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#3 Minnesota Vikings(1-2-1) at Philadelphia Eagles(2-2)
This is one of the two Top 3 matchups that feature two of the playoff teams from a season ago struggling to find that similar success this season. These two teams last played in a blow out by Eagles in the NFC Championship game. Eagles went on to win the Superbowl after that and the Vikings have remodeled their entire QB room.
But to start the 2018 season both the teams struggled to find the success. Vikings got whipped by the dynamic Rams offense in Week 4 and the Eagles lost an ugly close win in OT to a very underrated Tennessee Titans team. The NFC is loaded with so many good teams this season that a 10-6 team could be missing out on a playoff spot, the loser of this game could very well be that team.
Vikings Suffering, Eagles Setbacks
Injuries are a part of the reason for the struggles of both these teams. Vikings had their running back Dalvin Cook missing a game and lost DE Everson Griffen to an unfortunate mental illness. Vikings clearly missed the presence of Griffen on the field and the sideline last Thursday Night lashing of Rams.
Vikings D has taken a step back this season after a very dominant 2017 season. To compare the two season's Vikings defense has allowed only 15.75 points per game in 2017 season, the best in the league and this year they are allowing 18.75 points in the first half alone.
This Vikings D will be facing another tough offense in the Eagles, who themselves were in a pickle to start the season. Their offense is riddled with injuries. Running backs Ajayi, Sproles, and Clement missed some games, Alshon Jefferey made his comeback last week but is still not 100%.
The return of Jeffery is a good sign for the Eagles which gives them a very efficient weapon and opens up the routes for other WRs in Agholor and TE Ertz.
The Eagles D, which has been good but not up to the potential will be facing a tough task of stopping the Cousins and Vikings O who put up 476 total yards and 31 points in the loss against a very dominant Rams Defense.
Fantasy Outlook
Must Start
Carson Wentz, QB Eagles: Qbs have put up big numbers against the Vikings D the past two weeks and look for that trend to continue with Wentz getting Jeffery back.
Kirk Cousins, QB Vikings: Cousins has been in a very hot form and it is too hard to sit him when he is in such a hot streak. If Mariota can pass for almost 350 yards against the Eagles, Cousins can too, Which makes Adam Thielen a must start too.
Under the Radar
Nelson Agholor, WR Eagles: Vikings are averaging about 15 PPR points for the slot receivers. With Jeffery back and Xavier Rhodes shadowing him, Agholor should be open more than he was last week. Lookout for him to put up big numbers.
Caution
Running backs of both the teams need to be in caution this week. Both these defense rank in top 10 against the run and neither running backs showed any positive performance to start them this year.
Prediction
Much like these two teams Week 4 matchups, this week 5 matchup will also go down the wire. I will give the home team the edge as they got back key players back from injury and Wentz will come back to his 2017 MVP-caliber form. Vikings will fall to 1-3-1 and could be in danger of being at the bottom of the division, despite amazing statistical year for Cousins, the story of his NFL career.
Eagles 30, Vikings 27
