Vikings players need your help to get to the 2016 Pro Bowl.
This year's matchup will take place at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday, Jan. 29 and will be televised live at 7 p.m. (CT) on ESPN.
Fan voting begins today, and you can cast your votes here. After sending five players to last year's Pro Bowl, the Vikings hope to again be well represented at the game. Below are a number of Vikings who appear on the ballot and a key stat or two from their performances over the first five weeks of the 2016 season.
QB – Sam Bradford
Bradford joined the Vikings on Sept. 3 via trade after starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater suffered a season-ending knee injury. Bradford's first start for Minnesota occurred in Week 2.
In his time with Minnesota, Bradford has thrown for 990 yards (second highest in his career through four games), six touchdowns and no interceptions. His 70.4 completion percentage ranks second in the NFL behind Chicago's Brian Hoyer (71.4) and is the highest completion percentage (through first four games of the season) of his seven-season career.
Bradford's passer rating of 109.7 also stands out, ranking second in the NFL behind Matt Ryan (121.6). It is the highest passer rating (through his first four games of the season) of his seven-season career.
WR – Stefon Diggs
Diggs started the first four games for Minnesota before being inactive in Week 5 due to an injury. He has recorded 372 yards, averaging 93 yards per game, which ranks sixth in the NFL.
TE – Kyle Rudolph
In his sixth season with Minnesota, Rudolph is already off to a great start. Rudolph's 21 catches ties his highest number of receptions through the first five weeks of a season since 2013. In addition, Rudolph has recorded his highest number of receiving yards (236) over five games of his career, and he has three touchdown catches so far.
DE – Everson Griffen
In his seventh season with the Vikings, Griffen leads the team with 4.0 sacks. After his three-sack performance at Carolina, Griffen was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week.
DT – Linval Joseph
In his third season with Minnesota and seventh in the NFL, Joseph continues to wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines. Joseph has put plenty of pressure on opponents' quarterbacks through the first five weeks of the season and already has 3.0 sacks on the books. He also is a key to Minnesota allowing 77.8 rushing yards per game.
MLB – Eric Kendricks
Kendricks' second NFL season is off to a strong start, with him playing a big role in Minnesota's dynamic defense. Over five games started, Kendricks has his hand in a number of stat categories, including one forced fumble, six passes defensed and an interception return for a touchdown. After his performance in Week 1 when he returned an interception 77 yards for a score, Kendricks was named NFC Defensive player of the week.
OLB – Anthony Barr
In year three, Barr continues to make a major impact in games, helping to anchor a Vikings defense that ranks sixth overall in the league and fourth in yards allowed per game (287.6). Barr is looking to make his second straight Pro Bowl appearance.
CB – Xavier Rhodes
Rhodes will look for his first career Pro Bowl nod in his fifth season with the Vikings. In three games started (Rhodes missed two due to injury), Rhodes has recorded an interception and three passes defensed. He has also helped contain top opposing wide receivers such as Kelvin Benjamin, Odell Beckham, Jr. and DeAndre Hopkins.
In the three games Rhodes has played, opposing teams have been held to an average of 205.7 passing yards per game.
S – Harrison Smith
After appearing in his first career Pro Bowl last season, Smith will look to make a return trip. He already has 37 tackles on the books and is the only defensive back on the team to also have a sack.
Return Specialist – Marcus Sherels
It seems every season that Sherels leaves his mark on the league, and the first five games of 2016 have been no different. Sherels currently ranks second in the NFL with 11 punt returns for 181 yards, and he is the only returner in the league to have two punt return touchdowns.
