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Lions at Vikings

Time: 1:00 PM ET   TV: FOX Location: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome - Minneapolis, MN  

VIKINGS (9-1-0)

LIONS (2-8-0)

  Brett Favre

QB
He's at home, he's yet to have a blowup game and he's playing against the Lions. This is exactly what his owners have been waiting for all season long. A big game is just waiting to happen.
  Projections
Cmp/Att PaYd PaTd Int RuYd RuTd FP
16/24 210 2 0 1 0 18.4

  Matthew Stafford

QB
Stafford's been a turnover machine of late, and that's not something you wanna be known for when playing against the Vikings and NFL sack leader Jared Allen. There's gonna be extensive pressure on him all day, and that's bad news for Lions fans.
  Projections
Cmp/Att PaYd PaTd Int RuYd RuTd FP
14/27 186 1 1 -0 0 10.4

  Adrian Peterson

RB
You see everything I just wrote about Brett Favre?!? Well, make that double for A.D. This is an optimal situation for pretty much everyone on the Minnesota offense, especially the league's best running back.
  Projections
RuAtt RuYd RuTd Rec RecYd RecTd FP
21 115 1 2 20 0 21.1

  Kevin Smith

RB
He hasn't had a touchdown or surpassed 70 yards on the ground in four games now. I wouldn't wanna be anywhere close to those numbers when my guy's going against one of the best run defenses in the game. I think you have to leave Smith on the bench this week.
  Projections
RuAtt RuYd RuTd Rec RecYd RecTd FP
14 52 0 1 14 0 8.1

  Chester Taylor

RB
If the game gets out of hand, this could be one of those games where Taylor gets some quality garbage yardage. I see that happening to a degree, but Peterson still carries the ball well into the fourth quarter most games. This doesn't look terrible, but it's still a super risk.
  Projections
RuAtt RuYd RuTd Rec RecYd RecTd FP
6 24 0 1 10 0 5.0

  Maurice Morris

RB
MoMo's shown some nice moves with Smith banged up a bit lately. However, this is definitely not the week to be giving him a spot start. Leave him alone.
  Projections
RuAtt RuYd RuTd Rec RecYd RecTd FP
9 40 0 1 7 0 6.0

  Bernard Berrian

WR
The veteran's had some great moments this season, but he's still a third option in the passing game for this team. I like him, but he's no more than a deep league Flex option in my eyes.
  Projections
Rec RecYd RecTd FP
3 31 0       4.6

  Bryant Johnson

WR
What a catch Johnson made in the end zone last week! He obviously has some chops to play the position, but with Calvin Johnson back in the lineup, he's a really difficult play to make each week. I don't think I could do it.
  Projections
Rec RecYd RecTd FP
2 34 0       4.2

  Sidney Rice

WR
The big play man on this team has a terrific matchup in front of him this week, as the Lions aren't afraid to give up a long play here and there. Rice is a guy you have to play, especially the way he's been producing the last few games.
  Projections
Rec RecYd RecTd FP
4 74 1       11.3

  Dennis Northcutt

WR
He hasn't had a catch in two straight games now, which isn't good when you're playing the No. 3 role in Detroit. It's impossible to play him on any level.
  Projections
Rec RecYd RecTd FP
0 1 0       0.2

  Percy Harvin

WR
You've gotta love the rookie's game, don't ya? If there's one thing the Vikes have, it's explosive playmakers, and Harvin just ups that number. He's a threat to go the distance on any play, and the team's giving him the ball more and more, which makes him a strong play nowadays.
  Projections
Rec RecYd RecTd FP
3 45 0       7.3

  Calvin Johnson

WR
He's as good as there is in the game, but can his quarterback get him the ball consistently enough? It hasn't happened much this year, with four of his six games thus far going for 51 yards or less. He has just 29 yards on thre receptions the last two weeks. The threat is there, though, so it's tough to leave him on the bench. I'd still play him, just in case he blows up, which he's more than capable of doing.
  Projections
Rec RecYd RecTd FP
3 43 0       6.2

  Visanthe Shiancoe

TE
He's a touchdown machine, as Favre has learned to love Shiancoe's hands when the team gets deep into opposing territory. He's easily a top-10 tight end, which means you need to be playing him most weeks.
  Projections
Rec RecYd RecTd FP
3 27 0       3.9

  Brandon Pettigrew

TE
The rookie's actually become quite an interesting play lately, with a seven-catch, one-touchdown game last week in a great effort against Seattle. He's a risk, there's no doubt about that, but there's no reason why you can't give him a whirl if your current tight end's not one of the premier 4-5 out there.
  Projections
Rec RecYd RecTd FP
5 57 0       7.1

  Ryan Longwell

K
One of the best kickers in the league plays on one of the best offenses around, and they're playing against one of the worst defenses as well. There couldn't be a better kicker in the league to be starting this week.
  Projections
XPM/XPA 0-29 30-39 40-49 50+ FP
3/3 1 1 1 0   9.2

  Jason Hanson

K
He's had two field goals in five of his team's eight games, including two in their first tilt against Minnesota. The Lions are always a threat to get shut out, however - especially on the road - which has to worry you a little bit. He's as good as they get, though, so it's all about opportunity in this one.
  Projections
XPM/XPA 0-29 30-39 40-49 50+ FP
1/2 0 1 1 0   6.7

  Vikings
D/ST
This is as easy it comes. The Vikes are a top-five defense, and the Lions are in the bottom-five offenses. The points this unit could put up this week could be pretty impressive.
  Projections
PA Yds Allowed Sack Int FumR Td FP
16 306 3 1 0 0 7.3
  Lions
D/ST
No chance you play the Lions defense going against Brett Favre. They gave up 27 points the last time these two teams met, and things could easily get worse in Minnesota on Sunday.
  Projections
PA Yds Allowed Sack Int FumR Td FP
30 380 2 0 0 0 2.6

Projected Final Score
31   14
Other Matchups:
• 49ers 25, Bears 18
• Vikings 31, Lions 14
• Saints 33, Rams 17
• Raiders 22, Chiefs 21
• Eagles 24, Chargers 22
• Falcons 24, Panthers 20
• Jets 27, Jaguars 21
• Titans 24, Bills 17
• Cardinals 27, Seahawks 19
• Colts 27, Patriots 25
• Dolphins 28, Buccaneers 17
• Steelers 25, Bengals 18
• Broncos 21, Redskins 15
• Cowboys 27, Packers 22
• Ravens 24, Browns 15
Player analysis: Commentary is written by FOXSports.com fantasy analysts John Juhasz and Gerrit Ritt.
Projections: Determined solely by the statistical results of 61 game simulations provided by WhatIfSports.com.
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Statistical Information provided by: STATS LLC
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