Monday Night Football Preview
Vikings -3 at Bears I Over/Under 43.5
This week we have a classic NFC North showdown for Monday Night Football in week ten as the Minnesota Vikings head to the windy city to take on the Chicago Bears. Both teams appear to be heading in opposite directions at this point as the Vikings come into this one having won their last two games while the Bears have lost three straight. As always, all spread and salary information is from DraftKings; let’s breakdown the matchup.
HOW THE VIKINGS WIN
Let’s be real about this Vikings team; the offense runs through Dalvin Cook. The Vikings running game is tremendous and arguably the best in the league currently. The Bears defense is tough all-around, but running the ball on them has been more effective than trying to move it through the air. There will be opportunities for Cousins to take his shots, and when they happen, he needs to strike. The Vikings defense isn’t great but should hold their own against this offensively challenged Bears team.
HOW THE BEARS WIN
The Bears need to produce on offense. They’re averaging less than 20 points per game on the year and struggle to move the ball. This Vikings secondary has been picked on all year and could provide the jump start needed to get this offense into gear. Defensively this is one of the better units in the league; they’re very tough on quarterbacks. They will have to step up to stop this potent Viking running attack if they have any chance of winning this game.
QUARTERBACK
Kirk Cousins ($10,200)
The Vikings are becoming a run-first team, and Kirk Cousin’s numbers reflect that this year. He’s got only one 300-yard game all year and will have a hard time getting there this week as well. The Bears are tough to throw on, allowing just 233 passing yards per game and 10 touchdowns all year. Cousins has done a better job of late not turning the ball over with zero interceptions now in back-to-back games. With the running game being as effective as it is, the Vikings may mix in some play-action, giving Cousins the chance to make some big plays.
Nick Foles ($9,800)
Fresh off his first 300-yard game of the year and fist game where he didn’t throw an interception, Foles will look to get this offense going against a weak secondary. The Vikings allow 298 pass yards per game and have given up 19 touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks. This is a perfect matchup for this offense and Foles to get going in the right direction. This week, there’s optimism that Foles and the Bears can move the ball and put up some points.
RUNNING BACKS
Dalvin Cook ($13,600), Alexander Mattison ($2,000)
This running game is one of the most exciting in the league to watch. They are a force and continue to run over anyone who tries to stand in their way. Dalvin Cook is a beast and continues to put this team on his back and crush it week after week. Mattison is only playing once games are out of hand but is making the most of his touches. The Bears are towards the bottom of the league against running backs allowing 97 yards per game and six touchdowns on the year. Cook is matchup proof and should be in all lineups at all times, and Mattison is the most valuable handcuff in the league.
Cordarrelle Patterson ($5,200), Ryan Nall ($6,200)
Lead back David Montgomery is still in concussion protocol and won’t suit up Monday Night. That leaves us with Cordarrelle Patterson, a former wide receiver turned running back, and Ryan Nall. The Bears are also expected to sign Lamar Miller to the active roster who hasn’t played since tearing his ACL in 2019. Nall is expected to see more of the workload here, but neither of these guys will significantly impact the game. The Vikings allow 108 rushing yards per game to opposing running backs and have surrendered five touchdowns on the year. Teams have been running on them effectively. Nall is an interesting play if you’re trying to get a piece of this Bears running attack.
WIDE RECEIVER
Justin Jefferson ($8,600), Adam Thielen ($10,000)
These Vikings wide receivers cannot be happy from a production standpoint. After Justin Jefferson had a monster game three weeks ago where he saw 11 targets, he has a combined eight targets in his last two games. Thielen has nine total targets over the previous two weeks and just one game this year with double-digit targets. Things seem bleak again this week as the Bears allow only 141 yards per game and have given up just three touchdowns on the year to opposing wide receivers. Both of these players are talented, but now the running game is crushing it, so they aren’t getting much usage.
Allen Robinson ($10,800), Darnell Mooney ($6,600), Anthony Miller ($4,800)
Allen Robinson popped up on the injury report this week with a knee issue, which is a situation to keep monitoring as this game gets closer. Robinson is the primary receiver of this trio, and if he’s healthy should see a ton of work. Darnell Mooney has taken over as the number two here and has seen an increased workload going back to week six. The Vikings allow 190 yards per game to receivers and have given up a league-high 16 touchdowns to the position. Anthony Miller gets a bump up if Robinson doesn’t go and is someone to keep an eye on this week.
TIGHT END
Kyle Rudolph ($3,400)
Over the past few years, Kyle Rudolph has been a valid option as a streamer tight end as there was always a shot he would find the end zone. He has just three red-zone targets this year compared to eight at this time a season ago. He doesn’t have more than four targets in a game this year and has yet to break 50 receiving yards in any contest. The Bears have allowed six touchdowns to opposing tight ends while giving up 53 yards per game. He’s not that involved in the offense despite this matchup favoring the upside.
Jimmy Graham ($7,200)
At one point, Jimmy Graham was arguably the best tight end at the position, and although his best days are behind him, he’s been productive this year. He’s involved in some capacity each week, averaging six targets a game, and has found the end zone five times. The Vikings allow an average of 66 yards per game to tight ends and have given up three scores on the year. Given the state of this Vikings pass defense, Graham makes for a decent play this week and would be an even better play if somehow Robinson doesn’t play.
PICK
Vikings -3 I Over 43.5
LINEUP
- Dalvin Cook- Captain
- Alexander Mattison
- Nick Foles
- Jimmy Graham
- Darnell Mooney
- Kyle Rudolph
