Kyle Rudolph the Redzone Reindeer

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues

OWNED IN: 45% Owned in Fleaflicker

ANALYSIS: Quietly and quickly, Rudolph has become Teddy Bridgewater’s favorite pass catcher in Minnesota.  While speedsters Mike Wallace and Cordarrelle Patterson have been stuck in the starting blocks all season long, the plodding Rudolph is now the one making big plays downfield.  Wallace and Patterson could take some notes on Rudolph’s route running, that’s for sure.

Rudolph had been almost as non-existent as Wallace and Patterson for the bulk of the season, but over the past two weeks he has caught 13 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown.  This comes on the heels of a seven-game stretch where Rudolph did not have more than two receptions in any contest.  Not sure what flicked the switch on for Rudolph (or Bridgewater), but he picked the right time to go on a roll for fantasy owners.

Minnesota faces the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday in what should be a defensive battle with humongous playoff implications.  And while trying to get open against Seattle’s “Legion of Boom” secondary is never easy, it has gotten easier this season.  Just ask Pittsburgh, who just tore up the Boom boys for 480 passing yards this past weekend.  Plus the game is in Minnesota, and Seattle’s staunch defense is not the same when the Seahawks don’t have their crazy crowd blistering opponents’ eardrums.

Look for Rudolph to be aimed at a lot by Bridgewater on Sunday and for the veteran tight end to put another solid effort for the Vikes and for any fantasy owner who picks him up this week.