3 Vikings Players to Watch Against Giants
Adam New
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US Bank Stadium is the setting on Christmas Eve as the Minnesota Vikings take on the New York Giants. It will be the final regular season game home, but not the last game to the Vikings will take the field in Minneapolis this season. At least one playoff game at home in January is guaranteed.
3 Vikings Players to Watch Against Giants
The Vikings have made this game a “winter whiteout,” with the team wearing all-white uniforms and encouraging fans to come decked in white. With the division championship secured last weekend, there should be a party atmosphere. Can the team put on a performance to match?
As the playoffs are secure, and with a few injuries on the roster, this is an excellent chance to give some of the younger players some playing time. I’ve considered this with this week’s Vikings players to watch.
Duke Shelley
The injuries have mounted up at cornerback for the Vikings, with Cameron Dantzler questionable with an ankle injury. Duke Shelley is set for another start opposite Patrick Peterson, with Rookie cornerbacks Akayleb Evans and Andrew Booth on Reserve/Injured and Dantzler continuing to struggle with injury. Shelley has gone from a practice squad unknown to a popular figure among Vikings fans, with the suggestion that even when everyone is healthy that Shelley, should remain the starter.
A big part of what has endeared Shelley to the Vikings is the aggressive nature of his play. The Vikings defense has been too passive for large parts of this season. The energetic Shelley has taken his chance making big plays and will look to do it again this week against the Giants.
Brian Asamoah
Speaking of energetic, aggressive players, I have been pleased to see rookie linebacker Brian Asamoah getting more involved in recent weeks. Another player on the injury report could give Asamoah more playing time this week. Eric Kendricks is questionable with a hip injury. With a playoff place already secured, I expect the Vikings to err on the side of caution with their veteran linebacker.
Asamoah played 21% of defensive snaps against the Colts, the highest amount this season. I expect him to beat that number significantly this week. The Ghanian is an exciting prospect, and his speed across the ground is on a different level to the Vikings veteran starters. Kendricks and Jordan Hicks are both in their 30s, and the current defensive scheme is asking a lot of them. The Vikings need to get younger and quicker at the position next season. This is Asamoah’s chance to stake his claim.
Esezi Otomewo
Defensive lineman Esezi Otomewo switched from the University of Minnesota to the Minnesota Vikings. Despite the proximity of the university to the ball club, the path from Golden Gopher to Viking is not a well-trodden one.
Otomewo has been inactive for most of the season but finally got his chance in Week 14 against the Lions. Over the last two games, he has been on 24 defensive snaps and made a solid start to his NFL career, drawing praise from head coach Kevin O’Connell for how he is developing.
I expect him to continue to fit into the defensive line rotation for the rest of the season, where Minnesota will hope to see continued development.
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