Kyle Rudolph believes he's just now back to 100 percent following hamstring surgery that limited him to six games his final year at Notre Dame. "It didn't really start coming back until late last season," Rudolph said. "There were a few times, late, when I was able to run past a linebacker. Then, to have that time off in the winter to train and continue to work on that? Now I feel I'm all the way back." Rudolph's comments lend further credence to the stories that have painted him as the star of Vikings camp. He's looking more and more like a surefire TE1.

According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Kyle Rudolph has had "10-foot fishing nets for hands" through the first week of Vikings camp. It's just the latest bit of praise for Rudolph, who by every account has been lighting up Vikings practices. Coach Leslie Frazier said Thursday that Rudolph has "a chance to be special." Already climbing up Rotoworld's tight end rankings, Rudolph could ascend even more with a stellar preseason.

Coach Leslie Frazier believes TE Kyle Rudolph has "a chance to be special." "The way he can catch the football is second-to-none. His catching radius is amazing," said Frazier. "If Christian gets it close to him, he knows that Kyle is going to come up with the football." Ponder has indicated that he's confident throwing to Rudolph even if he's just "barely" open. The breakout candidate is poised to join Percy Harvin as Ponder's top targets.

According to NFL Network's Michelle Beisner, Kyle Rudolph has arguably been the "MVP" so far of Vikings training camp. "From what I'm hearing inside, it's Kyle Rudolph that might be the MVP of training camp," Beisner reported. "They're really impressed with him. What he's done and his work ethic the last five days." We already knew Rudolph was standing out as a receiver, but Beisner hinted he's also held up as a blocker one-on-one against star SLB Chad Greenway. Assured of an every-down role, Rudolph is moving up Rotoworld's tight end rankings -- accessible at the link below.

Vikings OC Bill Musgrave confirmed that TE Kyle Rudolph will play a major role this season. "Kyle has had a great offseason," Musgrave said. "He has gained strength without losing any movement. He is one of the guys that we are going to count on to contribute who wasn't a full-time starter last year." An athletic breakout candidate, Rudolph is slowly creeping up Rotoworld's tight end rankings.

Kyle Rudolph was "pretty much option No. 1, 3 and 5" in Friday's practice, showing more athleticism than last season. John Carlson was heavily involved as well, but it's Rudolph who is emerging as Christian Ponder's safety valve. "We've built up a lot of chemistry," Ponder said. "I think we just click and (Rudolph) finds ways to get open. He's such a big target. I have a lot of confidence throwing to him."

The Vikings will utilize 2011 second-round pick Kyle Rudolph as a "move" tight end this season, moving around the formation to create mismatches. With John Carlson in the in-line tight end role, OC Bill Musgrave plans to "detach and motion (Rudolph) all over the field." Rudolph reportedly regained speed this spring after losing some following 2010 hamstring surgery back at Notre Dame. We like Rudolph as a high-end TE2 with potential to push for top-12 stats.

According to ESPN 1500, Kyle Rudolph "seems to have regained a half-step." Rudolph sustained a hamstring tendon avulsion while at Notre Dame and underwent surgery way back in October of 2010. Any uptick in the speed department will help as he prepares for an every-down role now that Visanthe Shiancoe is gone. ESPN 1500 sees Rudolph and John Carlson on the field together plenty, with Carlson serving as the in-line tight end.

Kyle Rudolph is expected to be a "centerpiece" of the Vikings' two-tight end offensive attack this year. "He looks really good," Christian Ponder said. "He's so athletic. He's such a big target. He's got unbelievable hands. He's a guy I feel real comfortable with. He's going to make a lot of plays this year." While the Vikings expect a breakout season from Rudolph, it's fair to wonder if $25 million free agent signee John Carlson will be a drain on his fantasy production.

According to ESPN 1500 Twin Cities, the Vikings "expect a breakthrough season" from TE Kyle Rudolph in 2012. If that's the case, it's even less clear why they gave pure pass-catcher John Carlson $9.1 million guaranteed, but a "breakthrough" is a reasonable expectation for a second-round pick who caught 26 passes for 249 yards and three scores as a rookie. Rudolph could find himself on the periphery of TE1 status this season, but shouldn't be drafted as such.