Fantasy: 2019 Projections - Can Vikings support all their offensive weapons?

Justin Boone

from on 2019-07-30 23:12 (#4M981)

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2019 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.

With training camp in full swing, theScore's Justin Boone is releasing his offensive projections for all 32 teams, including his thoughts on every fantasy-relevant player.

Projections are based on the following point values in PPR leagues:

Passing Yards: 1 point per 25 yards
Passing TDs: 4 points
Interceptions: -2 points
Rushing Yards: 1 point per 10 yards
Rushing TDs: 6 points
Receptions: 1 point
Receiving Yards: 1 point per 10 yards
Receiving TDs: 6 points
Fumbles Lost: -2 points
Two-point Conversions: 2 points

2019 Fantasy Projections

AFC East
NE | BUF | NYJ | MIA
NFC West
LAR | SF | SEA | ARI
AFC North
BAL | CIN | PIT | CLE
NFC South
ATL | NO | CAR | TB
AFC West
DEN | KC | OAK | LAC
NFC East
DAL | PHI | NYG | WAS
AFC South
JAC | IND
NFC North
DET | GB | MIN

Minnesota VikingsKirk Cousins, QB

Fantasy Points	235.3
Attempts	544
Completions	375
Pass Yards	3760
Pass TDs	25
INTs	12
Carries	39
Rush Yards	109
Rush TDs	1
Fumbles Lost	6
2PT	2

Cousins posted drastically different numbers in the opening two months of his debut campaign with the Vikings compared to the final two. The man with the fully guaranteed contract averaged 43 attempts and 20.6 fantasy points per game over the first half of the year against just 33 attempts and 15.4 fantasy points in the second. The reason for the dip in production was the Vikings' decision to shift toward a more run-heavy scheme - a move they've doubled down on this offseason with the hiring of assistant coach/offensive advisor Gary Kubiak. Despite the plethora of talented pass-catchers around Cousins - which normally would make him a top-10 fantasy quarterback - the decline in volume will push him into the low-end QB2 range.

Quarterback depth: A strong rushing attack lessens the burden on a backup quarterback if one is thrown into action. Sean Mannion and Kyle Sloter represent a severe downgrade from Cousins and would bring into question the fantasy upside of Minnesota's receiving weapons.

Dalvin Cook, RB

Fantasy Points	272.5
Carries	232
Rush Yards	1139
Rush TDs	7
Fumbles Lost	2
Targets	72
Receptions	57
Rec. Yards	436
Rec. TDs	3
2PT	1

The Vikings' newfound desire to run the ball isn't the only beacon signaling an imminent breakout for Cook. The team also invested in its offensive line by signing former Titans starter Josh Kline and selecting Garrett Bradberry, the top center in this year's draft class. The lone knock remaining against Cook is his injury history, but when healthy at the end of 2018, he posted the sixth-most fantasy points among running backs over the final six weeks. That's a sign of things to come as Cook is projected to crack the RB1 ranks in his third season.

Alexander Mattison, RB

Fantasy Points	81.6
Carries	92
Rush Yards	377
Rush TDs	3
Fumbles Lost	1
Targets	23
Receptions	17
Rec. Yards	109
Rec. TDs	0
2PT	0

In an effort to beef up the run game, Minnesota drafted Mattison in the third round. The 21-year-old is already earning positive reviews in camp and will be a nice complement to Cook. If the incumbent does suffer an injury, Mattison will vault into the RB2 mix.

Running back depth: Mike Boone, Ameer Abdullah, and De'Angelo Henderson form a nice stable of backs behind Cook and Mattison. Boone flashed a hard-nosed running style and seemed destined to take over backup duties before Mattison came along. Abdullah hasn't developed into the player many fantasy managers had hoped he would become, but he's a dynamic ball carrier and should find a role on special teams.

Adam Thielen, WR

Fantasy Points	228.5
Targets	117
Receptions	83
Rec. Yards	1093
Rec. TDs	6
Carries	4
Rush Yards	22
Rush TDs	0
Fumbles Lost	1
2PT	1

After opening the season with eight straight 100-yard games, Thielen's numbers declined over the second half of the year due to injuries and the aforementioned run-first approach. Expectations need to be adjusted for Thielen, who will settle in as a high-end WR2.

Stefon Diggs, WR

Fantasy Points	222.4
Targets	122
Receptions	82
Rec. Yards	943
Rec. TDs	7
Carries	8
Rush Yards	41
Rush TDs	0
Fumbles Lost	0
2PT	0

Much like Thielen, you don't need us to tell you Diggs is a top-20 talent at wideout. However, a similar drop in targets is coming for him. Consider Diggs a mid- to low-end WR2 in 2019.

Receiver depth: The Laquon Treadwell experiment is nearing an end. Chad Beebe and Jordan Taylor are the leading candidates to take over as the No. 3 receiver in Minnesota. Neither offers much fantasy upside.

Kyle Rudolph, TE

Fantasy Points	117.5
Targets	60
Receptions	47
Rec. Yards	465
Rec. TDs	4
Carries	0
Rush Yards	0
Rush TDs	0
Fumbles Lost	0
2PT	0

Rudolph is a depreciating fantasy asset who will be affected by the team's lower volume passing attack and the arrival of rookie tight end Irv Smith Jr. The man once dubbed the "Red-Zone Reindeer" saw his touchdown production fall to just four scores last season - his lowest mark since 2014. He's still a worthy tight end streamer, but for how long?

Tight end depth: The Vikings are excited about Smith Jr., lining him up all over the field in an effort to create mismatches with his athleticism. Rudolph blocks his path to fantasy production in the short term, but he should have a role on offense right away as the team deploys more 12 personnel.

2019 Fantasy Projections

Source	RSS or Atom Feed
Feed Location	http://feeds.thescore.com/nfl.rss
Feed Title
Feed Link	http://feeds.thescore.com/