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Did you miss the Minnesota Vikings final weekend? We did, as nicely.
After being idle in Week 7, and taking part in at Miami in Week 6, the 5-1 Vikings lastly are dwelling and able to heat up U.S. Financial institution Stadium with Skol chants and landing dances vs. the 3-4 Arizona Cardinals.
We are able to’t be the one ones thrilled to reinsert Dalvin Prepare dinner and Justin Jefferson into our fantasy lineups. We are able to’t be the one ones who fell to a fortunate foe as a result of our workforce lacked its normal Vikings starpower.
Hopefully, coach Kevin O’Connell and Co. spent the bye week designing methods to take Minnesota’s offense to new heights – i.e. higher effectivity within the pink zone, sustained drives … and plenty extra fantasy factors.
Right here’s a have a look at the highest fantasy choices within the Vikings-Cardinals recreation:
ROCKERS
Vikings RB Dalvin Prepare dinner | Confidence Clip: 75%
The lowdown: A top-10 operating again vs. a top-10 run-stuffing protection. Prepare dinner ranks ninth within the NFL in yards speeding per recreation (75.0); the Cardinals enable the sixth-fewest floor yards per recreation (101.1). It’s a matchup that makes predicting Prepare dinner’s manufacturing on Sunday a problem – however we’re assured in “The Chef” for a pair causes: 1) Prepare dinner ate within the 2021 assembly between these groups, gaining 131 yards on 22 carries (5.95 Y/A). 2) The newest again Arizona confronted, Alvin Kamara of the Saints, fared nicely in each the run and move video games, totaling 105 yards on 18 touches. 3) We expect final week’s bye will serve Minnesota’s offense, specifically its talent gamers, nicely – an early break from implementing a brand new scheme might act as an influence nap, letting the Vikes and coach O’Connell recharge their battery packs and modify ideas. For those who’re a prop guess type of man, or gal, we advise peeping the chances for Prepare dinner to cross the century mark as a result of they’ll pay huge. The Cardinals have but to permit a 100-yard rusher in 2022 – Seattle’s Kenneth Walker III got here the closest with 97 yards through 21 carries in Week 6 – and Prepare dinner hasn’t hit that mark since Week 14 final season. Our daring prediction for this week: Prepare dinner takes it upon himself to snap each streaks.
Vikings QB Kirk Cousins | Confidence Clip: 85%
The lowdown: Cousins has been OK in 5 profession video games in opposition to the Cardinals, averaging 259.6 yards passing at a 65.2% clip with 11 complete touchdowns and 7 turnovers. His groups have received two of the 5. We’re greater than normal on Cousins in 2022, nonetheless, and picture he’ll play higher than OK vs. a secondary that – besides for selecting off three lazy Andy Dalton throws final Thursday – received completely torched by the Saints. Dalton accomplished passes of 41, 53 and 64 yards, tossed 4 touchdowns and wasn’t sacked. That final half may very well be essential for Cousins. Whereas strain degree from the Cardinals wasn’t a problem vs. New Orleans – they pressured Dalton eight occasions – nor has it been all season partially as a result of they blitz the second most frequently within the league (on 36.8% of their defensive snaps), they’ve struggled mightily to get dwelling and sack the quarterback (Arizona’s 11 sacks ranks tied for third fewest within the NFL). What’s that imply? Nicely, shielded by an above-average offensive line, Cousins might have ample time to select aside a suspect defensive backfield. Just like Prepare dinner, we’re satisfied Cousins will likely be sharp submit bye.
Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins | Confidence Clip: 100%
The lowdown: Hopkins made his 2022 debut in prime time vs. New Orleans after serving a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug coverage, and didn’t miss a beat. The three-time first-team All-Professional wideout caught 10 of 14 targets for 103 yards, doing most of his work at an intermediate degree (Hopkins caught one move contained in the pink zone for seven yards and had an extended reception of 18). We’re totally anticipating a landing, or two, from Hopkins in his second motion of the season. So you recognize, the Vikings are one among 17 NFL golf equipment surrendering 20+ factors per recreation to the receiver place. There’s this, too: Hopkins has scored a landing in every of his two profession video games vs. Minnesota.
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson | Confidence Clip: 100%
The lowdown: There’s history at stake for Jefferson in Week 8 – Minnesota’s megastar can match Odell Beckham Jr. and former Vikings nice Randy Moss for probably the most 100-yard video games by a participant’s first three NFL seasons, with 19. We’re obliged to root for Jefferson breaking that document – not due to our faint Minnesota bias – as a result of he’s the highest scorer on one among our a number of fantasy groups. Ha ha. Anyhow, “JJettas” is driving a three-game streak of 100+ yards, has snared 28 of 34 targets (63.2%) in that span and like Prepare dinner and Cousins, and some other Vikings participant on this rundown, must be well-rested. Right here’s the urgent, weekly query: Will Jefferson be double-teamed? Who cares? Arizona’s protection simply let 5 Saints gamers acquire 50+ yards receiving, together with rookie Chris Olave who totaled 106 on seven catches.
Cardinals QB Kyler Murray | Confidence Clip: 90%
The lowdown: It’s been a tough season for Murray, who signed a five-year, $230.5 million contract over the summer season. In seven video games, the 2019 No. 1 general decide has handed for seven touchdowns and rushed for 2 extra – that delicate landing manufacturing has fantasy managers the world over cringing. Nonetheless, Murray is a must-start each Sunday because of his particular operating means and specialer arm expertise. In final yr’s early-season assembly within the desert between these groups, Murray accomplished 29 of 36 throws for 400 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He additionally ran for 31 yards and one other rating. Having Hopkins again within the fold ought to bode nicely for Murray’s outlook the remainder of the season – though the previous’s return coincided with a critical harm to Murray’s faculty teammate Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. Wish to know what would possibly assist Murray greater than Hopkins? An unbiased examine clause (wink).
