Predictions Summary Projections by Position Projection Team Boxes

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Prediction: MIN 10, DEN 31 (Line: DEN by 6.5)

The 2-1 Vikings won two in a row and have regained that dominating backfield with Adrian Peterson. Their only loss of the year – the only other road game. The 3-0 Broncos may have not looked as sharp as 2014 but they are back at home in their softest matchup so far.

Two home wins helped right the ship after that loss in San Francisco that seems even more surprising with time. The Vikes have their bye up next week and this is just the second trip away from Minnesota. Adrian Peterson is the difference maker as always – the passing offense ranks last in the league but that’s okay with every Peterson owner. After making strides in the passing game in 2014, they are back to square one with Peterson the main focus again.

QUARTERBACK : Teddy Bridgewater has been a major disappointment though the Vikes won the last two games. He’s only thrown one touchdown all year and is averaging just 168 passing yards per game. With the success of rushing the ball at home, he’s only needed to throw 42 passes over the last two weeks. That’ll be going up this week in Denver.

RUNNING BACK : Adrian Peterson says he feels back to normal again and running for 126 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Chargers backs that up. He rushed for 134 yards in the Lions game with 58 yards on just two receptions. The full back Zach Line is stealing one-yard touchdowns the last two weeks but no other running back is contributing anything. It’s back to All-Day Peterson… with one run by Line for a score.

WIDE RECEIVER : This is the worst ranked unit in the NFL currently with no scores and with an average of just 95 yards per game from all wideouts combined. Mike Wallace is as good as it gets with around 40 yards per week but Charles Johnson has laid an egg so far. Johnson is nursing sore ribs but he’s no longer a fantasy consideration.

TIGHT END : Kyle Rudolph caught the only passing score of the year but he’s only offered minimal yards and catches. The need to pass will increase away from home and he had a season best five receptions for 53 yards in the opener in San Francisco. Rudolph is the lead receiver for the Vikings which doesn’t say much.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: This is one of those rare games. The worst ranked team in quarterback and wide receivers is facing the best ranked defense against the same positions. There would be no reason to start any element of the Vikings passing game anyway and less so this week. Rudolph will figure in more but what does that really mean in this offense? Adrian Peterson is the must start and only start, The Broncos only weakness has been against running backs.

The rushing offense remains missing in action but at least Peyton Manning is looking more back to form. The Broncos feature a great defense and that’s keeping Manning from having to play catch-up each week. When the weather turns later in the year, the need for better rushing will become more critical but for now the fantasy world is happy with the improved passing stats. The next two games are on the road in Oakland and Cleveland where the rushing effort should be better anyway.

QUARTERBACK : Peyton Manning passed for 324 yards and two scores in the win in Detroit but he is still throwing an interception each week. Back at home this week should be a benefit though his only bad game this year was when the Ravens visited in the home opener. While this may not be the astronomic stats we saw at this time last year, Manning is turning solid games each week. Moving Manning back into the shotgun has already made a significant difference than forcing him into Kubiak’s under center scheme.

RUNNING BACK : Ronnie Hillman finally scored the first rushing touchdown for the Broncos this year though it came with only 13 yards on seven carries in Detroit. C.J. Anderson is struggling to find his groove in this new offense and is getting beaten up each week. Anderson has already suffered toe, ankle and head injuries. But Anderson remains the primary back and this week is his best matchup of the year so far. The next three weeks go against softer rushing defenses and should provide a better opportunity for the Broncos to get more support from their rushing offense. Until it improves, Hillman and Anderson are just splitting up a very small pies.

WIDE RECEIVER : While Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas are not matching the numbers from last year, at least they are providing moderate stats each week. Sanders scored twice in Kansas City and remains around 80 yards per week. Thomas scored in Detroit and is solid at least in yardage each week. No other wideouts are providing much support let alone any fantasy value. This offense is like last year only without any tight end or slot receiver doing much.

TIGHT END : There are only a few catches per week between Owen Daniels and Virgil Green and both have scored once this year. But neither have a game with more than 28 yards. There is no reliable fantasy value here since the meager production varies between both tight ends.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: The Vikings have been good against the pass though that was facing some of the more disappointing offenses – SD and SF. What is relevant this week is that the Vikings were great against the run at home but the only road game yielded 168 yards and two scores to Carlos Hyde. Starting either Anderson or Hillman is a high risk but at least this week it will be a better situation for one of them to produce more. A good game here by either will translate into fantasy starts in Cleveland and Oakland in the next two weeks.

Have to like Sanders in this one. He plays the same flanker spot that Calvin Johnson (10-83, TD) and Keenan Allen (12-133, 2 TD) did when they faced the Vikings. Manning, Sanders and Thomas are all must starts. Anderson and Hillman are very risky flex plays but have some upside this week.

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