2018 NFL Power Rankings: Eagles no longer on top after Week 2 of preseason

4. Minnesota Vikings

Dealing with a healthy Aaron Rodgers could be the top factor standing in the way of the Minnesota Vikings winning the NFC North for a second season in a row, but that doesn’t mean there’s any reason to doubt this football team. After falling just shy of a trip to the Super Bowl last year, the Vikings upgraded at the quarterback position by coming through as the winners in the Kirk Cousins sweepstakes, and as tough as it was to move on from Case Keenum, this was the right decision for the long run.

For years, Cousins has been fighting for a long-term contract instead of playing under the franchise tag, and after the Washington Redskins made it clear they were moving on with Alex Smith, the Vikings were quite happy to see him become available. When looking at the new weapons Cousins has to work with on offense, there’s every reason to believe that Minnesota will be one of the top teams in the NFC once again.

Even though he only threw for 12 yards on 3 of 8 passing against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Vikings just need Cousins to stay healthy at this point in the preseason. Once Week 1 rolls around, Cousins should be able to play at a MVP level.