MINNESOTA (at LA Chargers)
This is a tough matchup for the Vikings. Rather quietly, the Chargers have been playing defense the way they were expected to at the start of the season. They're currently 4th ...
... in yards allowed, and 8th in points. In the last 10 games, only two teams (Tennessee and Kansas City) have scored more than 2 TDs against this defense. Minnesota averages 3 TDs per game, but looks like a decent chance they finish with only 2 this week. ... Dalvin Cook has been Minnesota's best player all year, and they'll probably lead with him here. The Chargers rank 17th in run defense, allowing a handful of big games along the way: five teams have rushed for at least 124 yards against this defense. But in this area, Los Angeles has played well lately -- four of its last five opponents have finished under 90 yards. That includes credible ground games from Green Bay, Oakland and Denver. Cook himself has finished under 65 rushing yards in three straight, with a shoulder injury a factor. Cook says he's fine, but he played only half the snaps in the win over Detroit -- Minnesota limited his playing time against a lesser opponent while controlling the game throughout. Most likely he'd have played more were the game more competitive, and this one should be. (Minnesota can't afford to look ahead to Week 16 against Green Bay -- lose here, and they might be 2 games back.) Cook averages 39 yards as a receiver, so he should be in line for good all-around numbers even if the Chargers are able to limit him on the ground. He's also scored in all but 2 games, with 2 TDs twice and 1 TD nine times. Chargers have allowed 9 rushing scores and also 4 TD receptions by running backs, so he'll probably get in the end zone one way or another. Alexander Mattison will spell him; he averages 42 total yards per game. Not a week where the Vikings are likely to have the luxury of giving Cook an early seat, however. ... It's a tougher matchup for Kirk Cousins. The Chargers rank 3rd ...
This report is taken from today's Week 15 edition of Fantasy Index Weekly. The newsletter includes our player rankings and 21 pages of matchup previews, plus stat projections and custom rankings for the games being played this weekend.
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... in pass defense, allowing 209 yards per game. They've faced plenty of lesser passing games (Dolphins, Steelers, Bears, Jaguars and Broncos twice), but they've played five upper-level guys, too. Only two of those quarterbacks finished with good numbers, and both were early in the season.
| Good QBs vs. Los Angeles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Yards | TDs |
| Stafford, Det. | 245 | 2 |
| Watson, Hou. | 351 | 3 |
| Carr, Oak. | 218 | 1 |
| Rodgers, G.B. | 161 | 1 |
| Mahomes, K.C. | 182 | 1 |
Cousins averages 265 yards over his last 12 games, and has multiple touchdown passes in seven of nine. He'll likely finish with no better than average yardage against this defense, and 1-2 TDs -- about an even chance of just 1. The Chargers have allowed 18 TD passes, but just 11 in their last 10 games. ... Adam Thielen (hamstring) didn't practice at all last week; might have had a setback with that injury. The offense needs him, but the team doesn't want to rush him back and risk losing him for even more important games. Stefon Diggs looks like the clear top wideout, and he's been pretty great, averaging 90 yards over the last 10 games. That includes three games over 120 yards since Thielen first got hurt. Just nine touchdowns by wide receivers against this defense, but little doubt that Diggs will dominate targets. Bisi Johnson is the No. 2, and he's caught 3 TDs. But he's been playing starter-type snaps for more than a month without going over 35 yards in any of those games; was putting up better numbers as the No. 3, with Thielen healthy. ... Kyle Rudolph flopped last week, catching just 2 passes for 11 yards. He came into that one on a hot streak, with 5 touchdowns in his previous four, and 50-plus yards in two of those. Chargers have allowed a tight end to score in two of three, but touchdowns in just one other game (3 by Houston tight ends) all season. Minnesota also had two other tight ends, Irv Smith and Tyler Conklin, catch 3 passes last week, so Rudolph wouldn't even necessarily catch any touchdowns the Vikings throw to the position. ... Dan Bailey averages just 6.6 kicking points, facing a defense allowing only 5.6. Only five teams have allowed fewer field goals than the Chargers (17). ... The Vikings Defense has some potential against erratic Philip Rivers. He's been sacked only 27 times, but maybe he should eat it a little more often; he's thrown 15 interceptions. The Vikings have a good pass rush (38 sacks) and rank 3rd with 13 interceptions. They should have some success against the ground game (Jacksonville didn't last week), forcing Rivers to do a little more, and possibly forcing a couple of mistakes.