this week since his team doesn't play, so keep him out of the lineup and cover the roster spot with someone who suits up.
Written Oct 17, from his facts through last season
Four weeks of 2026 have told us everything: 6 carries, 13 rushing yards, 2 catches, 8 receiving yards, zero touchdowns, 1.0 points a game. He sat in week 1 of 2026 and his best week since was 1.6 points. The talent question is not answerable yet, but the opportunity question already is.
Minnesota lists him third among its backs, behind Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason with Jermar Jefferson fourth, and O'Connell calls the plays himself, so nobody expects the rotation to change for a sixth-round pick without injuries ahead of him. The offense around him does not help either. Minnesota went 54% situation-neutral passes in 2025 and ran 33.4 seconds a play, and Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison took 50% of the targets between them, so a fourth option behind those two has little room to eat. We set our preseason number at 27 points for the season on just 6 expected games, a 4.5-point pace, and that was already a thin case. He is coming in under it.
He has carried no injury designation since before week 2 of 2026, so health is not the issue, and his bye in week 6 of 2026 gives you a clean moment to move on. Our records carry no ADP for him, and nothing in the first month argues for holding the spot. On our board he sits RB89, overall 338, with three players left in his tier before a 3.1-point cliff, so there is little reason to think the situation turns on its own. If you need the roster spot, swap him for any healthy back with a path to touches, and if you have the room, check back after the bye.