Week 8 of the 2025 NFL season kicks off with another round of TNF DFS picks as the Minnesota Vikings visit the Los Angeles Chargers for a primetime matchup in Southern California. The Vikings sit at 3-3 while the Chargers are at 4-3 so this game does carry some weight to it with regard to their own playoff position in their respective conferences.

Both teams are also coming off a loss as well. The hometown Chargers have dropped three of their last four games after starting the season 3-0. The Vikings dropped a tough game in Week 7 to the Philadelphia Eagles so the revenge narrative for Carson Wentz just wasn’t meant to be. Can both teams turn their fortunes around on a short week? Let’s take a look at the latest Thursday Night Football Showdown Playbook with our Vikings vs. Chargers DFS picks!

 

 

 

Vikings vs. Chargers DFS Picks & Preview: Thursday Night Football, 10/23

As of Wednesday evening, we have a handful of injuries we want to monitor for this game and I’ll note them below. But the respective rushing attacks for both teams is where most of the spotlight should be. The Chargers had to place star rookie running back, Omarion Hampton, on injured reserve a couple weeks back. In his place, the team has leaned on Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins. But Haskins has been ruled out for this game so Vidal, despite not being efficient with the ball in his hands, is sure to see plenty of volume.

On the other side of the ball, both Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones are set to go with a great matchup as the Chargers have given up plenty of production to opposing running backs in their last three games. Jones is eligible to come off IR but it’s unclear as of Wednesday night if he’ll actually play.

It is hard to believe that I kicked off the game preview section of the article without mentioning the pass catchers in this matchup. But do the likes of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Keenan Allen, Ladd McConkey, or Quentin Johnston need any introduction? They’ll all receive their own write-ups in the play previews below as they all have slate-breaking upside!

I’m somewhat optimistic we can get an exciting game for Thursday Night Football. Both these teams rank top 13 in offensive explosive play rate (15+ yards). Over their last four games the Vikings rank second in passing explosive play rate while the Chargers rank first in rushing explosive play rate. There are plenty of interesting ways to build out our NFL DFS Showdown lineups so let’s dive into Thursday night’s Vikings vs. Chargers DFS picks!

 

 

 

Vikings vs. Chargers TNF Odds at DraftKings & FanDuel

DraftKings Sportsbook

  • Spread:
    • Vikings +3 (+100)
    • Chargers -3 (-120)
  • Money Line:
    • Vikings (+145)
    • Chargers (-175)
  • Game Total:
    • Over 44.5 (-112)
    • Under 44.5 (-108)

FanDuel Sportsbook

  • Spread:
    • Vikings +3.5 (-120)
    • Chargers -3.5 (-102)
  • Money Line:
    • Vikings (+150)
    • Chargers (-178)
  • Game Total:f
    • Over 44.5 (-112)
    • Under 44.5 (-108)

 

 

 

NFL Weather: Vikings vs. Chargers SNF, October 23rd

This game will be played indoors so there are no weather concerns for our Vikings vs. Chargers DFS picks.

 

Vikings vs. Chargers Injuries: Thursday Night Football Week 8

The visiting Minnesota Vikings have so far only ruled out depth running C.J. Ham and linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel. J.J. McCarthy could serve as an emergency third-string quarterback option for the team but it’s unlikely that he plays in this game. The offensive line could be in rough shape as the team is listing Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw as questionable. The big injury we’re monitoring is with Aaron Jones He is eligible to come off IR and practiced in limited fashion this week but it’s unclear if he’ll play just yet.

The Los Angeles Chargers have only ruled out Hassan Haskins for this game so that opens up plenty of opportunities for Kimani Vidal and he could potentially see 15+ touches. Star offensive tackle, Joe Alt, is listed as questionable but there’s a good chance he returns for this game.

 

 

 

NFL Thursday Night Football DFS Picks: MVP/Captain

Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings - DraftKings: $11,800 | FanDuel: $13,400

Not much of an argument needs to be made for Jetta but I know you came for some analysis so we can dig in a little bit. The guy seems very due for positive touchdown regression. He’s scored just once all year and it came way back in Week 1. Since then, he’s recorded 75+ receiving yards in five straight games and he’s collected the receiving bonus on DraftKings twice.

He has three straight games with 10+ targets so even though the quarterback situation hasn’t been great during his tenure in Minnesota, Jefferson still sees plenty of targets and can do a lot after the catch.

The Chargers only run man coverage schemes at about a 14.7% clip. They’re more reliant on zone coverage concepts, which Jefferson has crushed. He’s averaging 3.67 yards per route run against zone which is only behind Puka Nacua. Just last week we saw Alec Pierce and Michael Pittman combine for a dozen receptions on 19 targets for 156 yards and a touchdown. And in Weeks 5 and 6 both Jaylen Waddle and Deebo Samuel went for 95+ yards against this secondary. It looks like it’ll be wheels up for Jetta on Thursday night.

Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers – DraftKings: $10,400 | FanDuel: $13,000

Justin Herbert is doing anything and everything to get his team victories but there’s only so much he can do. Last week he became the first quarterback in NFL history to complete 30+ passes, throw for 420+ yards, 3+ touchdowns, and rush for 30+ yards in a losing effort. He’s now popped for 30+ fantasy points on DraftKings twice this year and that’s the kind of ceiling we’re chasing in this matchup.

He leads the league in passing yards through Week 7 (1,913) and he has 13 passing touchdowns to six interceptions. And we know he can get it going with his legs as he’s rushed for 30+ yards in four games already this season.

Despite the massive numbers he’s also taken 62 hits, 20 of which have resulted in sacks. Entering this matchup, the Chargers offensive line ranks 28th in sacks allowed and 26th in pass block win rate. They could get some reinforcements if Joe Alt is able to suit up for the first time since Week 4.

Jordan Mason, RB, Minnesota Vikings - DraftKings: $8,600 | FanDuel: $10,600

For what it’s worth, Mason really has not met his ceiling the last handful of weeks. In full PPR formats, he hasn’t reached 14 fantasy points since Week 3 and that came against the Cincinnati Bengals who are notorious for having a terrible defense. The Chargers aren’t a bad defense but they’re prone to giving up production on the ground.

The Chargers are allowing 123.6 rushing yards per game and over their last three games that number has inflated to 140 rushing yards per game. And in that same three-game sample size, they’ve allowed SEVEN rushing touchdowns to opposing running backs. Mason has touched the ball 15+ times in four consecutive games and he was brought in to be the short yardage/goal line back for the Vikings, even if they didn’t use him as such last week.

Now I’ll address the elephant in the room because I am aware that Aaron Jones is eligible to come off IR and he practiced in a limited fashion earlier in the week. If the Vikings do bring him off IR and he’s active, then I’m obviously downgrading Mason a little bit. And Jones himself is a fantastic price on both sites. But the matchup is still great for both running backs. And if Jones isn’t active for Week 8 then Mason has a great chance at finding the end zone.

Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers – DraftKings: $7,800 | FanDuel: $10,200

It’s not often I’ll put five players in this section, but in the event Aaron Jones is active then I want to have an additional recommendation since we’d downgrade Mason a bit. Keenan Allen and Ladd McConkey certainly feel like similar plays just based on pricing on DraftKings, but FanDuel makes Ladd much more appealing for our Vikings vs. Chargers DFS picks. There’s a great floor with Allen that may make him a better “core” play than Captain suggestion. But he popped last week for 11 catches for 119 yards and a score.

The game script could go similarly this week and Allen has consistently been involved in each game. While Ladd got off to a slow start, and QJ hasn’t seen much volume since Week 4, Allen has consistently been getting looks. He has at least seven targets in every game this year and he’s found the end zone four times. Over the last two weeks he has a 24.7% target share including a 24% first read target share. 

Ladd McConkey, WR, Los Angeles Chargers – DraftKings: $7,600 | FanDuel: $7,800

If there’s a single price tag on this slate that feels incredibly egregious it might be McConkey’s. Ladd’s price feels off just given the volume and production over the last couple games. In Weeks 6 and 7 he totaled 16 receptions on 24 targets for 167 yards and a score. Even dating back to the last three games he’s averaging over 10 targets per game and 18.9 fantasy points on DraftKings.

In this two-game stretch where Ladd has regained the trust of fantasy football managers, he’s seeing a 24.7% target share and 24% first read target share. Ladd moves all over the field a decent amount, but we just watched DeVonta Smith torch this defense from the slot to the tune of nine receptions for 183 yards and a touchdown. The “slot” receiver vs. the Vikings argument can be applied to both Ladd and Keenan Allen.

 

 

 

NFL Thursday Night Football DFS Picks: Core Plays

Jordan Addison, WR, Minnesota Vikings – DraftKings: $7,400 | FanDuel: $8,400

Addison is certainly a viable Captain candidate, but I’ve already put five players in that section above so it’s a bit crowded. Since returning from suspension to start the year, Addison has twice gone over 100 yards and the other game where he didn’t (Week 5), he at least found the end zone and he missed the first quarter of that game as well. Through three games he’s averaging just over 19 fantasy points on DraftKings and he’s seen 26 targets in that span.

