RADIO
After two weeks of good-looking games, which turned out to be pumpkins, will we finally get the proper MNF matchups we expect?
The 8-3 Vikings are coming off a bye and going into Seattle to play the 9-2 Seahawks. This is a game rife with playoff implications, both in reality and fantasy.
Even Adam Thielen ruled out, both of these teams should still have a full complement of stars to bring fantasy goodness. Both teams should also light up the scoreboard as neither defense is as good as they once were. So get ready for some football!
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Minnesota Vikings @ Seattle Seahawks
Game Time: Monday, December 2, 2019 @ 8:15 pm
Game Line: Seattle Seahawks -3 O/U 49
Team Records:
Minnesota Vikings 8-3
Seattle Seahawks 9-2
Minnesota Offensive Rankings: Pass 15th Run, 4th
Minnesota Defensive Rankings: Pass 20th, Run 6th
Seattle Offensive Rankings: Pass 11th, Run 6th
Seattle Defensive Rankings: Pass 29th, Run 10th
Must Starts
Top Performers That Have To Be In Your Lineups
Kirk Cousins (QB, MIN) - Sure, the other quarterback in this game gets all the mention. But after a rough first two weeks, Kirk Cousins is having a surprisingly great season. He is currently the QB6 on the season and now with Thielen back and hopefully healthy, he has his full complement of weapons. This game should be Christmas come early, or a late Thanksgiving feast for fantasy. It will all start with the quarterbacks, including Cousins who is in line for multiple touchdown passes against a bottom-five pass defense.
Russell Wilson (QB, SEA) - The top-three MVP candidates as of today: Lamar Jackson, Russell Wilson, Christian McCaffrey. Any questions? His last couple of games have not been so great. But against two defenses in San Francisco and Philadelphia who are elite, it was to be expected, not to mention nasty weather in Philly. Minnesota is not an elite defense anymore. Being back home will also make Wilson a top-six QB play this week.
Chris Carson (RB, SEA) - Last week was ugly. Two fumbles on consecutive plays led to Rashaad Penny actually looking competent. Due to the fumbles and the game script, Carson only had nine touches last week. Things will be different this week. Of course, Pete Carroll is not happy about the fumbles but he rode Carson to a 9-2 record. It will not change now. He will once again be the lead back in this matchup so don't bench him out of panic.
Dalvin Cook (RB, MIN) If not for McCaffrey, we would be talking about Cook being the best running back in the NFL this season. Even so, he has been incredible. He has a chance to lead the league in yards from scrimmage and his ability to stay healthy this season is the key. The talent was always there and with the team providing more weapons, defenses cannot just key in on him. He is a star plain and simple. Start him as always.
Stefon Diggs (WR, MIN) - Up and down. Up and down. This is the season of Stefon Diggs for Minnesota. After a terrible start, he has had some solid games of late. With the Hawks secondary struggling all year, the speedy Diggs will have at least one big play in this game. That is all you need to justify his start. With Adam Thielen just coming back and possibly not 100%, Diggs will remain the number one target for this one.
Tyler Lockett (WR, SEA) - He did not do well last week. With only one catch in Philadelphia, his owners were disappointed. A week further out from his leg injury and back home, this is a different beast. The connection is real between Wilson and Lockett so expect it to be prevalent in this game as both teams should score a lot.
D.K. Metcalf (WR, SEA) - The speedy muscle man has taken the reigns as the WR2 on this team. He is a mismatch for smaller cornerbacks and with the trouble Minnesota is having in their secondary this season, he should be in line for a big game. Xavier Rhodes will be on Tyler Lockett and this is not scary. But Metcalf could go big in this one as the second option.
Consider Sitting
Players To Avoid Putting In Your Lineup If Possible
Josh Gordon (WR, SEA) - In the first game after his signing, Gordon played 38% of the offensive snaps and had two key receptions in the victory over the 49ers. Last week, with Tyler Lockett ailing, we expected more. Instead, we got nothing as DK Metcalf and David Moore stepped up. He will, at best be the fourth or fifth option on a run-first team. This is not an option worth choosing at this critical juncture of the season.
Potential Sleepers
Which Players Could Surprise?
Alexander Mattison (RB, MIN) - We know how good Dalvin Cook has been. But even with that, Mattison has had his role as well. Garnering double-digit touches in many games, including out touching Cook against the Eagles, Mattison has a part to play no matter the score. In a game that should be higher-scoring, Madison will get some time in place of Cook. Maybe on the goal line or even for entire drives. But he is a running back who would make a decent flex play for those of you trying to make the playoffs.
Rashaad Penny (RB, SEA) - The 129 yards he ran for last week are not going to happen again. But he has shown Seattle he might not be a total bust. He will get some more work but not enough to make him an auto-start. He could make an attractive flex play if needed as the Seahawks are one of the run-heaviest teams in the league again this year. If he can break off another 58-yard run like last week, he will be worth the play. If not? He may kill your playoff hopes. So, buyer beware.
Jacob Hollister (TE, SEA) - Was he great last week? No. but he is consistent this season with Russell Wilson. And at the tight end position, what more can you really ask for. Even if he does not score, he should do enough to get you close to double-digit points from the position. And this is good enough to be considered a top-10 play for the week.
Kyle Rudolph (TE, MIN) - The tight end position is not the best. In this game, we have two who could be solid plays this week. Coming into this game, Rudolph has a touchdown in three straight games. If he makes it four in a row, you will be very happy you started him. Against a Seattle defense who just got thrashed by the Eagles tight end duo, this may be a reasonable request for him.
Adam Thielen (WR, MIN) - I love Thielen. He is the most well-rounded receiver on the Vikings offense. But he has already tried coming back once from his hamstring injury and we know how that turned out. So, this time we need to be careful. You probably have another wide receiver who is already your lineup, so you may want to take a wait and see approach with Thielen this week. If he does stay in all game and hit, he is a potential top-20 wide receiver.
UPDATE: Thielen has officially been ruled out.
