Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, December 29th, 2024, 4:25 PM
Location: U.S Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Network: FOX
Green Bay Packers
Quarterback
Jordan Love: QB2, potential to be low end QB1
Jordan Love has been a somewhat enigmatic quarterback for this season, showcasing ups and downs along the way, making some wonder early on in the season if he was as seasoned as he looked last season. Over the past month, he’s shown more of last year than earlier this year. The Bears matchup on 11/17 was the site of the new gameplan the Packers have seemed to unveil, holding Love’s passing attempts down and relying much more on their running game. In the games where this gameplan has been rolled out, Love has tied more rushing into the equation, and this is likely causing defenses to be more on their toes for the rush, not just setting in for the passing game 40 passes a game. This may sound like a downgrade, but it’s making Love a lot more potent quarterback, using his game more efficiently and smartly. The Bears have been relatively solid against quarterbacks, testing out as 10th overall against them, but Love has proven when he’s playing well, his game is matchup-proof. There’s a definite possibility that Love could put up around 300 yards with 2 or 3 passing touchdowns.
Running Back
Josh Jacobs: Start, RB1
Emmanuel Wilson: Sit
Bo Melton: Sit
The running game for the Packers has been injected to life recently, coinciding with the gameplan changes made by the coaching staff. In the past 5 weeks, Josh Jacobs hasn’t seen a game without at least 18 rushing attempts. What this is leading to is the resurgence of Josh Jacobs Raider season last year, where he was loaded up and rushing on almost every down, it seemed like. Jacobs is also performing well, to go along with it. In those five games, Jacobs has combined for nine rushing touchdowns, becoming the number one red zone weapon and not having a single week without a touchdown. Jacobs is as sure as they come in the league right now, alongside Jonathan Taylor and Saquon Barkley. While he may not load up for a huge amount of rushing yards, he’s getting a massive amount of handoffs and has caught four passes in 3 of the last five games. Pencil him in; he’s going to get you a touchdown.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Jayden Reed: Start, WR2 upside but likely Flex level
Tucker Kraft: Start, TE1
Christian Watson: Sit
Romeo Doubs: Sit
The Packers have kicked into the right gear and are starting to cruise control through the end of the season, putting up a 4-1 record after the new offense took shape. What has been a bit of a downgrade due to this, however, is the receiving game. Jacobs is taking almost all of the green and red zone touches and is compiling all of the touchdowns. What the Packers haven’t shown is the ability to lock into a single receiver on this path, as it’s been spread entirely out. In the 12/15 matchup against the Seahawks, not a single receiver ended up with more than 56 yards on the day. In the game prior against the Lions, Christian Watson saw 114 yards in the air, but other than that, not a single receiver ended up with more than 4 receptions. The fact of the matter is that the receiving game has not been something you can set your watch to, and honestly, Tucker Kraft has been capitalizing as the best receiving option. Kraft controls the middle of the field and mismatches and has aligned more with the new running back production than with the receiver setback. At best, you can start Jayden Reed, who has shown the upside of a top-15 wide receiver, but Kraft is likely the lone player you could start without discussion.
Minnesota Vikings
Quarterback
Sam Darnold: Start, sneaky top-10 value
Sam Darnold has had quite the season, starting the season on track to be the Comeback Player of the Year. He faced some midseason battles, where some wondered if he would be back in the season next. What we have seen recently is the return of early-season Darnold, and he’s capitalizing on the brilliance of Justin Jefferson. In two of his last five games, he’s gone over 300 yards passing. Along the way, he’s also gone over 111 quarterback rating in 3 of the past four games. Darnold is going to continue to lean on Jefferson, and this can lead to some amazing production, as Jefferson is as live as possible to take a ball 90-plus yards on a single play. The Packers are extremely difficult against quarterbacks, allowing the 4th lowest quarterback points, but in a division matchup against a newly reformed Packers squad, this has all the makings of a classic shootout.
Running Back
Aaron Jones: Start, Top 20 RB
Aaron Jones is as reliable as they come, but this season is showcasing that maybe the shock and spark that Jones carries out is no longer available. Jones has had just a single rushing game over 100 yards on the ground and has hovered around 3 yards per carry on the season. When Jones is done, he’ll likely remain the Vikings starter, given his ability to take somewhere between 15-20 carries at a clip with ease, but he isn’t winning many fans. Jones will see his number called somewhere around 15 carries this week, but it’s much more likely that he’ll remain somewhere between 60-80 yards receiving with you, hoping he can somehow rumble into the endzone. Use him, don’t expect much.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Justin Jefferson: Start, WR1
T.J. Hockenson: Start, Flex TE
Jordan Addison: Start, Flex WR
The Minnesota Vikings are becoming an air-it-out offense, and the duo of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison is some of the most exciting football that you can currently watch. In the past week, Justin Jefferson ended up with 10 receptions for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Jordan Addison didn’t have one of his premier games in this matchup, but once again, a divisional matchup at the end of the season will likely put Darnold and Love somewhere between 25 and 30 pass attempts. When all is said and done, Addison and Jefferson will likely finish this game as top 20 wide receivers, with Jefferson having the potential to finish number one on the slate. He’s consistent, a game-breaker on the outside, and Darnold has finally found him in stride early and often.
No mention of how yall feel with Hollywood Brown? He looked decent last week with limited reps even