Claiborne jumped onto the Fantasy radar at the NFL Combine when he ran a ridiculous 4.37 40-yard dash, and his game speed is just as fast. Outside of Jeremiyah Love, Claiborne has the most breakaway upside in this rookie class. In addition to the home runs, Claiborne showed an excellent ability to make quick lateral cuts to create space and extra yards at Wake Forest -- specifically on zone cutback runs. Claiborne could move up the depth chart fast and project to be the heir apparent to Aaron Jones in this offense, but it is unlikely to happen in 2026. He is not worth rostering in Fantasy leagues.
Fantasy News
Vikings' Demond Claiborne: Bottled up in preseason loss
Rotowire
Claiborne turned eight carries into 18 yards and caught his lone target for seven yards during the Vikings' 13-3 loss to the Ravens on Saturday. He also returned one kickoff for 21 yards.
The rookie sixth-rounder was listed as the starter while veterans Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason observed Saturday's game from the sidelines. Claiborne's longest carry of the night went for nine yards, but he combined for only nine yards over his other seven rushes. Through two preseason games, the Wake Forest product has turned 20 carries into 52 yards (2.6 YPC) while adding 71 yards on three kickoff returns. Jones and Mason both figure to see the bulk of the Vikings' workload out of the backfield this season, so most of Claiborne's playing time may come on special teams as a returner on kickoffs.
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Vikings' Demond Claiborne: Scooped by Vikings
Rotowire
The Vikings selected Claiborne in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 198th overall.
Claiborne brings a dynamic skillset to Minnesota after four years at Wake Forest -- two as a starter. The 22-year-old is a patient runner with the speed (4.37 40-yard dash) to break open a play when he sees daylight. At 5-foot-10, 188 pounds, he doesn't project as a consistent threat between the tackles, but there's clear upside if the Vikings can get him into space. Over his final two seasons, Claiborne rushed 407 times for 1,956 yards and 21 touchdowns while adding 51 receptions for 194 yards and two scores. Claiborne could earn his keep in a third-down role if he can tidy up his pass blocking, but it's a crowded room for now with 31-year-old Aaron Jones leading the way ahead of Jordan Mason and Zavier Scott.