So far through the three games he’s been available, he’s setting career highs in yards per route run (2.21), targets per route run (20.3%), and first downs per route run (8.6%). His current 17-game pace would return 100+ receptions and over 1,600 yards. For all the reasons we like Justin Jefferson above, we can also consider Jordan Addison who has been returning phenomenal value through three weeks.

Kimani Vidal, RB, Los Angeles Chargers – DraftKings: $7,000 | FanDuel: $8,800

If you’ve been in the NFL Discord channels the last few weeks, you’ll know I’m personally not a Kimani Vidal fan. It was a year ago when he was a player I targeted plenty in Best Ball drafts. So maybe I’m a bit bitter that I was a year too early on him. But admittedly, I do like him for this matchup. Omarion Hampton’s still a few weeks away from coming off IR and Hassan Haskins is out for Thursday’s game.

Vidal handled 20+ touches in Week 6 and he found the end zone. Last week, we saw what he’s likely going to return going forward with a lack of efficiency. But he still has seven receptions in his last two games so even if I don’t like the player, I do like the opportunity because they really don’t have anyone else they can give the ball to in this game.

If we do need to consider some punts at running back for the Chargers then Scott Matlock and some combination of Amar Johnson, Jaret Patterson, and/or Nyheim Miller-Hines will likely wind up on the active 53-man roster for this matchup.

 

 

 

NFL Thursday Night Football DFS Picks: Mid-Tier Plays

Carson Wentz, QB, Minnesota Vikings – DraftKings: $9,000 | FanDuel: $11,400

It’s going to be a bumpy ride if you’re rostering Carson Wentz as part of our TNF DFS picks. Ball security has been an issue at times because in four starts he’s thrown four interceptions. He’s also fumbled twice but fortunately they were recovered by the offense.

He strangely has offered up a good enough floor for season-long fantasy football and DFS. In three-of-four starts he’s lived somewhere in the 14-to-17-point range on DraftKings. But over his last three starts he’s averaging right around 40(!) pass attempts per game and he’s hit the 300-yard passing bonus twice in that sample size. This is a spot where you take the points where you can get them. As uncomfortable as it may be to roster Wentz, you obviously want to correlate him if using Jefferson or Addison at Captain.

The Chargers defense has allowed over 30 points per game to opposing offenses over the last three weeks and Daniel Jones just racked up over 280 passing yards against the Bolts defense last week. Moreover, the Chargers have just four sacks in that span. It’s not pretty but there is a path to Wentz hitting the optimal lineup as a Flex play, especially if Jefferson or Addison are optimal at Captain.

Quentin Johnston, WR, Los Angeles Chargers – DraftKings: $8,000 | FanDuel: $9,200

The price on QJ seems fair for FanDuel, but he’s the most expensive Chargers receiver on DraftKings which is a little odd. QJ missed Week 6 due to injury but returned last week against the Indianapolis Colts where he only registered two receptions on six targets for 30 yards. Luckily, he found the end zone on one of his catches to salvage his day a bit.

It may have just been a bad matchup for QJ, but alas, he saw the fourth most targets on the team behind Allen, McConkey, and Oronde Gadsden. We know that QJ is very boom-or-bust. He is rather dependent on big plays and finding the end zone. Fortunately, he’s done that five times in six games this season.

I don’t particularly love utilizing perimeter receivers against the Vikings and their pass rush. I’m concerned over the mounting injuries to the Chargers offensive line, but if Joe Alt is able to play Thursday night then I feel much better about LAC’s pass protection. A.J. Brown found the end zone twice last week against Minnesota, but we need to remember he was wildly efficient with just 4 receptions on 6 targets. Both his touchdowns came from 25+ yards out. QJ certainly has similar upside but this is the kind of play where I’d rather play him at Captain for the ceiling performance, or I just wouldn’t play him at all.

 

 

 

NFL Thursday Night Football DFS Picks: Value Plays

Oronde Gadsden, TE, Los Angeles Chargers – DraftKings: $5,800 | FanDuel: $8,000

Gadsden’s price tag has certainly spiked the last couple weeks and for good reason. He did lose a fumble in Week 6 but that didn’t stop the Chargers from running it back with him in Week 7. In back-to-back games he’s registered seven receptions with a total of 232 receiving yards and a score on 17 total targets. Over the last two weeks he commands a 17.2% target share and a 24% first read target share.

Is there some affordable Captain appeal here? Yes. But that does feel like we’re chasing Sunday’s production. You would think that given how often the Vikings blitz and put pressure on opposing quarterbacks that it would lead to more targets over the middle for tight ends but that hasn’t always been the case. David Njoku and Harold Fannin both found the end zone against this defense in Week 5. But there hasn’t been a massive spike week against this defense for any tight ends, and there are still plenty of mouths to feed in this offense so let’s at least keep expectations in check as the price tag climbs.

