Do The Vikes Need A Fullback?

Don’t tell C.J. Ham that fullbacks are a dying breed. Becoming one this offseason has thrown the obscure second-year pro a lifeline to making the Vikings’ 53-man roster.

As a running back, the former Division II standout at Augustana College would be lost far down the depth chart at that position behind the likes of Dalvin Cook, Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon. At best, he’d most likely end up back on the practice squad, where he spent 14 games as an undrafted rookie a year ago.

As a fullback, well, that’s a different story. He’s it. Literally. The only one on an 89-man roster. And, technically, the Vikings still list him as a running back, even though they’ve been transitioning him to fullback since the middle of OTAs.

“It’s pretty much a competition within myself,” Ham said Sunday as rookies and young veterans reported to Minnesota State Mankato for training camp. “But I wouldn’t say it’s my job to lose. I have to earn my spot.”

That’s exactly right. After all, dying breeds are expendable. Heck, the Associated Press even booted the fullback off its All-Pro ballots last year because there weren’t enough to choose from anymore.

Zach Line was the Vikings’ starting fullback last year. His contract ran out, and he’s still looking for work at a healthy 27 years of age. He wasn’t bad, but he also played only 211 snaps, an average of 14 in the 15 games he played.

“There’s hardly any [fullbacks] in college football anymore, so that makes it a little more difficult [to find one],” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. “And the way teams are using … the spread offenses, there isn’t quite near as many opportunities.”

Ham comes young (24) and cheap ($465,000 non-guaranteed)...

Ham was born in Illinois and moved to Duluth when he was 2. He grew up a big Vikings fan, loving how, “Randy Moss just put his hand up and went over everybody.”