NFL Thursday Night Football preview: Chargers and Vikings face a turning point

It's almost to the halfway point of the NFL season, and teams are still figuring out how good they really are. Two of them face each other on Thursday night.

The Minnesota Vikings are 3-3, and that seems appropriate. They have had some fun wins and games in which they look nothing like a playoff team. The Vikings' quarterback situation hasn't helped them. J.J. McCarthy mostly struggled the first two games and hasn't been seen since due to injury. Carson Wentz, whose inconsistency mirrors the team as a whole, gets another start on Thursday night.

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The Los Angeles Chargers caught some bad injury luck and that wrecked a really good start to the season. The Chargers started 3-0, they looked like a viable contender to stop the Kansas City Chiefs' run of AFC West titles and Justin Herbert had early MVP buzz. The Chargers have lost three of four since then, including a 38-24 loss to the Colts on Sunday. They could still climb back and be one of the NFL's best teams, but the slump can't go on much longer.

It sets up an interesting game between two flawed teams at a bit of a crossroads in their seasons. Both made the playoffs last season. Thursday night will provide an indication if either team will return to the postseason.

Justin Herbert and the Chargers are trying to bounce back from a loss to the Colts in Week 7. (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images)Leonardo Fernandez via Getty ImagesWho needs it more?

The Vikings are .500 and the Chargers are trying to avoid falling to .500. Each team needs this win to create some momentum. But the Chargers have an easier path coming up. The Chargers get the Titans next, then host the Steelers, travel to play the Jaguars and host the Raiders. They could win all of those games. The Vikings could go on a slide if they lose on Thursday. Their upcoming games are at the Lions, vs. Ravens, vs. Bears, at Packers, at Seahawks. That's a tough stretch. That means the Vikings need it more but make no mistake: Both teams need a win on Thursday night.

Key player: Chargers WR Ladd McConkey

The Chargers relied heavily on McConkey last season, when he was a rookie, and more was expected this season. But the passing offense got crowded with Quentin Johnston having a third-year breakout and Keenan Allen being added. McConkey was off to a slow start this season. The last two weeks has looked like rookie year McConkey, with 16 catches for 167 yards. The Chargers won't have much of a running game with rookie Omarion Hampton on injured reserve, and against a tough Vikings defense every Chargers receiver will have a little more pressure to produce. Perhaps McConkey can keep his hot streak going.

Betting market watch, by Ben Fawkes

Both teams are coming off of tough losses, as the Vikings didn't convert in the red zone in a loss to the Eagles, while the Chargers simply couldn't stop the Colts' offense in a blowout loss. The potential return of Chargers offensive tackle Joe Alt and a short week (and long travel) for the Vikings has pushed this line from Los Angeles -3 to -3.5 at BetMGM and some other books. The betting public likes the Chargers to cover in what could be Carson Wentz's last start before J.J. McCarthy returns.

Check out more of Ben's work at the Yahoo Sports betting hub.

Fantasy football storylines, by Scott Pianowski

It's a critical real-life game between the Chargers and Vikings, with both teams looking to avoid their fourth loss. Here are three fantasy angles to consider as you watch the action.

Can the Chargers make chunk plays downfield? Nobody had even managed 200 passing yards against Minnesota until last week - when the Eagles burned the Vikings with some play-action hits en route to 316 net passing yards. The Chargers have three good receivers, plus emerging TE Oronde Gadsden II.

Is Aaron Jones Sr. ready to return? Jones (hamstring) had a limited practice week and might suit up for his first game in six weeks. Jordan Mason had a hot first start in Week 3, but has been ordinary since (3.8 YPC).

Which version of Carson Wentz shows up? Wentz has been good for 7.5 YPA - a Kevin O'Connell staple - but his sack and interception rates are worse than the league mean. At least Wentz is working with two dynamic receivers, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

Check out more of Scott's work at the Yahoo Sports fantasy hub.