EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Vikings special teams units ranked in the upper echelon of statistical categories around the NFL in 2016.

Vikings Special Teams Coordinator Mike Priefer once again showcased two of the top returners in the league: kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson, who earned a Pro Bowl nod and led the NFL with a kickoff return average of 31.8 yards, as well as punt returner Marcus Sherels.

The Vikings, however, did make an in-season change of kickers, replacing Blair Walsh with Kai Forbath midway through the season. Forbath promptly made all 15 of his field goal attempts. 

Here are three stats where the Vikings special teams improved in 2016, with two areas they could work on for next season:

3 Stats that Improved

Punt Return Average

The Vikings averaged 10.4 yards per punt return in 2016, good for eighth in the league, and were one of nine teams to average at least 10 yards per return. That was an improvement over 2015 when Minnesota ranked 13th in the league with an average of 9.1 yards per return. Sherels, a Minnesota native, was once again one of the league's top returners as he ranked second with an average return of 13.9 yards. Minnesota's punt return average took a dip when Sherels missed five games with injuries.

Yards Per Punt (Gross and Net)

Vikings punter Jeff Locke enjoyed a bounce-back season after a disappointing 2015 campaign. Locke averaged 42.6 yards per punt with a net average of 39.0 yards per punt in 2016, stronger numbers than the 41.6 average and 37.8 net average he put up in 2015. Locke seemed to benefit from moving indoors at U.S. Bank Stadium, where he uncorked a career-long 72-yard punt. He also tied for fifth in the league by landing 34 punts inside an opponents' 20-yard line.

Fumble Recoveries

While Priefer's bunch had just one fumble recovery in 2015, that number was tripled this season. Audie Cole's recovery against the Cowboys helped Minnesota maintain possession, but the two others led to scores. Sherels recovered a fumble against the Giants (thanks in part to pressure from Patterson as a gunner), which led to a 1-yard rushing touchdown. Rookie safety Jayron Kearse pounced on a dropped punt in a Week 17 win against the Bears, as the turnover led to a 1-yard touchdown pass.

2 Stats to Target

Allowing a Touchdown on a Kickoff Return

Priefer and the Vikings won't be satisfied unless this number is always 0. That was the case in 2015, when the Vikings didn't allow a kickoff return for a score. But a turning point in Minnesota's first loss of the season was the 98-yard touchdown return by Philadelphia's Josh Huff just moments after the Vikings had taken a 3-0 advantage. The Eagles grabbed the lead and dropped the Vikings to 5-1.

Punt Return Average Allowed

This one might be nitpicking a bit, but only because the Vikings were generally strong all across the board on special teams. Minnesota ranked eighth in the league by allowing just 8.0 yards per punt return this season. That was a slight drop from 2015, when the Vikings tied for fourth by allowing 5.2 yards per punt return.