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Kyle Rudolph Gets Five-Year Contract Extension
The Vikings and tight end Kyle Rudolph signed a five-year contract extension worth $36.5 million on Sunday. "I'm extremely excited to get this extension completed and continue my career with the Minnesota Vikings," Rudolph said. "I've said all along I wanted to stay in Minnesota. I love the fans, the community and, most importantly, I'm excited about where this team is going."

If new offensive coordinator Norv Turner can do the same thing with Rudolph that he's done with his past tight ends, fantasy football owners will be equally excited.

According to NFL Network, the tight end gets an average of $7.3 million per year in new money (fifth highest at his position), and can earn up to $40 million total. Rudolph receives $19.4 million in guaranteed money (third highest).

Since being drafted in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft, the pass-catching tight end has toiled with subpar QB play but has still impressed.

He put up 53 catches for 493 yards and nine touchdowns in 2012, a Pro Bowl season. He failed to follow up his impressive season in 2013, though, missing half the year with a fractured left foot. With the selection of Teddy Bridgewater, there's hope for the 6-6, 259-pounder to enjoy some quality QB play.

Add in a dynamic player ready to break out (Cordarrelle Patterson), and Rudolph is primed for big things in Turner's offense.

In fact, Rudolph has spent a lot of time watching tape of Jordan Cameron's big 2013 season with the Browns, but his study of Turner's past offenses has gone a lot further back than that.

Turner has made sure of it.

According to USA Today's Tom Pelissero, the install tape Turner has shown players since taking over as the Vikings' offensive coordinator in January features cutups dating to his days with the Dallas Cowboys in the early 1990s, when Jay Novacek played the role assumed in more recent years by Vernon Davis, Antonio Gates and Cameron.

"So much of it is the exact same thing (Turner)'s been running for 20 years," Rudolph said. "It's the same plays. It's funny when you throw that on there and you see [Jay] Novacek running it, Michael Irvin, Troy Aikman. Those are all guys that I grew up watching."

Rudolph is not as fast as Cameron, a bit player for two years in Cleveland before exploding for 80 catches for 917 yards and seven touchdowns in Turner's lone season with the Browns.

But Rudolph can create its own matchup problems -- something he hopes will happen more often under Turner.

"Some guys have that unique ability to have the feel for a game and dial up huge plays," Rudolph said. "I really noticed watching a lot of Cleveland Browns tape last year, when you're watching the course of the game, you can see that with Norv. ..."

So fantasy owners should add Rudolph on the list with Patterson, both learning expanded route trees this summer, as players in position to gain from Turner's presence.