Fantasy football owners seem to get smarter every year. The leagues seem to get deeper. The competition seems to get better. That's partially because of the sheer amount of information available to fantasy geeks willing to put the time in. But it's not always easy to find sound fantasy advice on players making up the back ends of fantasy depth charts. That's where we'll try to help fill in the gaps.
Every week, we'll look at the Patriots matchup and try to help you decide which players to start and which to sit -- or which to invest in if you're playing in a daily format. You know you're rolling with Julian Edelman on a weekly basis this year, but otherwise...? There are plenty of questions that hopefully we'll answer here.
START
ADAM THIELEN, WR, VIKINGS
There's an argument to be made for Thielen as the No. 1 receiver in fantasy this week. He's turned himself into one of the most efficient route-runners in football, he plays for an offense that throws more often than any other, and he has a matchup that is very favorable -- we think. The only reason that last note is somewhat in doubt is because it's unclear as of right now how the Patriots will try to match up with Vikings pass-catchers. In all likelihood, Stephon Gilmore will end up on Stefon Diggs, meaning Thielen will deal with some combination of Jason McCourty, Jonathan Jones, JC Jackson . . . and probably some safety help. If it's Jones who gets Thielen when Thielen is playing the slot in three-receiver sets, the Patriots "star" will be giving up about three inches, and Jones has had issues in coverage of late. He's tied for the most targets in the slot in the NFL -- an indication that opposing offenses like their matchup there -- and he's third in yards allowed per coverage snap, according to Pro Football Focus. Thielen should have a day. He's easily a WR1.
STEFON DIGGS, WR, VIKINGS
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The last time we suggested you sit a player because Stephon Gilmore will be on him in coverage, Tennessee's Corey Davis went off. A player of Diggs' skill level can't be on your bench this time of year. Don't get too cute. He's been targeted a ridiculous 55 times over the course of his last three games. And though he's had some clunkers in recent weeks -- 33 yards against the Cardinals and Jets in back-to-back games -- he's talented enough (and the Vikings throw enough) that he'll have an opportunity to make plays even with Gilmore on him. Gilmore returned to form after a clunker of his own against the Titans, allowing just one catch to go along with a pick and a pass breakup on five targets in Jersey. But Diggs ain't Robby Anderson. And Kirk Cousins ain't Josh McCown. Diggs is at least a WR2 this week.
SONY MICHEL, RB, PATRIOTS
Know how excited you were to have Michel on your roster over the weekend? Time to temper those expectations! This matchup with the Vikings is Buzzkill City. They're third in the league in yards per rushing attempt allowed. They're first in third-down defense and first in red-zone touchdown percentage. The Patriots won't run it just for the sake of running it, and if they find that they've fallen behind, Michel might end up a no-show since he's rarely used in the passing game. (Though the two targets he saw on Sunday are the most he's seen since Week 3, so something might be brewing there.) Add into the mix that Rex Burkhead is back this week, potentially taking a few of Michel's touches, and you can't expect the 133-yard performance you did a few days ago. Still, with an opportunity to score from the goal line if the Patriots are down there, and as the clear-cut No. 1 between the tackles, Michel is worthy of RB2 distinction.
DALVIN COOK, RB, VIKINGS
Cook is in the RB2 conversation this week as well. Outside of a 70-yard run in Week 9, his numbers have been terrible over the last month. He's averaging 2.14 yards per carry if you remove that chunk gain from the equation. The Vikings aren't a huge run-the-ball, establish-our-toughness type of team. They run less often than anyone in the league. Where Cook could hurt the Patriots is through the air. He's had three catches on three targets in each of the last two weeks, and he caught a touchdown pass against the Packers a week ago. The Patriots have issues covering backs out of the backfield -- particularly on third down -- and Cook could be a leaned-upon option for Kirk Cousins when he's under duress, which is often because the Vikings have one of the worst offensive lines in football.
JAMES WHITE, RB, PATRIOTS
Again, don't get too cute. White had just 10 touches last week and nine the week before that. Still, he's a threat to score every week, and in a game where the Patriots have to throw -- which is exactly what this will be -- he's close to a must-start depending on your depth. He's at the very least a FLEX option.
ROB GRONKOWSKI, TE, PATRIOTS
Is Gronkowski as good an option as Travis Kelce or Zach Ertz? Is he even a better option than Eric Ebron? No, no and no. But he's still one of the most trusted pass-catching tight ends in football. He's healthy-ish, playing 69 of 70 snaps last weekend, and Tom Brady is going to find ways to keep him involved. That's worthy of a fantasy play, especially when the Vikings are 27th in the league in defending tight ends, according to Football Outsiders.
JOSH GORDON, WR, PATRIOTS
The Patriots dialed back the targets for Gordon over the weekend, but the efficiency was up. He caught all five of his targets for 70 yards, including a critical grab on third-and-10 late in the game to extend a Patriots scoring drive. If the Vikings are without Xavier Rhodes, who suffered a hamstring injury late against the Packers, Gordon could have himself a nice little matchup in a game where the Patriots will have to throw. He's a WR2.
KIRK COUSINS, QB, VIKINGS
Cousins is having an even better season than some of his numbers might indicate just because he's playing behind what is arguably one of the worst offensive lines in football. The Patriots have been a little hit or miss in terms of putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks and so Cousins may end up feeling like he has more time than usual this weekend. He has thrown five touchdowns in his last two starts, and running the ball hasn't really been a dependable option for the Vikings all season. If you have him, you're starting him.
SIT
TOM BRADY, QB, PATRIOTS
This is more a commentary on the Vikings defense than it is on Brady's ability at the moment. Sure, Brady had a handful of footballs that were thrown behind or over their intended targets against the Jets -- Gronkowski, Edelman, Gordon and White each saw at least one. But it's the challenge the Vikings pose that would have me turning elsewhere if I had a legitimate option. Jameis Winston, for instance, is pretty easily a better fantasy choice this week. You could even make an argument for Lamar Jackson or Carson Wentz over Brady this week. Even if you'd have trouble stomaching that choice, there's a chance you could get your hands on a non-Brady option worth starting. The Vikings are the best third-down defense in the league, the best red-zone scoring defense, and they sack the quarterback once for every 10 drop-backs this season.
KYLE RUDOLPH, TE, VIKINGS
I get it. The Patriots have had their issues against tight ends this season. They've had their issues against tight ends in the red zone, in particular. But Rudolph hasn't scored since Week 3, and the Packers game (seven catches, 63 yards) broke a streak of five games for Rudolph when he didn't exceed four grabs.
CHRIS HOGAN, WR, PATRIOTS
Hogan had only two targets against the Jets. That made six in his last four games. He caught both attempts sent his way, both of which were opened up thanks to the Jets biting hard on play-action fakes. Whether you're in the fantasy playoffs or just trying to stay out of last place to avoid your league's embarrassing punishment for finishing in the basement, hard to count on numbers from Hogan this weekend.
REX BURKHEAD, RB, PATRIOTS
Too soon. Burkhead is one of the most dynamic all-purpose threats the Patriots have, but he's coming off of a long layoff and it's too difficult to predict what kind of workload he'll be asked to shoulder. Steer clear for now, but if you can get him on your bench, he could be a valuable option in the fantasy playoffs.
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