RADIO
We get a strong Sunday Night Football matchup as the Minnesota Vikings take on the Seattle Seahawks! The Vikings and Seahawks game currently has a 56.5 over/under with the Seahawks being favored by 7 points.
In this article, I will be providing you with daily fantasy football picks on FanDuel and DraftKings for Sunday Night Football on October 11th, 2020 (Week 5). These lineups can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel. Lineup construction can differ greatly from FanDuel to DraftKings with the biggest difference being the Captain and MVP slots. On DK, you'll pay 1.5x the salary of a player in order to roster them as your captain while the price doesn't change on FanDuel.
If you have any questions you can follow me on Twitter @jorgepucks and fire away, or sign up for a premium RotoBaller NFL package and chat with myself and other NFL DFS analysts any time you'd like!
Featured Promo: For this week only, take 50% off any full-season or yearly Premium Pass on the site! Just enter discount code THANKS when checking out. Thanks for being a reader, and Happy Holidays! Sign Up Now!
DFS Quarterbacks
The two quarterbacks on this slate are very different in the way they play the game and the way they run the offense. Kirk Cousins is the quintessential game manager quarterback for the Vikings while Russell Wilson is the big-time clutch playmaker for the Seahawks. Cousins has been pretty average throughout the first four games of the season as he has thrown for six touchdowns and thrown for six interceptions while racking up 883 yards. The matchup against the Seahawks Defense is pretty favorable as they are allowing over 400 yards per game through the air. This could be a game where more is asked of Cousins and the passing game which makes him viable for tournaments.
Russell Wilson has been one of the most dominant fantasy players throughout the first quarter of the season. He is averaging 321 passing yards per game while also accumulating 16 total touchdowns (four per game average) during that four-game span. He has posted 30+ DK points in three out of four games played and carries the highest ceiling on the showdown slate. The Vikings haven't done so well against the pass as they rank 29th in the league against the pass, allowing 291.8 yards per game through the air. Wilson is the best overall play on the slate and is viable in all formats since he carries a high floor and also has the highest possible ceiling as well.
Analysis: Both quarterbacks are viable on this slate with Wilson being the best option for all formats. Cousins could be used for cash but he does carry some risk with his inconsistent play.
DFS Running Backs
This game features some of the best running games in the league. The Vikings have a top-5 running back in Dalvin Cook and he has gotten off to a very strong start to his 2020 season. Cook is averaging 106 rushing yards per game and is getting close to three targets per game. Cook has found paydirt six times to start the season and is the catalyst to this Vikings offense. The Seahawks run defense has been stellar so far through four games as they are allowing only 75 yards per game on the ground so this will be a big challenge for the Vikings rushing attack. Backing up Cook is Alexander Mattison who has held down the back up role for the Vikings over the last several years. He sees 6-7 carries per game but would only be used as a deep shot salary saving option in tournaments.
The Seahawks have a stable of backs but when Chris Carson is healthy, he is a tough back to bring down. Carson is the do-it-all back for the Seahawks as he has five touchdowns (two rushing, three receiving) and has recorded double-digit DK points throughout the first four weeks of the season. The Vikings have gotten gashed on the ground to start the season as they are allowing opponents to run for 134.8 yards per game so Seattle could have a big game on the ground if they get the running game established early on. Carlos Hyde mainly backs up Carson but he is listed as questionable so it could be Travis Homer getting back up duties should Hyde not be able to play.
Analysis: Both running attacks are vital to their team's success which makes both Cook and Carson in play. Carson has a better matchup while Cook has been the more explosive fantasy player so far. Mattison does get several touches and would be considered a long shot tournament play should he get any goal-line looks.
DFS Wide Receivers
We have some explosive options at the receiver position in this matchup. For the Vikings, they are led by veteran receiver Adam Thielen and rookie receiver Justin Jefferson. Thielen leads all receivers with a 31% target share while also hauling in the most catches (20). Justin Jefferson has filled the void left behind by Stefon Diggs and has proved to be a reliable outside option as he has recorded 16 catches on 20 total targets on the season. He has produced back-to-back 100-yard performances and has seen 14 targets over that two-game stretch. The Vikings utilize their backs and tight ends in the passing game as well which means receivers outside of Thielen and Jefferson really don't see many targets. OlaBisi Johnson saw seven combined targets throughout the first two games but has seen a sharp decline in snaps which makes him a deep tournament punt.
The Seahawks have two dominant receivers in Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf. They have been on the field for 90% of all offensive snaps and they both carry over a 20% target share on the team. Both receivers are averaging 19+ DK points per game and make for great options in all formats. The Vikings have struggled through the first quarter of the season as they are allowing opponents to throw for over 400 yards per game which bodes well for opposing receivers. Rounding out the receiving crew for the Seahawks is David Moore who often gets forgotten about since he gets overshadowed by Lockett and Metcalf. Moore is used in three wide-receiver sets and has the third-highest target share of all Seahawks receivers. If you're looking for a cheaper receiving option for tournaments, Moore could warrant consideration.
Analysis: Thielen, Lockett, and Metcalf are the top receiving options on the slate and fit well for all formats. Jefferson is a tad riskier but is still viable in all formats as well. Johnson and Moore could be better fitted for tournaments due to lower snap counts and lower volume.
DFS Tight Ends
The tight end position in this showdown matchup doesn't truly present the upside that we have seen on other showdown slates. For the Seahawks, their best tight end option is long-time NFL veteran Greg Olsen. Olsen has seen an uptick in targets as he has seen 13 targets combined over his last two games while he has hauled in 10 of those targets for catches. Behind Olsen is Will Dissly and Jacob Hollister but they are not as involved in the passing game as Olsen is.
On the other side of this game, The Vikings have two solid tight ends that see the field over 60% of all offensive snaps in Irv Smith Jr. and Kyle Rudolph. The downside with the Vikings is that they rarely utilize the tight ends in the passing game as both tight ends combine for less than four targets per game. With how good the rushing attack is and how the Vikings force-feed their receivers, the tight ends for the Vikings are nothing more than long shot tournament punts.
Analysis: Olsen is really the only consistent tight end play on the slate that would be viable for cash games due to volume and target share. The combo of Rudolph and Smith Jr. are tournament plays but carry a very low floor.
DFS Defense/Special Teams
With the over/under set at 56.5, it might be best to fade both defenses on this slate. Both teams have struggled against the pass which could create a bit of a back and forth contest through the air if both ground games begin to sputter. When also factoring in the high-scoring potential of this game, both kickers could be viable in all roster formats. Jason Myers has not had too many opportunities when it comes to field goal chances since the Seahawks have been able to convert many of their drives into touchdowns so a good chunk of his points comes from extra-point tries. Dan Bailey has seen more field goal opportunities than Myers but their offense has not been as elite as the Seahawks has been so if the Vikings stall out on drives, Bailey could see several opportunities.
Analysis: Both defenses have struggled so it is best to fade them in cash games while both kickers could be viable due to the high-scoring potential of this game.
Good luck, RotoBallers, and remember to mix it up and don't be afraid to be different in these large field GPPs!
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!
