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Week 1 Game Recap: Minnesota Vikings 34, Cleveland Browns 20
Minnesota Vikings
| QB Brett Favre, Pass: 14 - 21 - 110 - 1 TD / 0 INT |
The Vikings ran the ball effectively and often against Cleveland, but Favre dropped back enough times to answer key questions about his arm strength and NFL readiness after a season of unretirement controversy. Favre's arm strength, a major concern after a torn biceps muscle last season and a more recent rotator cuff problem this offseason, looked to be in good form. He showed good touch and accuracy on deep fade routes to Sidney Rice and had enough arm strength to fit the ball into small windows underneath to Visanthe Shiancoe and Percy Harvin. While there was some miscommunication around the goal line on a timing route to Rice and a few hot routes underneath, Favre generally looked comfortable in the pocket. He also seems content to take sacks rather than forcing the ball into bad spots. Whether the extra hits catch up with him later in the season remains to be seen, but Favre looks like he's healthy enough to connect with his weapons and remain a viable QB2 this year.
| RB Adrian Peterson, Rush: 25 - 180 - 3, Rec: 1 - 18 - 0 (1 targets) |
If it were possible to upgrade the consensus top overall fantasy player in the NFL, we would do it. As Peterson is already the top overall player in our Top 250 forward, we'll mark him as a "hold steady" and heap plenty of praise on him. Peterson started slowly, as the Browns were able to generate some push during the first quarter, but gradually wore the Cleveland defense down. He was effective between the tackles and bouncing runs outside, and showed his usual power running style with a number of broken tackles and strong stiff arms, particularly on a 68 yard touchdown run in which he had multiple Cleveland defenders on their heels and grasping at his jersey as he cruised past them. Peterson came off the field as expected on many passing downs, but did show good hands on a short route that he turned into a 18 yard gain. The only potential area for concern was some inconsistency in short yardage situations. Peterson needed multiple attempts to convert around the goal line and sometimes gave way to other options in short yardage. That's nitpicking at best, though, as the Vikings gave Peterson the ball three straight times inside the three on one series and there's no indication he won't see the majority of their short yardage and goal line calls.
| RB Chester Taylor, Rush: 7 - 17 - 0, Rec: 5 - 13 - 0 (7 targets) |
Taylor wasn't nearly as effective as Peterson against Cleveland, especially in a fourth quarter series after the Vikings had worn down the Browns' defense. He was stuffed at the point of attack between the tackles and showed only average elusiveness as an outlet receiver for Brett Favre. Taylor continued in his usual role as a change of pace back to Adrian Peterson and third down receiving option. His seven targets are enough to keep him from a clear downgrade this week, but he'll need to be more effective in his rush attempts and more productive with his targets to hold any potential flex option value alongside Peterson this year.
| WR Percy Harvin, Rush: 2 - 22 - 0, Rec: 3 - 36 - 1 (4 targets) |
Harvin did not look like a rookie in his first NFL game. He was able to gain separation by beating jams from linebackers in the slot, then easily find the holes in the Cleveland zone coverage. Brett Favre clearly grew more comfortable with him as the game progressed and Harvin finished with three catches on four targets on the night. He converted the second of two consecutive red zone targets into a touchdown in the second half. Harvin was also motioned into the backfield on two rushing attempts, both of which went for 11 yard runs around left end. Harvin could potentially be another DeSean Jackson in the making.
| WR Sidney Rice, Rec: 2 - 17 - 0 (4 targets) |
Rice had only four targets on the night, but was targeted twice as often as Bernard Berrian. Brett Favre targeted Rice on his only red zone pass attempt, then threw two long sideline fades in Rice's direction on one drive in the first half. Rice narrowly missed getting his feet inbounds on one sideline route and drew a pass interference call on the other. If he becomes Favre's preferred outside threat, he may be on the verge of a breakout season.
| WR Bernard Berrian (2 targets) |
Berrian was all but invisible against Cleveland. He was targeted twice, including on a well-defensed sideline pattern that fell incomplete. Brett Favre elected to target Sidney Rice more frequently outside and often checked down to Percy Harvin and Visanthe Shiancoe, leaving few opportunities for Berrian. Expect even more inconsistent numbers for Berrian if this week's target ratio continues.
| TE Visanthe Shiancoe, Rec: 3 - 26 - 0 (3 targets) |
The Vikings frequently split Shiancoe off the line, either wide or in tight formation, bringing him in motion and sending him in short routes underneath the Cleveland zone coverage. Shiancoe caught all three of his targets from Brett Favre on a mixture of flat routes and curls underneath and gained 13 yards on a well-designed TE screen. Shiancoe had no red zone targets, but looks to have the trust of Favre and should remain a viable TE2 with big game potential.
