Team Profile
Minnesota Vikings
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2.9% 15thOff DVOA
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24.7% 12thPassing DVOA
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-9.6% 19thRushing DVOA
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-15.4% 2ndDef DVOA
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-12.8% 1stDef Passing DVOA
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-20.2% 5thDef Rushing DVOA
2024 Team Stats
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Points For25.4 10th
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Points Against19.5 4th
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Yards Per Game347.0 12th
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Yards Allowed Per Game336.0 16th
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (foot) was upgraded to a full participant during Thursday's practice and is on track to play this Sunday against the Chicago Bears, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during Friday's practice in case he faces a setback. Darnold enjoyed a nice bounce-back showing this past weekend against the Tennessee Titans as he threw for 246 yards and two scores. This was a stark contrast to the poor showing he had in Week 10, where he tallied 241 yards with no scores and three interceptions. Overall, Darnold has enjoyed a great debut campaign in Minnesota as he has thrown 19 TDs and added one with his legs through 10 games. Fantasy managers should view him as a low-end QB1 this weekend, as he will face a tough Chicago defense that has allowed the second-fewest PPR points to opposing QBs this season.
Minnesota Vikings tight end Josh Oliver (ankle) missed a second straight day of practice this week on Thursday due to a sprained left ankle that he suffered in the Week 11 victory over the Tennessee Titans. Oliver is likely going to need to practice in some fashion on Friday in order to have a shot at playing in Week 12 against the division-rival Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday. The 27-year-old does have a career-high three touchdowns in 10 starts in 2024, but he hasn't been a reliable fantasy asset, even at the weak TE position, catching 19 of his 22 targets for 216 yards. If Oliver is inactive this weekend, it should give T.J. Hockenson a slightly higher fantasy ceiling after he disappointed with two catches for 13 yards in his third game off Injured Reserve.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (foot) is listed on the Week 12 injury report after putting in a limited practice session on Wednesday due to a foot ailment. Darnold played the full game in the Week 11 win over the Tennessee Titans but is having his reps limited in the first practice of the week. We'll have a better idea of how serious his injury is after the Vikings hold two more practices on Thursday and Friday. The 27-year-old has slowed down of late in terms of his production, throwing five touchdowns and five interceptions in the last three games. It won't get any easier this weekend if he plays against the division-rival Chicago Bears, whose defense has given up the second-fewest fantasy points per game to the QB position in 2024. Darnold is shaping up as a low-end QB2 play for fantasy managers in Week 12 if he's active.
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, who has been benched coming out of the team's Week 11 bye, was the No. 4 QB during individual hand-off drills in practice on Wednesday behind new starter Tommy Devito, Drew Lock and new practice-squad signee Tim Boyle. The Giants aren't just benching Jones heading into their Week 12 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but they are fully expected to shut him down for the rest of the 2024 season as they look to move in a new direction at the position going forward. It would be a surprise to see the 27-year-old take another snap for the Giants this year before the team likely cuts him this offseason. If Jones were to play and get hurt, the Giants would have to guarantee him $23 million in 2025. The former sixth overall pick played in just six games due to injury in 2023 and threw for eight TDs and seven picks in 10 games this year before being benched.
The New York Giants formally moved on from quarterback Daniel Jones, and some Giants players are unhappy with the way the benching was handled, according to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. The former first-round pick will be relegated to third string as the 2-8 Giants protect against the possibility of a $23 million injury guarantee in his contract for 2025. A player reportedly told Schultz, "We're not idiots. They did it because of money." Quarterback Tommy Devito, not Drew Lock, will start this week against Tampa Bay, which means even more uncertainty for fantasy-relevant players like wide receiver Malik Nabers and running back Tyrone Tracy Jr.