Key Injuries
It has been several weeks since wide receiver Christian Watson (hamstring) has so much as practiced, and his Week 17 availability isn't looking good. There were also several players listed as limited through the week—running backs A.J. Dillon (thumb) and Aaron Jones (knee/finger) and wide receiver Jayden Reed (toe/chest). But all three are set to play.
The Vikings have injury issues of their own. Tight end T.J. Hockenson landed on injured reserve with an ankle injury. Wide receiver Jordan Addison was listed as a non-participant Wednesday before a limited session Thursday with an ankle injury of his own and (noticing a theme?) running back Alexander Mattison's ankle injury earned him a limited tag. Addison carries a questionable tag into the weekend.
Start of the Week
Romeo Doubs, WR, Green Bay Packers [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,600]: Doubs is coming off a big game against the Panthers, and with the Packers wideout corps ravaged by injuries, he could see a hefty target share against a Vikings team allowing the eighth-most PPR points to wide receivers.
Sit of the Week
Alexander Mattison, RB, Minnesota Vikings [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,200]: Partly, this is about Mattison's bad ankle. But mostly, it's about the fact that while Mattison was out, Ty Chandler looked more explosive than Mattison ever did this season. At best, he's on the wrong end of a committee backfield.
K.J. Osborn, WR, Minnesota Vikings [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,400]: T.J. Hockenson is definitely out. Jordan Addison is the wrong side of questionable. Justin Jefferson will no doubt draw bracket coverage. That leaves Osborn seeing single coverage all game in a contest where the Vikings will need to throw the ball.
Stat to Know
102.9. The number of receiving yards that Jefferson is averaging per game this year. If he hits that average in the last two games of the season, Jefferson will surpass 1,000 yards for the fourth time in as many seasons—an impressive feat given that he missed seven games and has been without quarterback Kirk Cousins for a chunk of the year. Tyreek Hill may be having a monster 2023, but for this analyst's money Jefferson is still the best player at his position in the game.
Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow him on Twitter, @IDPSharks.
