Minnesota Vikings wide receiver KJ Osborn was in the right place at the right time when he helped save a man’s life by pulling him from a burning car. He tells the story of how four individuals came together to become heroes.
Opening Spread: Vikings -3
Opening Game Total: 47.5
Opening Team Totals: Vikings (25.25) Giants (22.5)
Weather: Indoors
Vikings: Out: RT Brian O’Neill. Questionable: C Garrett Bradbury, Edge Za’Darius Smith, S Harrison Smith.
Giants: Questionable: C Jon Feliciano, DL Leonard Williams, Edge Azeez Ojulari, CB Adoree’ Jackson.
The loss of right tackle Brian O’Neill has me pushing the Vikings’ offensive line toward the back end of league average. I have the Giants tiered as a top-10 front with one of the best interior duos in the league. The Giants have a moderate, bordering on significant advantage in the trenches in this matchup. New York’s interior has the potential to be a real problem for Minnesota.
Giants Defense
I have the Giants offensive line tiered as a slightly below-average group. The Vikings’ defensive front has been one of the more unique groups to rank, as they have a top-10 level edge duo with an inconsistent interior. The Vikings’ pass rush has a moderate advantage in this contest, and Dalvin Tomlinson has an advantage in the interior, but this matchup is more of a draw in the run game.
The Vikings beat the Giants in Minnesota 27-24 in Week 16. The Vikings orchestrated the biggest comeback in NFL history in an overtime win against the Colts the previous week. The Giants are 2-5-1 over their final eight games, while the Vikings are 5-3 over the same span.
The Vikings are driven by their talented offense. That group has an above-average quarterback in Cousins, one of the best skill groups in the league and an offensive line that has been solid this year. If you’re betting on Minnesota, you are doing so with the expectation they can have significant success against the Giants in the air and on the ground.
Minnesota’s pass rush could also be a factor in this contest, Tomlinson faces a below-average Giants interior while the Vikings edge rush duo could give rookie right tackle Evan Neal some issues in this contest. Another strong offensive performance paired with the Vikings’ pass rush closing this game out is the type of game flow worth building a Vikings bet around.
You have two core concerns as a Vikings’ bettor. The first is the strength of the Giants’ defense. The loss of O’Neill reduces Minnesota’s ability to manage the Giants’ strength on defense. The second concern is the Vikings’ secondary has been routinely shredded this season, which includes Jones breaching 300 yards passing against them just a few weeks ago. If the Giants’ defensive front takes over this matchup while their offense has another solid showing, Minnesota can lose this game.
>> Read: Kirk Cousins Can Change Playoff Narrative
A Giants bet is built on two core concepts. The first is their defensive front is a talented group capable of taking over a game. New York’s best chance of limiting Minnesota’s talented offense is through consistent disruption in the trenches. If New York pairs that with a strong running game between Barkley and Jones, while Jones has another above-average game as a passer, the Giants can win this game outright.
Most of the Giants’ wins this season have been driven by their defense, while their offense doesn’t turn the ball over. That gameplan doesn’t leave much room for error, which is among the reasons New York only beat two teams above .500 this season. The Giants have received a lot of hype since their blowout victory against the 4-12-1 Colts in Week 17. While the Giants have overachieved this season, I do wonder how many football enthusiasts realize New York finished significantly below .500 in the second half of the season.
One of your biggest concerns as a Giants bettor is New York’s losing ways in the second half of the season. Minnesota’s secondary is its most exploitable weakness. Even though Jones had success through the air against Minnesota a few weeks ago, it’s important to keep in mind the Giants still have one of the most limited groups of pass catchers in the league, and Jones is a better runner than a passer. Your other concern as Giants’ bettor is their ability to cover the Vikings’ talented skill group, especially Jefferson. Even if New York effectively mitigates Jefferson, both Cook and Hockenson have plus matchups in this contest.
Score Prediction: Vikings 27 Giants 20
ATS 2021: 49-31
ATS 2022: 48-32
Props 2022: 57-40
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver KJ Osborn tweeted laughing emojis following the Packers’ loss to the Lions. The laughter stems from watching a division rival miss out on the playoffs, which Osborn thinks everyone should enjoy.
The Minnesota Vikings’ passing game has taken off this year under new coach Kevin O’Connell. The biggest winner of the hire isn’t Justin Jefferson, despite his near record-setting season, but rather K.J. Osborn.
Greg Jennings explains why, although Jefferson is chasing history, it is Osborn who should get the nod in DFS against the Giants on Saturday.
For those fantasy football owners who sneak glances at the TV between bites of Thanksgiving dinner, Ryan Ripken has five wide receivers playing in the holiday’s three NFL games who can be sleepers for your teams this week, including the Lions’ Kalif Raymond, Vikings’ K.J. Osborn, and Cowboys’ Michael Gallup.
