Vikings fantasy football outlook: Encore performance by Dalvin Cook?

It doesn’t matter if you’re in a PPR, standard or daily fantasy football league, if you had Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook on your roster last week, you probably won.

Will Cook keep it up on Sunday against Detroit?

Each week, we’ll take a look at the players with fantasy value on the Vikings and their opponent. Player matchups are graded on a 1-5 scale of football emojis, from “don’t even think about starting him” (?) to “you’re a fool if you bench this guy” (?????).

Here’s how Week 9 shakes out:

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

QB Kirk Cousins: ??

Even when the Vikings win, Cousins isn’t a reliable option in fantasy football. Detroit is bad against the run (ranked No. 23rd in the NFL), which sets the Vikings up for another Dalvin Cook Game. Cousins did average 290 yards and 2.5 scores in two meetings with the Lions last year, but it’s not worth the risk. He’s yet to record a single game this season with multiple touchdown passes and no interceptions.

RB Dalvin Cook: ?????

Unless Cook is facing the second coming of the 1985 Chicago Bears, he’ll always get a five-football rating from us. Coming off the best game of his career – 227 total yards and four scores – Cook will aim to keep it going against the lowly Lions. Detroit has allowed the third-most fantasy points to running backs, yielding 130 rushing yards per game and multiple touchdowns to the position in four of seven meetings. Buckle up.

WR Adam Thielen: ????

With the Vikings back inside at U.S. Bank Stadium, their passing game should return. While Cousins isn’t a fantasy option, his top two targets – Thielen and Justin Jefferson – definitely are. Thielen has topped 80 yards or scored in his last five games against the Lions. Detroit is allowing the ninth-most receiving yards to receivers, so even if Cook eats again, there should be enough to go around for Thielen to get involved.

WR Justin Jefferson: ????

In the same boat as Thielen, don’t be worried about Jefferson’s quiet stat line (3 REC, 26 YDS) last week at the blustery Lambeau Field. Jefferson’s two biggest games of his career (against Tennessee and Atlanta, in which he registered a combined 16 catches for 341 yards with three scores) both came at U.S. Bank Stadium. Home sweet home.

TE Irv Smith Jr. or Kyle Rudolph: ?

If you’re starting Smith or Rudolph, you need a touchdown from either of them to make it worth a fantasy play. Detroit has allowed three scores to tight ends this season but only 32.6 receiving yards per game to the position. Three Indianapolis tight ends combined for eight catches for 64 yards and a touchdown last week, but we wouldn’t recommend starting Rudy or Smith.

Vikings D/ST: ?

To quote actor Matthew Broderick at the end of the movie “Ferris Buehler”: “You’re still here? It’s over. Go home. Go.” Minnesota allows the third-most passing yards per game (287.3) and is one of four teams to yield 30+ points per game. With three of its top four cornerbacks out, Minnesota has been scrambling all week to add cornerbacks on its roster. Drop the Vikings defense. Drop them now. Like Broderick said, it’s over. Go home.

DETROIT LIONS

QB Matthew Stafford: ???? (STATUS IN QUESTION)

News to follow throughout the week: Stafford was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list Wednesday. However, if he tests negative all week, the quarterback could be reactivated prior to Sunday’s game and would have an opportunity to dice up Minnesota’s defense. Let’s assume he plays. Stafford faced the Vikings just once last season (he missed the second game due to injury) and had his best game of the 2019 season, throwing for 364 yards with four scores and one pick. The combination of Detroit’s lack of a running game and Minnesota’s lack of warm bodies in the secondary, starting Stafford (if healthy and activated!) is a go.

RB Adrian Peterson: ??

Peterson will line up against his former team for the third time in his career. In 2019, Peterson (who was playing for Washington) gashed Minnesota for 103 total yards on 16 touches. Peterson leads the Lions in rushing attempts (85) and yards (321) this season, but that’s not saying too much on the fourth-worst rushing attack in the NFL (97.1 yards per game).

RB D’Andre Swift: ???

Why does Swift get one more football than Peterson? It’s simple. Running back receptions. Swift ranks second on the Lions in catches (23), and he’s grabbed 3+ passes in four straight games. Minnesota has allowed 5+ catches to the position in four consecutive weeks. Swift could be a sneaky add in PPR leagues.

WR Kenny Golladay: OUT

Golladay left Detroit’s 41-21 loss to the Indianapolis Colts early with a hip injury and will not play against Minnesota on Sunday.

WR Marvin Jones Jr.: ????

Jones was having a quiet year before erupting in his last two games with 80 receiving yards against Atlanta and a pair of scores against Indianapolis. With Golladay out, Jones becomes Stafford’s top WR target. The 30-year-old saw seven targets from Stafford last week. The last five receivers to collect 7+ targets against the Vikings have averaged 6.6 catches for 90.4 yards and 1.8 touchdowns per game. Yummy. However, if Stafford doesn’t play, that would leave career journeyman Chase Daniel under center, which would significantly decrease Jones’ value this week.

 TE T.J. Hockenson: ?????

Hockenson has been a shining light in a rather dull year of fantasy tight end play (that is, unless you have Kansas City’s Travis Kelce on your roster). Hockenson has topped 53 yards or scored in all seven games this season. For a late-round fantasy pick, that’s not too shabby. Although the Vikings have allowed just two tight ends to find the end zone, Minnesota has coughed up 69.7 receiving yards per game to the position, the highest mark in the NFL.

Lions D/ST: ?

Detroit ranks No. 22 in total defense (378.4 yards per game) and No. 26 in scoring defense (29.4 points per game). Nothing else needs to be said.