Game Info
Kickoff: Saturday, December 24th at 1:00 PM ET
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
Betting Odds: MIN -3, 48 O/U total via Oddsshark
Network: Fox
Writer: Dustin Ludke (@TheDunit13 on Twitter)
New York Giants
Quarterbacks
Daniel Jones (Start, QB2)
Daniel Jones‘s season is such an enigma. He is completing 66% of his passes. He only has one game over 250 yards passing and only five games over 200 yards. He has five games with zero passing touchdowns YET is still QB11 on the season. He only has 12 through the air. He has been very protective with the ball only having four interceptions on the year. What has busted and probably saved his fantasy production has been the rushing production Jones is fifth among quarterbacks in rushing yards with 583 and has five rushing touchdowns. That’s more rushing yards than Leonard Fourentte and only 40 off James Conner. He gets to possibly show off his passing skills against the Vikings who are giving up the seventh most points to quarterbacks at 18.89. I think you can start Jones this week as a solid QB2 who could sneak into the QB1 range.
Running Backs
Saquon Barkley (Start, RB1)
Saquan Barkley continues to be one of the best stories of the season. After missing time the past few seasons he has been a workhorse for the Giants. He has nine touchdowns on the season and is averaging 4.35 yards per carry. His total carries have come down in the past few weeks. He has not had over 20 attempts since Week 10. He has been involved in the passing game as well with over five targets in four out of the past six weeks. He gets the Vikings who are giving up the twelfth most points to running backs at 23.83. It should be a game where Barkley can another touchdown to his season stats and has a good day on the ground. The Vikings are coming off a game where they let the Colts’ backups rush for 136 yards. Start Barkley as an RB1.
Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends
Darius Slayton (Sit, FLEX), Isaiah Hodgins (Start, Flex), Daniel Bellinger (Sit)
I’ve been on the Isaiah Hodgins train for almost a month now. He was a Bills castoff who caught on with his former OC, now head coach, and has played well since getting the opportunity. He has been in at least the flex range for five out of six weeks. He has played over 80% of the team’s snaps the past three weeks and is close to the team lead in routes run. Even though the Vikings are giving up the second most points to wide receivers at 40.61, coverage wise it could be a tough matchup for Hodgins. He will probably see coverage from Cameron Dantzler who rates at 64.8 in coverage. I’m still willing to start Hodgins as a flex play.
Darius Slayton has been the main guy for the Giants. he has been playing on over 80% of the snaps and at times upwards of 90%. He had over five targets in four out of the last six games. He hasn’t scored since Week 10 and hasn’t been over 50 yards since Week 13. He will probably see most of his coverage from Patrick Peterson who rates at 83.1 which is the third-best corner according to PFF.com. I’m worried that Slayton will get shut down. I’m sitting with him this week. If Slayton does get shut down Richie James could see an increased workload but I’m not starting him either.
Daniel Bellinger has dealt with injuries but came back and played on over 90% of the team’s snaps for the second time in three weeks. He saw four targets and was second don’t the team in routes run with 33. It’s not a great matchup as the Vikings are giving up only 11.78 points to tight ends which is the 15th most. I’m not willing to roll him out this week but he is a great player to have on your bench.
Minnesota Vikings
Quarterback
Kirk Cousins (Start, QB1)
Not only does Kirk Cousins put you in a hole by throwing two costly interceptions he also gets you out of that hole by completing the biggest comeback in NFL history. He finished the Week 15 game with 54 passing attempts which won’t be the norm but it was his seventh out of eight games with over 35 attempts. In fact, he has seven games this season with 40 or more passing attempts. Cousins is just slinging it this year. He is on pace for career-high passing attempts and if he has a few more good games could hit a career-high in yards. He is facing the Giants who are giving up only 15.94 points to quarterbacks which is 19th most in the league. Not the matchup that scares you off but also not the matchup that will invoke the Kirk THUGins. I believe he should be in the lower QB1 range as someone you can count on
Running Backs
Dalvin Cook (Start, RB1), Alexander Mattison (Sit)
It’s amazing to me that a team can have a top-ten quarterback, wide receiver, and running back and yet not be taken seriously as a Super Bowl contender. Dalvin Cook has quietly had a solid season. He has only eight touchdowns on the season, which is a far cry from his double-digit seasons of 2010 and 2020, but he is on pace for a career-highs in rushing yards. Cook has also seen over 15 carries in the past four games. He faces the Giants who are giving up the sixteenth most points to running backs at 23.01. It’s a game that should be suited well for Cook to shine. He is averaging 4.54 yards per carry and playing on over 85% of the team’s snaps most weeks. He has been able to stay healthy this year which has helped managers have a steady presence in their rosters and has kept backup Alexander Mattison mostly on the bench. You can start Cook as a solid RB1 this week.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Justin Jefferson (Start, WR1), Adam Thielen (Start, WR3), K.J. Osborn (Sit, Flex), T.J. Hockenson (Start, TE1)
Yes, you are starting Justin Jefferson. He is THE WR1 on fantasy right now. He has over 1600 yards and seven touchdowns. he has played on over 90% of the team’s snaps in all but one game this season. He will be drawing coverage from Fabian Moreau who rates at 57.9 in coverage. Most likely the Giants will double-cover Jefferson with some safety help from Julian Love who rates at 66.2 in coverage. The Vikings have done well this season moving Jefferson around and mixing up his routes to get him open. You are starting him as a WR1.
Adam Thielen was almost invisible till late in the game last week. He finished with four targets catching three of them for 41 yards and a touchdown. The 10-year veteran now has scored in three out of the past four games. The Giants are giving up the twelfth fewest points to wide receivers so it’s a tough matchup for Theilen. He will get covered by Nick McCloud who rates at 54.2 in coverage. It’s not a horrible match up and Thielen seems to be the go-to guy when the team needs a score. You can trust him as a solid WR3 in this matchup.
K.J. Osborn is coming off a magical game where he saw 16 targets, catching ten of them for 157 yards and a touchdown. He seems to be benefiting from the double coverage leaning toward Jefferson’s way. Osborn played 63.8% of his snaps from the slot position and from the Giants would see coverage from Darnay Holmes. Holmes only rates at 45.2 in coverage. Osborn played on a season-high 81% of the team’s snaps which is an outlier over the past few weeks where he normally plays under 75%. It was mostly the game script where the Vikings had to make a major comeback. This week does not project to be that way. It’s always fun to follow the hot hand and chase the points but most of the time Osborn is 4th in the pecking order of receiving behind Jefferson, Thielen, and Hockenson. He will probably be in the flex range this week but I’m not trusting him
T.J. Hockenson has been one of the main offensive weapons since dawning the purple and gold. He has over five targets in every game except one. The Giants are giving up the twelfth most points to the tight end at 12.19. It’s a very good matchup for Hockenson who was probably going to be in your lineup anyway. He ran 53 routes in Week 15 which is only five behind the team leader, Jefferson, with 58. Hockenson can be trusted as a TE1 this week.