Vikings fantasy football outlook: Wide receivers will feast vs. Seahawks

The Minnesota Vikings claimed their first win of the 2020 season last week.

And, hopefully, a few of their players contributed to a win for your fantasy football team. Heading into what feels like an annual clash against the Seattle Seahawks, let’s dive into how the fantasy matchups are looking this week.

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 5 shakes out:

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

QB Kirk Cousins: ??

Uh oh. This is a tough one. First off, the Seahawks have the worst passing defense in the league, as they’ve allowed 238 more yards through the air than any other team and have yielded the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. However, Seattle also has the second-most interceptions with six. Guess who has thrown the second-most interceptions this year? You guessed it — Cousins. Even though Seattle is horrendous against the pass, we’re keeping Cousins on the bench because of the threat to turn the ball over. And he’s not exactly great in prime time, either.

RB Dalvin Cook: ???

Cook is the only NFL player to have scored a rushing touchdown in all four weeks. That streak is on the line against Seattle. Despite their incompetence against the pass, the Seahawks have been stellar in the ground game, holding running backs like Ezekiel Elliot, Myles Gaskin and Todd Gurley to under 56 rushing yards each. Although Seattle has yielded the eight-most receptions to running backs (26), it’s allowing just 5.3 yards per reception and 3.6 yards per target. We’re still starting Cook, of course, but let’s hope he gets more involved in the passing game.

WR Adam Thielen: ?????

We don’t care if your receivers played college ball at Alabama, Minnesota State Mankato or the Culinary Institute of America — start them all against the Seahawks. In four games vs. Seattle — yes, four games — seven different receivers have tallied 100+ receiving yards, 10 players have logged 72+ receiving yards and seven wideouts have hauled in 8+ receptions. And guess what? Seahawks starting safety Jamal Adams will miss his second straight game. Last week, Miami receiver Davante Parker caught 10 passes for 110 yards against the Adams-less Seahawks. Yummy.

 WR Justin Jefferson: ?????

If you needed more evidence to start receivers against the Seahawks, look no further. Jefferson is tied with Stefon Diggs (we know, the irony!) for the league lead with eight catches for 20+ yards. The Seahawks have allowed the second-most receptions of 20+ yards and the most receptions of 40+ yards. Look for Jefferson to make a big splash downfield yet again.

TE Irv Smith Jr. or Kyle Rudolph: ?

With all the emphasis on the wide receivers in the Seattle game plan, tight ends have been mostly left out. Dallas tight end Dalton Shultz owns the best game against Seattle – four catches for 48 yards. The Seahawks have yet to give up a touchdown to the position. Plus, both Smith and Rudolph have just one target apiece in the red zone.

Vikings D/ST: ?

If you’re still hanging on to Minnesota’s defense because you bleed purple and gold, it might be time to give up the dream. Especially with leading MVP candidate Russell Wilson lining up against the Vikings on Sunday night. Even with an improved effort against Houston last week, the Vikings are allowing 31.2 points per game and have forced just three turnovers.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

QB Russell Wilson: ?????

For all those clamoring to #LetRussCook, guess what? He’s cooking. Wilson leads all quarterbacks with 16 touchdowns and a 136.7 passer rating. And he always seems to be at his best against Minnesota, compiling a 113.5 passer rating in five career regular-season tests. Three of four quarterbacks to face Minnesota have thrown for 300+ yards, and Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, a fellow early MVP candidate, chucked four touchdown passes in Week 1.

RB Chris Carson: ?????

Bruising running backs always give Minnesota trouble. At 5-foot-11 and 222 pounds, Carson is no exception. In 2018, Carson rushed 22 times for 90 yards and a score against the Vikings. Last season, that stat line was boosted to 102 rushing yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. In Week 3, Tennessee’s Derrick Henry, who stands 6-3 and weighs 247 pounds, pummeled the Vikings for 119 rushing yards and two scores on 26 carries.  If Seattle grabs an early lead, it could easily turn into the Chris Carson Game. Start him.

WR D.K. Metcalf: ?????

While the Seahawks struggle mightily against the pass, the Vikings aren’t much better. Minnesota is allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers. Once a source of pride for head coach Mike Zimmer, his young core of cornerbacks has coughed up seven touchdowns to receivers. Only Cleveland and Dallas have yielded more in 2020. If you need more of a reason to start Metcalf, the Vikings have allowed a 100-yard receiver in three of four weeks. And Metcalf has tallied 92+ yards in all four contests. Easy money.

WR Tyler Lockett: ????

We wouldn’t necessarily call Lockett a second option in Seattle’s passing game. He’s more of a 1B to Metcalf’s 1A. Lockett actually saw more targets, receptions and touchdowns than Metcalf before last week’s two-catch dud against Miami. We’re taking one football away from Lockett, though, because he was held to no catches on three targets last season against the Vikings, despite playing in 88% of the snaps.

TE Greg Olsen: ??

If you’re starting tight end is either Robert Tonyan or T.J. Hockenson and you need a one-week fill-in at the position while on a bye, Olsen is probably available on the waiver wire. Minnesota continues to be solid against tight ends and has yet to give up a score to the position through four weeks. Although Olsen has caught just one of Wilson’s 16 touchdown passes, he leads the Seahawks in red-zone targets with six. It’s not a juicy matchup by any means, but Olsen could find pay dirt this week and head right back to waivers the next.