Cleveland Browns
| QB Brady Quinn, Pass: 21 - 35 - 205 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 2 - 21 - 0 |
Brady Quinn was able to move the ball against the Minnesota defense, some areas of his play are cause for concern. Though the Vikings' Cover-2 scheme is designed to force opposing offenses to checkdown rather than throw downfield, Quinn seemed unwilling to consider the downfield zones on most snaps. A tendency to checkdown has been an issue for Quinn in the past and he'll need to show more aggressiveness to take full advantage of his offensive weapons. Quinn was inaccurate on the few downfield passes he did attempt, either due to miscommunication on fade/post choice routes with Braylon Edwards or sideline go routes with Josh Cribbs. On the bright side, he did show some elusiveness in the pocket and a strong arm when throwing on the run. It's only Week 1, but another couple of weeks of checkdowns and inaccuracies and Quinn may bring Derek Anderson back into the conversation.
| RB Jamal Lewis, Rush: 11 - 57 - 0, Rec: 3 - 47 - 0 (3 targets) |
It was a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde performance for Lewis against Minnesota. On a number of occasions, Lewis showed a decent burst through the hole and some elusiveness before contact, picking up solid gains on the ground against a stout Viking front. On others, Lewis wasn't explosive at all on taking the handoff and struggled to get to top speed quickly. Early in the game, James Davis was on the field in spread sets, though Lewis did see time as the game progressed. Lewis still shouldn't be considered more than a flex RB at best.
| RB James Davis, Rush: 4 - 5 - 0, Rec: 3 - 4 - 0 (4 targets) |
Though he was involved in a car accident earlier in the weekend, Davis didn't look anything like the back who tore up second team defenses throughout the preseason in his first regular season snaps against the Vikings solid defense. Davis had trouble getting out of the backfield on delayed handoffs from the shotgun and was unable to gain the corner when he tried to bounce plays outside. Before taking a shot in the second half, Davis got the call as the Browns' primary third down back and complementary backfield option to Josh Cribbs in the nickel. It's unfair to judge him after a tough weekend on and off the field, but Davis will have to improve to have a shot at stealing more carries from Lewis moving forward.
| WR Josh Cribbs, Rush: 3 - 6 - 0, Rec: 2 - 10 - 0 (3 targets) |
Cribbs started this week and took all of the snaps opposite Braylon Edwards. He also saw three snaps in the Wildcat package at quarterback, running the ball on all three snaps. Two of those snaps came near the goal line, but Cribbs was unable to score. Brady Quinn targeted him only three times, preferring to check down to his underneath receivers. Cribbs again showed his electrifying kick return talent, returning a punt 68 yards for a score.
| WR Mike Furrey, Rec: 4 - 28 - 0 (7 targets) |
Furrey was a beneficiary of the Quinn's preference to checkdown frequently against the Vikings' Cover-2, catching four passes on seven targets. Furrey worked out of the slot on most plays, working underneath routes between the hash marks. He often found the soft spots in the zone, but saw no high leverage red zone or downfield targets.
| WR Braylon Edwards, Rec: 1 - 12 - 0 (5 targets) |
Brady Quinn targeted Edwards five times against Minnesota, but if Quinn's strong preference for checking down to underneath receivers continues in future weeks, Edwards' targets will be limited. Quinn and Edwards were out of sync on three of the five targets, leading to an interception on a sideline route misread, an incompletion on a hot route and another narrowly missed long completion on a fade route. Edwards was able to adjust nicely to a deep route after being interfered with, but the long touchdown catch was nullified because he was unable to re-establish himself inbounds before catching the ball. Edwards' upside will be limited until he and Quinn get on the same page.
| TE Robert Royal, Rec: 4 - 60 - 1 (9 targets) |
Royal led the Browns in targets, as Brady Quinn often checked down to him underneath. Royal did run some deeper patterns, however, catching passes on deep crossing routes early in the game and a TD pass on a seam route late in the fourth quarter. He was often aligned just off the tackle in a two point stance, chipping a lineman before releasing into the field. Royal did drop two passes late, but Quinn seemed to favor him over his running backs and slot receiver in this game as his primary underneath option. Should that continue, Royal has TE2 upside, though not much big game potential.
| TE Steve Heiden, Rec: 2 - 14 - 0 (2 targets) |
Heiden, coming off an offseason recovering from injury, saw significant time in two tight end sets. He was targeted twice on underneath routes, but his primary role was as a blocker in power running sets.