The Facts: Ponder is still on the Minnesota Vikings' roster, working out at the team's voluntary minicamp this week in the same No. 7 jersey he has worn for the past three seasons. But in many ways, he is more on the periphery of the team's plans than he has been since the Vikings drafted him 12th overall in 2011. They have not, Ponder said, discussed the possibility of picking up his fifth-year option, which would be guaranteed for 2015 only in the case of injury but would pay him just over $9.6 million if he did get hurt. "Honestly, I'm not thinking about it," Ponder said. "Plus, the option doesn't really mean much. They can cut me without anything after this year so it doesn't matter."

Diehards Line: The team gave Matt Cassel a new two-year deal in March, effectively slotting him above Ponder on the depth chart. The Vikings have spent the better part of the offseason evaluating the quarterbacks they might take in the draft next weekend. However marginalized Ponder appears to be at this point, he is coming to work with the hope he can pick up offensive coordinator Norv Turner's system and fare well enough to reclaim the starting job that seems slated for Cassel. Ponder took second-team snaps during Wednesday's workout and seems like he'll be in that position barring an injury or major change to Minnesota's thinking. His $1.76 million base salary is guaranteed for 2014, so the only way he wouldn't be with the Vikings is if they were to trade him or decide to absorb $3.2 million in dead money (counting Ponder's signing bonus proration) by cutting the quarterback. But fantasy owners shouldn't expect a sudden change of circumstance.