Win projections can go out the door in a few weeks, but until then they're at least interesting.

The Athletic's Austin Mock recently revealed his regular-season team win projections, and on Wednesday the publication's "experts" weighed in to determine the accuracy of Mock's model.

Are the calculations too high, too low or right on the nose?

You can find analysis for all 32 clubs here. Now, let's peek at Minnesota and Alec Lewis' verdict.

Mock projected 8.7 wins for the Vikings, which according to Lewis is just right.

Lewis wrote why there's an opportunity to surpass that figure:

You can make reasonable arguments on both sides of this one. On the positive end, the Vikings present upside. Quarterback Kyler Murray's floor should far exceed the play from 2025, and his dual-threat ability could further unlock advantages. Additionally, the Vikings revamped their run game with the hiring of Assistant Head Coach Frank Smith (and promotion of offensive line coach Keith Carter). Increase the offensive output, and Minnesota could vie for the NFC North.

Conversely, Lewis pointed out the negative potential due to relying on youth and needing depth:

A negative view is valid, too. The Vikings defense is banking heavily on Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores, the scheme's ability to create chaos and a bevy of young players at all spots. Take a step back defensively — and suffer injuries on the offensive line or at quarterback — and the Vikings could find themselves in a rough spot.

So you're aware, here's the number of wins that Mock projected, plus beat writers' verdicts, for the rest of the division: Chicago 9.6 (just right); Detroit 10.2 (just right); and Green Bay 9.7 (just right).

Another Football Hall of Fame

Last week, Randy Moss returned to the franchise where his iconic NFL career began, and his presence was felt and appreciated — in Vikings offensive meetings and on the sidelines at practice and U.S. Bank Stadium when Minnesota hosted Baltimore in the second week of the preseason.

Moss' aura, still, reigned supreme on the grass. Of course it did. He's one of the best to ever do it.

He's still gaining recognition, too. Moss on Monday was honored as one of the first two members in the ESPN Fantasy Football Hall of Fame during a special segment of the Fantasy Football Marathon.

The new fraternity acknowledges the best players and most memorable moments since fantasy football started on ESPN.com in 1995. Moss was inducted to the "Players Wing" and former Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles was selected as the first recipient in the "Moments Wing" for the 59.5 fantasy points that he scored Dec. 15, 2013, in Week 15 against the Raiders. Charles' performance featured eight rushes for 20 yards and a touchdown and eight receptions for 195 yards and four touchdowns.

Moss was chosen for the entirety of his career, which included 15,292 receiving yards and 157 total touchdowns. Those numbers amounted to 3,467.34 career fantasy points. Here's what ESPN wrote:

One of the most physically dominant wide receivers, Moss routinely beat opposing defenders by using his speed, size and jumping ability — yeah, he "Mossed" them. He excelled right from the start: His 304.7 fantasy points and 17 receiving touchdowns in 1998 remain rookie wide receiver records. Moss was a top-six positional performer in each of his first six seasons (and eight in total), and he set the NFL's single-season receiving touchdowns record with 23 in 2007 (on the Patriots), a year in which he finished with 385.3 fantasy points, which was the second most ever by a WR at that time. His 50 career games of 25-plus fantasy points trail only Jerry Rice among wide receivers.

Moss recorded a short video to thank ESPN for the distinction when he visited TCO Performance Center last week. He expressed his gratitude with his signature personality showing through, and in front of the Vikings Ring of Honor player plaques lining a wall near the staff entrance of the building.

"The first player to ever? That means I did something right and broke a few records," Moss quipped.

Click here to check out the full article and watch the video Moss sent to ESPN.

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