Fantasy Football Player Notes

The fact that Cook has scored three touchdowns has saved him from looking like an ugly top-six pick this year, though it's not his doing. The Vikings offense has only run 48.0 plays per game because their defense can't get off the field, and it's led to Cook totaling just 29 touches through two weeks. The two starting running backs who've gone against the Titans haven't had that problem, as they've both (James Robinson, Melvin Gordon) totaled at least 18 touches, and that's despite the Titans winning both those games. Titans opponents have averaged 66.5 plays per game this year, which would be a welcomed sight for all Vikings players who've been forced to be too efficient with minimal plays. The 5.15 yards per carry the Titans have allowed to this point is the fourth-highest mark in the league, though it was expected to be a strength of theirs this year with their talented front seven. Maybe the loss of interior defensive lineman Jurrell Casey matters more than most thought? There were also nine running backs who totaled at least five receptions against the Titans last year, so Cook's floor should be fine, and we all know his ceiling in this offense. Trot him back out there as a solid RB1 this week. With the Vikings not running many plays, Mattison has totaled just 14 touches through two weeks, which makes it difficult to trust him as anything more than a desperation RB5. He does remain one of the better handcuffs in the league, though.

He was one of my biggest whiffs last week, as I figured he'd crush the Colts secondary, but Kirk Cousins had one of the worst games of his career. Thielen has seen a 31.4 percent target share through two weeks, so there's little reason to worry about him in that aspect. Sadly, they're only having him run 15 percent of his routes from the slot, which is where he's been most effective throughout his career. Thielen might get a rookie in coverage more often than not in Week 2, as the Titans are missing their top cornerback Adoree Jackson, and might be down his backup with Johnathan Joseph, who suffered a leg injury in Week 2. That would leave Kristian Fulton at LCB, which is where Thielen lines up most of the time. Fulton has only seen four targets in his young NFL career, which have led to three catches for 48 yards, though the one incomplete pass was an interception just last week. I did like Fulton during the draft process but going against Thielen is going to be tough for any rookie. Knowing his target share, combined with the fact that the Vikings should run a lot more plays this week, you should trust Thielen as a high-end WR2 in his matchup with the rookie.

It's going to be tough for Jefferson to produce when the Vikings have thrown the ball just 51 times over the first two weeks, but he's caught 5-of-6 targets for 70 yards while running nearly all his routes from the slot, which should be good for production. The Titans have seventh-round rookie Chris Jackson covering the slot and he's been picked on a bit through two games, allowing eight catches for 81 yards and a touchdown on just 12 targets in his coverage. Let me be clear: He hasn't been very good. To further that point, PFF has graded him as the third worst cornerback in coverage through two weeks. If you're looking for a hail mary play this week, Jefferson might offer a surprise.

The fact that Cook has scored three touchdowns has saved him from looking like an ugly top-six pick this year, though it's not his doing. The Vikings offense has only run 48.0 plays per game because their defense can't get off the field, and it's led to Cook totaling just 29 touches through two weeks. The two starting running backs who've gone against the Titans haven't had that problem, as they've both (James Robinson, Melvin Gordon) totaled at least 18 touches, and that's despite the Titans winning both those games. Titans opponents have averaged 66.5 plays per game this year, which would be a welcomed sight for all Vikings players who've been forced to be too efficient with minimal plays. The 5.15 yards per carry the Titans have allowed to this point is the fourth-highest mark in the league, though it was expected to be a strength of theirs this year with their talented front seven. Maybe the loss of interior defensive lineman Jurrell Casey matters more than most thought? There were also nine running backs who totaled at least five receptions against the Titans last year, so Cook's floor should be fine, and we all know his ceiling in this offense. Trot him back out there as a solid RB1 this week. With the Vikings not running many plays, Mattison has totaled just 14 touches through two weeks, which makes it difficult to trust him as anything more than a desperation RB5. He does remain one of the better handcuffs in the league, though.