T.J. Hockenson, TE, Minnesota Vikings – DraftKings: $4,800 | FanDuel: $7,200

You can certainly make the argument that Hockenson warrants consideration as a core play just based on the production and the floor we’ve seen. He’s averaging 6.5 targets per game over his last four appearances with 22 receptions in that span. The downside is that he’s not really doing much after the catch as he doesn’t have a single game with 50+ receiving yards this season.

The Chargers have also been a pretty tough matchup for tight ends. Tyler Warren had a solid game last week but he’s emerging as one of the best young tight ends in the game. In Week 6, Darren Waller was having a very quiet game against the Bolts until he found the end zone with less than a minute to play in the fourth quarter. The week before that, John Bates and Zach Ertz combined for just one catch against this defense.

I’d almost rather bet Hockenson’s anytime touchdown prop than play him in DFS because the matchup is difficult. At the end of the day, he still gets decent volume and attention from Carson Wentz.

Jalen Nailor, WR, Minnesota Vikings – DraftKings: $3,600 | FanDuel: $4,600

We’ll wrap up the TNF DFS picks with a pair of value wide receivers with one from each team. Nailor is a cost effective play that you feel good about getting some cheap touches. Nailor played 41 of the team’s 69 offensive snaps last week and he’s been operating as the WR3 in this offense behind Jefferson and Addison.

Nailor seems like a safe bet for about four or five targets each week as that’s been the case for every game this year except for Week 1. The volume gives him a really good floor especially in a trailing game script if the Vikings fall behind and have to abandon the run.

Tre’ Harris, WR, Los Angeles Chargers – DraftKings: $3,000 | FanDuel: $3,200

So Tre’ Harris may not be the best play but we’re swinging for upside. The thing hurting Harris is that he’s a rookie and he’s buried on the depth chart and with the emergence of Oronde Gadsden, he may be the fifth or sixth pass catching option on this offense.

But the upside is huge especially if you look at his game log from his final season collegiate at Ole Miss. Harris has been getting some more work of late with six receptions on seven targets for 50 yards over his last two games. Last week he did play 33 offensive snaps but again, that’s about half the reps that QJ, Allen, and McConkey are seeing. So this is a value punt suggestion that is really swinging for the fences on the off chance he and Justin Herbert connect for a huge touchdown.

 

 

 

TNF DFS Picks: Kickers & D/ST

We enter this matchup with some D/ST appeal on both sides of the ball for our Vikings vs. Chargers DFS picks. The Chargers get a great matchup against Carson Wentz who has thrown four interceptions in his last three games while taking 14 sacks in his four starts. Fortunately for Wentz, the Chargers’ pass rush is nothing special. They’re 22nd in pressure rate (27.9%), 25th in blitz rate (21.3%), and 15th in sack rate (6.6%). The Minnesota offensive line has struggled with a 34.5% pressure rate allowed which is bottom five in the league and they’re 22nd in pass block win rate (59%) so this particular battle in the trenches could be a wash. The Chargers D/ST hasn’t exhibited a huge ceiling for DFS but this is a Showdown slate and it’s a position of variance after all.

The reverse matchup has some intrigue for obvious reasons. The Minnesota Vikings pass rush is top five in several metrics. They’re 3rd in pressure rate (38.6%), 3rd in sack rate (8.7%), 2nd in blitz rate (39.7%), and 3rd in pass rush win rate (46%). The Los Angeles Chargers offensive line certainly has its warts without Rashawn Slater, but it does sound like Joe Alt could play in this game. But coming into this game the Chargers offensive line still ranks 26th in pass block win rate (54%) and 29th in pressure rate allowed (35.0%). They’re a big reason why Justin Herbert leads the league in quarterback hits. Despite the substantial blitz and pressure rate numbers for Minnesota, they only have one standout performance for fantasy football and that came in Week 3 when they returned 30 fantasy points against the Cincinnati Bengals. Aside from that, they’ve returned five or fewer points in their other five games and they have zero takeaways since that matchup against Cincy.

Neither kicker stands out as a must play in this matchup, but I don’t find them as worthy of fading either. Both Cameron Dicker and Will Reichard have two games with 12+ fantasy points and they have some performances baked in where they fell just short of double digits. The offenses are good enough to move the ball up and down the field to get within the red zone. If I had to pick one I give a slight lean to Reichard who has attempted multiple field goals in all but one game this season and that outlier is the only game where he returned less than eight fantasy points. Cameron Dicker, on the other hand, has attempted exactly one field goal in three of his last four games. Correlate them appropriately but I wouldn’t play either at Captain given the upside of the skill position players on this slate.

 

 

 

Vikings vs. Chargers DFS Player Pool: TNF, 10/23

Player Pool

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