MOCKERS
Cardinals RB James Conner | Confidence Clip: 60%
The lowdown: Conner returned to follow Wednesday – albeit in a restricted trend – after lacking Arizona’s final two video games as a result of an harm to his ribs. The 2-time Professional Bowl operating again averaged 40 yards speeding and 20.6 receiving throughout his first 5 video games this season, however sniffed the tip zone simply as soon as – a stark regression from his 18 mixed speeding/receiving touchdowns in 2021. Conner’s by no means been a home-run hitter – the cross-sport analogy lends itself to a participant posing to tear off an enormous acquire every time he touches the soccer – however that hasn’t stopped him from taking up a lead-back function in each Pittsburgh and Arizona. He’s an underrated move catcher, averaging 2.5 receptions per recreation in his six NFL seasons, and has a propensity to complete performs with a ahead lean, leaving no yards left behind. We’d be nervous to start out Conner as an RB1 or RB2 due to his well being and output this yr, however is likely to be swayed to play him within the flex spot if he manages a full follow session Thursday or Friday. Probably hurting Conner’s case for double-digit carries Sunday is the twin emergence of Eno Benjamin and Keontay Ingram – each backs scored touchdowns and had 10+ touches within the Cardinals’ 42-34 win over New Orleans in Week 7.
Cardinals WR Rondale Moore | Confidence Clip: 40%
The lowdown: Moore nursed a hamstring harm Weeks 1-3 and made his 2022 debut Week 4 at Carolina, catching three of 5 targets for 11 yards and speeding as soon as for a lack of 4. The following two weeks, Moore performed Robin to “Hollywood” Brown’s Batman, securing 13 of 18 targets for 117 yards. Then Hopkins returned and Moore noticed two lonely targets on Thursday Night time Soccer. Uh oh. The excellent news? Moore has the very best big-play potential on Arizona’s offense. He corralled a type of two appears for a 31-yard pickup on the Cardinals’ second offensive play from scrimmage. He had an extended acquire of 77 his rookie season. Moore’s greatest attribute is his wiggle and acceleration after the catch. The dangerous information? Till Arizona’s offense resolves its points – beginning with coach Kliff Kingsbury’s at-times inept play calling – Moore seemingly has equal odds of breaking unfastened or disappearing, making him a troublesome fantasy begin. We advocate taking part in Moore solely in deeper codecs, because of this matchup’s high-scoring prospects.
SHOCKERS
Cardinals DST | Confidence Clip: 20%
The lowdown: For those who made it this far, you’re conscious Arizona’s secondary was burnt to a crisp by the “Purple Rifle” seven days in the past. You additionally know the Cardinals intercepted Dalton thrice. What you won’t know, except you’re an Arizonoan or a hardcore soccer fan who gave TNF one final likelihood to redeem itself, is that the Playing cards returned two of their three interceptions for touchdowns – on back-to-back possessions. First, cornerback Marco Wilson took a decide of Dalton 38 yards for six. A minute later, Arizona linebacker Isaiah Simmons made a 44-yard home name. The sequence modified the complete recreation, bailing out an overtly sloppy Cardinals offense that had settled for subject objectives on its first two drives. Our takeaway: Arizona’s protection would possibly bend, and bend and bend. However it received’t break simply; it is an opportunistic bunch. Working to its favor in Week 8 is its inclination to blitz. Whereas Arizona hasn’t succeeded at sacking opposing quarterbacks this yr, it has utilized constant strain. Are you able to guess who’s crumbled underneath strain prior to now? His identify type of rhymes with “muffins.” Ha ha. Cousins has a PFF passing grade of 51.0 when going through the blitz. There’s three beginning QBs rated poorer: Zach Wilson, Matt Ryan, Justin Fields. For those who roll the cube with the Cardinals DST you higher cross your fingers the canines are let off their leashes.
TALKERS
Cardinals TE Zach Ertz | Confidence Clip: 70%
The lowdown: Minnesota is ranked twenty fifth this season in fantasy factors allowed per recreation to tight ends (9.0). Which means Ertz, who’s tallied 45 or extra yards in 5 of seven video games, has the potential to growth. He’ll most likely be hungry to, as nicely, after he was restricted to 2 grabs for 21 yards on 4 targets vs. New Orleans. Right here’s one other signal to maintain Ertz in your lineup this week: In 4 profession video games in opposition to the Vikings, the Stanford grad has been focused 32 occasions, made 21 catches for 235 yards and scored two touchdowns. That equates to only over 5 catches per recreation and 58.8 yards receiving. Yup, that’ll play.
Vikings WR Adam Thielen | Confidence Clip: 60%
The lowdown: Thielen has seen seven or extra targets every recreation this season, minus Week 1. The appears haven’t essentially translated to manufacturing for the savvy veteran route-runner as he’s topped 50 yards receiving on simply three events this yr – but it surely no less than offers Thielen a good fantasy flooring. As does his previous going through Arizona. Thielen has caught 23, or 88.5%, of his 26 targets in 4 profession contests vs. the Cardinals, compiling 234 yards and three touchdowns. That’s practically six catches on seven targets for 60 yards and a tud per recreation, environment friendly stuff. Don’t be shocked if – er, we’re feeling bullish on Thielen off the bye, so let’s say when – historical past repeats itself. As said above, factors on this matchup appear inevitable.
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