Vikings Players to Watch vs. Packers
Adam New
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Sunday Night Football. Primetime.
The Minnesota Vikings search for victory at a freezing cold Lambeau Field. Having already bested the Green Bay Packers on home turf, they must do it again in enemy territory. Anything other than a win in Green Bay probably means this will be my penultimate Vikings players to watch article of the season. So without further ado, these are my choices for this week.
Dalvin Cook
The obvious place to start is Dalvin Cook. With no Kirk Cousins, the Vikings game plan will be to ride Dalvin Cook to victory, much like they did last season. It was high winds last time. This time it will be freezing temperatures that could benefit the Vikings. Cook had a monster game last season, carrying the ball 30 times for 163 yards at 5.4 yards a carry and three touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 63 yards and a touchdown.
Something similar will be needed if the Vikings are going to win this one. Sean Mannion isn’t going to win any game with his arm. Cook, with help from Mattison and Nwangwu, will need to carry the offense while the defense stands up strong.
Dalvin Tomlinson
Speaking of defense — as much as the Vikings need a run game to dominate, they also need to stop Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon. Not great news for a team that’s run defense has been shabby for two seasons now. Michael Pierce would have been my selection here, but he is now out with an illness. So, I am going with Dalvin Tomlinson.
I wrote about the Vikings run defense troubles not being up the middle earlier in the week. Pierce’s absence certainly changes that and puts even more onus on Tomlinson. With the problems sealing the edge in the run game, if Packers just run up the middle too, the Vikings will be in serious trouble.
Garrett Bradbury
As talented as Dalvin Cook is, he needs help from his offensive line to have a big day. This line was built to run the ball. If the game plan is to run the ball 30+ times, which is what I’m expecting, then this offensive line should thrive, led from the middle by the last of my Vikings players to watch, center Garrett Bradbury.
The pass protection woes of the former first-round pick are well documented. His strength has always been the run game, and he needs to show it this week. It is also the strength of Ezra Cleveland and Christian Darrisaw, while Brian O Neill is solid in both areas.
You won’t find much optimism for a Dakota Dozier return, but that’s where we are after Mason Cole was put on injured reserve. He was hideously bad last season, playing for the first time as a starter. He hasn’t played a single snap this season, residing thus far on the practice squad. Rookie Wyatt Davis seems to be far removed from the thoughts of the Vikings coaching staff, so hopefully, Dozier can manage to not be completely horrible.