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| ATL at NO | CAR at ARI | CLE at CHI | DEN at BAL | HOU at BUF | JAX at TEN | MIA at NYJ | MIN at GB |
| NYG at PHI | OAK at SD | SEA at DAL | SF at IND | STL at DET | |||
Week 8 Game Recap: Minnesota Vikings 38, Green Bay Packers 26
Minnesota Vikings
| QB Brett Favre, Pass: 17 - 28 - 244 - 4 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - 0 - 0 |
Favre had another magnificent performance. He softened up the Packers with short passes early, and stood tall against their blitzes, which got more effective in the second half. He looked like 2007 Favre, throwing pills into small windows and destroying the Packers anytime they only brought three and he had time to survey the field. Favre wasn't getting much help from Adrian Peterson and the running game until the second half, and he was the whole offense on an early second half TD drive that opened up a 21 point lead. Favre converted a 3rd-and-17 to Bernard Berrian, and then followed with a throw to Percy Harvin in a crowd that Harvin took to the house in the following confusion. Favre was extremely effective in the red zone, and the only TD that was on a Favre pass came on Adrian Peterson's sixth carry in seven red zone plays after a long Percy Harvin kick return. Favre is in harmony with the offensive scheme, playcalling, and all of his weapons.
| RB Adrian Peterson, Rush: 25 - 97 - 1, Rec: 1 - 44 - 0 (2 targets) |
Peterson was really bottled up for much of this game. He only scored on fourth down in the first quarter after getting six carries in the red zone, and got most of his yards on three touches - a long run in the second quarter, and a long run and reception in fourth quarter that both seemed to stop any momentum the Packers had built. He showed how he can't be kept down, even when the Minnesota offensive line is not getting a consistent push. With Favre's red zone efficiency and Green Bay's strong performance against the run (on most plays), this level of production was Peterson's floor in this contest. He still has some massive games left in him this year.
| RB Chester Taylor, Rush: 5 - 12 - 0, Rec: 2 - 15 - 0 (3 targets) |
Taylor redeemed himself after his miscue cost the Vikings a chance to tie or win last week's contest vs. the Steelers. He got red zone touches and acted as Brett Favre's outlet a few times. He showed good timing with Favre on a route out of the backfield to convert an early third down. Taylor has a ton of latent value as a runner and receiver between red zone touches, potential garbage time work, and explosive fantasy upside if Adrian Peterson gets hurt.
| WR Percy Harvin, Rush: 1 - 2 - 0, Rec: 5 - 84 - 1 (7 targets) |
Harvin continued to play an integral role in the Vikings winning ways. He had two long kickoff returns following Packers points to kill their momentum, and he also had a 51-yard catch and run on a ball that Favre just put up in a crowd and Harvin snatched out of the air. Otherwise, Harvin was catching short passes and making modest gains after the catch. He also got a carry out of the shotgun very similar to the kinds of runs he had at Florida, but it only went for a short gain. After a lull in offensive production, Harvin reminded his fantasy owners why it's worth having him in the lineup every week as long as you get credit for his special teams TDs.
| WR Sidney Rice, Rec: 4 - 40 - 0 (5 targets) |
You know Rice has arrived when four catches for 40 yards is an immensely disappointing game. Rice's performance was not disappointing as his numbers - he went low to get an errant Favre pass in the red zone, and he also looked very comfortable catching a Favre bullet over the middle. Rice didn't get any deep target or red zone targets, which denied him the chance to make a fantasy impact, but he was still prominent in the early game plan - these numbers represent his floor going forward.
| WR Bernard Berrian, Rec: 3 - 47 - 1 (6 targets) |
Berrian wasn't expected to go because of a hamstring injury, and he didn't run many deep routes or flash much speed in this one. He did catch a key third-and-long to set up a third quarter TD, and Berrian also broke a tackle to score the game-clinching TD. It's hard to picture him becoming the #1 target in this passing offense, but as the hamstring gets stronger over the bye, he'll have more big plays and his value will bounce back.
| TE Visanthe Shiancoe, Rec: 1 - 12 - 1 (3 targets) |
No doubt about, Shiancoe has Favre's eye in the red zone. He scored on a play that started with him split out wide deep in Packers territory. Shiancoe is not a major part of the passing offense between the 20s, but his red zone involvement will keep him startable in non-PPR leagues and deep PPR leagues.
