DFS Showdown Tips: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
I’m gonna go out on a limb and predict fewer points for this week’s Sunday night matchup than we got last Sunday night.
That contest, of course, featured Dak Prescott and the Cowboys’ pass offense springing back to life against Washington.
This week’s edition will be cold and missing a starting QB. The forecast is at least up to 11 degrees at kickoff in Green Bay, after spending most of the week around 5 degrees.
The temperature might not matter much for Minnesota’s pass offense, which will miss Kirk Cousins (COVID list). That leaves Sean Mannion – fresh off the COVID list – to make his 3rd NFL start. His 1st 2 came in …
Week 17 of 2017 (with the Rams):
20-of-34 passing
169 yards (4.97 YPA)
0 TDs
0 INTs
Week 17 of 2019 (Vikings):
12-of-21
126 yards (6.00 YPA)
0 TDs
2 INTs
It’s not exciting. But he does have Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook on his side this time.
Mannion will not have Adam Thielen, though. And he might not have Tyler Conklin (questionable with a hamstring injury).
Let’s check the values on the Vikings who might play, as well as the heavily favored home team …
DraftKings
Sean Mannion’s backup-QB salary pushes him up the value chart. His team arrives as a 13-point underdog, so we very well might get boosted passing volume. He’s well worth a look.
On the other side, the cold and likely positive game flow should incentivize Green Bay to keep it on the ground. That gives both Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon upside from where they sit in these charts. Note Dillon’s position in the top half of the DK chart, despite the full-PPR scoring.
FanDuel
Mannion’s minimum price on FD pushes him to the top of the chart. He’s the only sub-$7K player we projected on either side, making him tough to skip in primary showdown lineups. Marquez Valdes-Scantling is attractive as well among those with 4-digit salaries. He has seen 21.2% target share over his past 4 appearances. It certainly doesn’t hurt that his QB has tossed 3+ TD passes in 3 straight games and 4 of the past 5.