Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers

Spread: Packers -13

O/U: 42

Weather: 1 degree, 5% chance of precipitation, wind: 5mph

Notable Injuries:

Vikings

Kirk Cousins - Covid

Adam Thielen - Ankle

Packers

Jaire Alexander - Covid

DVOA Defensive Rankings

Vikings

vs Pass: 11th 

vs Run: 22nd

Packers

vs Pass: 14th

vs Run: 31st

**Please note that players not listed below are not necessarily a complete fade and any player listed can certainly be used as the MVP/Captain. These are merely suggestions for players to use when setting Showdown lineups.

MVP/CPT

Davante Adams, WR - While the Vikings pass defense may rank 11th in DVOA, we have also seen them get torched when facing elite competition and that is what they will have on their hands tonight when they go up against Adam and Aaron Rodgers. Adams burned them for 115 yards and two touchdowns back in Week 11. 

Aaron Rodgers, QB - Continuing his F.U. Tour across the NFL. We saw Rodgers throw for 385 yards and four touchdowns against the Vikings back in Week 11. He has 16 touchdowns with 0 interceptions over his last five games. Dude is looking to defend his MVP title from last season.

Aaron Jones, RB - Jones has taken back his role as the top RB option in the Green Bay backfield over the past two weeks. During these last two games he has seen double-digit carries while totaling seven catches on eight targets. The Vikings run defense ranks 22nd in DVOA and Jones missed the game against Minnesota earlier this year with an injury. I look for him to get going here.

Dalvin Cook, RB - No Kirk Cousins tonight should mean a heavy dose of Dalvin Cook for the Vikings offense. Fortunately they are going up against a Packers run defense that ranks 31st in DVOA against the run. Cook is also an elite option in the passing game which may be utilized more today given the QB situation. 

UTIL

Justin Jefferson, WR - We just got news that Jaire Alexander will not be active for tonight's game due to Covid-19 protocols. This makes the matchup for Jefferson significantly better. That said, the QB play is a big question for the Vikings tonight so there is some real risk here.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR - Back for the Packers this week and looking to pick up where he left off before landing on the covid list for Week 16. In Week 15 we saw MVS with 98 yards and a touchdown on five catches. Against the Vikings in Week 11 he had four catches for 123 yards and a touchdown.

K.J. Osborn, WR - With Adam Thielen out for the season we will see Osborn step into a larger role in the teams passing offense. With Alexander now out we will see more coverage shifting to Jefferson's side which should make the matchup for Osborn even easier. We could also see Osborn actually have decent chemistry with Mannion as he had been working with the second team offense this season behind Thielen. 

A.J. Dillon, RB - We have seen Aaron Jones more involved over the past two weeks while Dillon has totaled just 16 carries during that stretch. He does have a rushing touchdown and could be used in goal to go situations. He has also shown nice upside in the passing game this season as well and had three catches in Week 16 against Cleveland.

Dart Throws

Allen Lazard, GB - Could see MVS move ahead of him in the pecking order but Lazard has been a valuable target for Rodgers at times this season and should continue to see a handful of targets go his way. When they get in the red zone, a touchdown from Lazard could be a difference maker for you in Showdown contests.

Packers Defense - It got weaker with the news of Jaire Alexander but we are still looking at a backup QB for the Vikings and a poor offensive line. We could very easily get turnovers and a ton of sacks tonight from this Green Bay defense in their home environment.

Kellen Mond, QB - Yes, I know Mond is not the QB starting tonight but that doesn't mean he won't be the QB to finish the game. Many were shocked to see Mannion get the first look here and if the game goes sideways early we should see the rookie get snaps at some point and if that point is early enough, he will be a low rostered upside play.