Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (quad) will get his first career playoff start this Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams on the road. Darnold sustained a mild quad injury in last weekend's loss to the Detroit Lions but he is all systems go for the Wild Card round after practicing fully. The 27-year-old is coming off one of his worst starts of the season as Detroit was all over him last Sunday night, though he didn't do himself many favors. He'll line up against a Rams squad that's been a favorable spot for quarterbacks in 2024, letting up an average of 19.2 fantasy points per game -; the ninth-most in the league. The USC product was able to bounce back earlier in the season after a few subpar performances, and we'll see if he can do it again in a win-or-go-home situation. He'll clock in at RotoBaller's QB6 for the tournament's first round.

Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers (illness) is officially questionable to play in the Wild Card playoff game on Monday against the Los Angeles Rams, according to Minnesota's final injury report of the week. He appeared on the injury report Friday, but Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters Saturday that he expects the backup running back to be available come Monday. The veteran compiled 69 total yards last week at Detroit, his most productive game of the season, and figures to once again be the second man out of the Minnesota backfield behind starter Aaron Jones. But with a low volume of carries expected, Akers is a low-end RB2 for managers in playoff leagues.

Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler (illness) was listed as a non-participant for Friday's team practice. With the Vikings slated to square off with the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night, their first practice this week was on Thursday. The 26-year-old was a full participant to kick off the week but was tagged as a DNP the following day. Fortunately, he'll have a few more days to rest up before their road tilt at SoFi stadium. However, even if he plays, Chandler figures to serve as more of a reserve player behind backfield mates Aaron Jones (quad) and Cam Akers. Even if he's active, he won't be a recommended option, as the North Carolina product has participated on double-digit snaps just twice since Akers joined the team via trade in mid-October.

For the second straight day this week, Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (quadriceps) was limited in practice on Friday. Jones was also on last week's injury report with the quad issue before suiting up and playing 62 percent of the offensive snaps in the Week 18 loss to the division-rival Detroit Lions in the regular-season finale. Jones had 15 touches for 75 scrimmage yards. The 30-year-old should be available on wild-card weekend for the Monday night matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, although he could carry a questionable tag into that one if he's limited again on Friday. As Minnesota's backfield leader in a high-scoring offense, Jones should at least be considered a low-end RB1 for fantasy managers in playoff leagues. The Rams defense was in the middle of the pack in terms of points allowed to RBs in 2024, while Jones had 19 carries for 58 yards in the loss to LA back on Oct. 24.

The Minnesota Vikings are considering using quarterback Daniel Jones as the primary backup to Sam Darnold in the postseason over Nick Mullens. The Vikings signed Jones to their active 53-man roster this week after he spent six weeks on the practice squad. Mullens appeared in relief of Darnold only four times during the regular season as his backup all year. "The best way I can put it is we're doing everything we can to get Sam ready to go, but at the same time, whether it's Nick or Daniel or Brett, having all those guys absorbing the game plan like always. It's such a fluid thing here the rest of the way. We're going to do whatever we think gives us the best chance to win," head coach Kevin O'Connell said. Darnold had his worst game of the season in Sunday night's loss to the Lions with a 34.5% off-target rate, the second-worst of his career. Jones opened the year with the Giants but was benched after 10 games.