WEEK 15: Vikings at Carolina Fantasy Football Preview

LAST WEEK
It’s holiday season and everyone is pushed for time, so let’s cut to the chase! What better way to summarize last week’s game and my predictions by going straight to…

Projections vs. Reality:

The Game: My projection: Vikings 24, Bengals 20
Outcome: Vikings 30, Bengals 10

Adrian Peterson: My projection: 70 combined yards
Outcome: 137 combined yards and 2 TDs

Brett Favre: My projection: 240 yards and 3 TDs
Outcome: 192 yards passing and 1 TD and 1 INT

Sidney Rice: Projection : 80 Yards and 1 TD
Outcome: 39 yards and 1 TD

Percy Harvin: My projection: 80 combined yards and 1TD
Outcome: Did not play due to migraine headaches

Bernard Berrian: My projection: 30 yards
Outcome: 43 yards

Visanthe Shiancoe: My projection: 30 yards and 1 TD
Outcome: 19 yards

Chester Taylor: My projection: 30 combined yards
Outcome: 57 combined yards

Vikings Defense: My projection: Top 12 fantasy defense
Outcome: Number 18 fantasy defense

THIS WEEK
The Vikings should roll to another easy victory this week against the Carolina Panthers. I predict the Vikings to win 27-10.

RUMORS
With Tiger Woods in the news 24 hours a day there isn’t much time to report on rumors for anybody else. There is nothing new in Vikings’ Land; however the Washington Redskins have finally replaced the much beleaguered general manager, Vinny Cerrato. They hired Bruce Allen who previously served as a senior personnel executive with the Oakland Raiders and former general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bruce worked Jon Gruden at both organizations so many people are speculating that Bruce will hire Gruden to be the next head coach of the Washington Redskins. The Monday Night Football game this week should be very interesting as Gruden comes to Washington to announce the game. This will be an interesting story to follow over the next few weeks.

INJURIES
Percy Harvin missed last week’s game due to migraine headaches. He has not yet practiced this week so I’m not optimistic about him playing. Visanthe Shiancoe was limited in practice yesterday with a rib injury and Bernard Berrian was limited with a hamstring injury. However, both are expected to play on Sunday Night. Be sure to follow me on Twitter for injury updates @theNFLguy

POSITION ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACK
Brett Favre has come down to earth the last two games after playing some of the best football of his career. He still looks good, but not phenomenal, after throwing three interceptions in his last two games. The Panthers have some players on defense and could pose some problems. They rank 6th in pass defense; allowing less than 200 yards per game. They’ve intercepted 18 passes and only allowed 13 passing touchdowns. I expect only modest numbers from Brett Favre this week.

My Projection: 220 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT

RUNNING BACKS
After the worst game of his season, Adrian Peterson returned last week and delivered the type of dominant performance that fantasy football owners expect. Most impressively he did it against one of the best run defenses in the NFL. This week Peterson faces a Carolina team that struggles against the run. Carolina ranks 26th in run defense giving up almost 140 yards per game. Adrian is also catching a lot of balls out of the backfield to, so I expect a huge game as measured by combined rushing/receiving yards.

My Projection: Peterson 165 combined yards, 1 TD; Taylor 45 combined yards

WIDE RECEIVERS
Sidney Rice is a good receiver and his value only increases with Percy Harvin out of the lineup. No one knows if Percy will play this week. He missed last week’s game against the Bengals and has not practiced in almost two weeks due to migraine headaches. If you’re a Percy Harvin owner, I would look for other options this week. Bernard Berrian should see a little more action with Percy out of the lineup, but he’s still bothered by a hamstring injury which has limited his production all season.

My Projection: Rice 100 yards, 1 TD; Berrian 40 yards

TIGHT ENDS
Visanthe Shiancoe has been one of the top tight ends this year. But not last week when he caught only two balls for 19 yards. However, now that Percy Harvin is in question and Berrian limited, who’s left to catch balls? I predict that Shiancoe produces this week.

My Projection: 55 yards and 1TD

KICKER
If you have Ryan Longwell, you should start him every week. The Vikings score a lot, and he’s very good. He’s also just a kicker, so there’s not much else to say here.

DEFENSE
The Vikings are good on defense. The Panthers are bad on offense. The Panthers’ young quarterback is starting only his third game in the NFL. Can the math be any simpler? Start the Vikings. I predict the Vikings to finish as a top five fantasy defense against the Panthers.

theNFLguy Makes Week 15 Picks

theNFLguy went 10-6 last week, including 2-1 on upset picks. He now stands at 142-66 on the season.

Now on to the Week 15 Picks!

theNFLguy picks:

Indianapolis to win at Jacskonville
New Orleans to win at home vs. Dallas
Baltimore to win at home vs. Chicago
New England to win at Buffalo
Arizona to win at Detroit
NY Jets to win at home vs. Atlanta
Philadelphia to win at home vs. San Francisco
Houston to win at St. Louis
Tennessee to win at home vs. Miami
Denver to win at home vs. Oakland
San Diego to win home vs. Cincinnati
Seattle to win at home vs. Tampa Bay
Pittsburgh to win at home vs. Green Bay
Minnesota to win at Carolina


theNFLguy picks two upsets this week:

Cleveland to win at Kansas City
Washington to win at home vs. NY Giants