Kyle Rudolph had two catches for 27 yards in Sunday's Week 1 loss to the Lions. He was targeted four times in the passing game. Rudolph's fantasy value is entirely dependent on his ability to score touchdowns. He has little impact other than as a red-zone threat.

Kyle Rudolph caught one pass for five yards in the Vikings' third preseason game Sunday night. He has four grabs for 44 yards in the preseason. While we're not excited about Rudolph at his eighth-round ADP, he does have a good chance to lead the Vikings in receiving touchdowns for the second consecutive season. Christian Ponder looks for Rudolph in scoring position. It was again evident Sunday night.

In two seasons with the Vikings, TE Kyle Rudolph has caught 20-of-23 red zone targets. That's a whopping 87 percent red zone catch rate for Rudolph. During that same span Rob Gronkowski caught 65 percent, Tony Gonzalez 63 percent, and both Jimmy Graham and Jason Witten caught 53 percent. While his red zone production is certainly impressive, Rudolph still lacks the consistency of an an elite fantasy option. We like him as a low-end TE1.

Coach Leslie Frazier said Kyle Rudolph is "so much more sure of himself" this season.

Kyle Rudolph earned MVP honors as the NFC whipped the AFC 62-35 in Sunday night's Pro Bowl game. The scoring was obviously unrealistic, but the quality of play and watch-able-ness of this year's Pro Bowl was a big upgrade on last year's. In-game breaks were brief, the tempo was fast-paced, and there was actually some pass rush. Rudolph finished with five catches for 122 yards and a touchdown, beating Chiefs LBs Tamba Hali and Justin Houston like a drum in coverage. The AFC's top performer, in their losing effort, was Bengals receiver A.J. Green, who scored three touchdowns. Rudolph's terrific game teases at the kind of production he's capable of if Christian Ponder develops into a consistent quarterback.

Kyle Rudolph caught three passes for 42 yards in the Vikings' Wild Card Round loss to the Packers. Joe Webb was brutal at Lambeau Field, so none of his receivers or tight ends put much in the box score. Although Rudolph finished ninth in regular season fantasy scoring among tight ends, the 23-year-old averaged under ten yards per catch and was mostly a touchdown-dependent scorer from a fantasy perspective. He doesn't create much separation and often went in the tank when Christian Ponder struggled. Rudolph will return as a low-end TE1 candidate in 2013.

Kyle Rudolph was held to 20 yards on two receptions and six targets versus the Packers in Week 17. Rudolph was more heavily involved than the box score suggests. The six targets tied for the team high, and he would have scored a touchdown on a jump ball if not for a pass defensive interference penalty. Rudolph remains Christian Ponder's favorite red-zone target heading into the rematch at Green Bay.

Kyle Rudolph caught three passes for 39 yards with a touchdown in the Vikings' Week 16 upset over the Texans. Midway through the first quarter, the Vikings called the goal-line play that has worked so well for them all year. Rudolph engaged as a blocker and then released to the front pylon where Christian Ponder found him on his first read. It was Rudolph's ninth touchdown of the year on 51 catches. He'll be a red-zone target once again against the Packers in Week 17.

Kyle Rudolph got three passes for 22 yards in Minnesota's Week 15 win over the Rams. Back-up John Carlson took a bite out of Rudolph's stat-line, posting his first multi-catch effort of the season. Coming off a zero-grab Week 14, Rudolph was targeted just four times as the Vikes leaned on Adrian Peterson. Rudolph can't be counted on as a TE1 for fantasy championship week.

Kyle Rudolph (shoulder) returned to a full practice Friday and is listed as probable for Week 15. Rudolph would be awfully hard to trust in fantasy semifinals with a goose egg in three of his last seven games. If Christian Ponder were playing better, Rudolph might be leading all tight ends in touchdowns this season.