Green Bay Packers
| QB Aaron Rodgers, Pass: 26 - 41 - 287 - 3 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 5 - 52 - 0 |
Rodgers was let down by his offensive line today, but once again, at least two or three of his sacks were on him for holding the ball too long. He was a bit erratic early, and his poor decisions cost the Packers a chance to convert a turnover in a touchdown early. In the second half, Rodgers did settle down and make the passing game look easy when he got time to throw. He kept plays alive in the red zone, finding Spencer Havner twice for touchdowns, and he also got a long gain as a runner when the play broke down. Rodgers also made a few excellent downfield throws on the move. When the game tightened up in the fourth quarter, Rodgers relied on too many low percentage throws, and generally seemed out of sync with his receivers. Rodgers made a downfield throw into double coverage instead of making a FG attempt shorter on third and long when the score was 31-26, and after Mason Crosby's miss, the Packers didn't seem to have the same fight in their comeback bid. There is nothing wrong with Rodgers from a fantasy perspective, but he is still looking a bit antsy when he drops back, and he needs a signature comeback win to get this offense going in the right direction.
| RB Ryan Grant, Rush: 10 - 30 - 0, Rec: 3 - 21 - 0 (3 targets) |
Grant found no room to run against a stout Vikings defense that he had success against in the past. A few checkdown receptions kept his day from being a total loss. Touchdown passes to Spencer Havner and Greg Jennings kept him from getting red zone opportunities, but the way the line was blocking, it is unlikely that he would have done much with them anyway. Grant is only a safe start against weak competition, and you have to wonder whether Ahman Green may start to steal a touch here and there.
| RB John Kuhn, Rush: 2 - 7 - 0, Rec: 2 - 22 - 0 (2 targets) |
Kuhn looked good on his receptions, and got some red zone love yet again. He's the most valuable fantasy fullback in the league, but that isn't exactly anything to write home about, unless you're an angry Ryan Grant owner.
| RB Ahman Green, Rush: 2 - 1 - 0, Rec: 1 - 12 - 0 (1 targets) |
Green only got a few touches, but he broke a tackle on a reception, got a red zone carry, and generally ran with a decent burst and power on his kickoff returns. Expect him to get more looks going forward.
| RB Quinn Johnson, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (1 targets) |
Johnson had a few catches, but he is less prominent in the fullback rotation than John Kuhn.
| RB Brandon Jackson |
Jackson got in some passing downs, but his role as the backup RB seems to have been poached by Ahman Green.
| WR Greg Jennings, Rec: 8 - 88 - 1 (12 targets) |
Jennings had his best fantasy day of the season, one-handed catching a TD even though he had a defender draped all over him. Like Driver, Jennings got most of his targets on short timing routes that gave him a chance to create after the catch. His one deep target from Rodgers was off, and into double coverage, but Jennings hands and moves in the open field were as good as ever, and he is set up for a top 10-15 second half as long as the Packers have to lean pass heavy.
| WR Donald Driver, Rec: 6 - 63 - 0 (10 targets) |
Driver never had time to run any deep routes, and mostly got targeted on short timing routes. He was running strong with elusiveness after the catch, just as he has been all year. His fantasy value remains stable as a strong WR2, and he doesn't seem to be declining at all, despite his advanced age.
| WR James Jones, Rec: 1 - 42 - 0 (5 targets) |
Jones had a long catch and run on an improvisational play from Rodgers, and he had another catch called back by penalty, but Rodgers never really had time to calmly go through his progressions and find Jones on secondary routes.
| TE Donald Lee, Rec: 3 - 17 - 0 (6 targets) |
Lee wasn't targeted much except on short routes. Spencer Havner got the red zone love, so it was a disappointing game for Lee against one of the worst defenses against tight ends.
| TE Jermichael Finley |
Finley was out with a knee injury, and sorely missed.
| TE Spencer Havner |
Havner's unlikely run to fantasy prominence has another chapter. He caught TDs on two broken plays, one throw into tight coverage, and another when he just found a dead spot in the front of the end zone. Jermichael Finley will be back soon, and Havner will be a footnote to the 2009 fantasy season.