Antoine

Winfield

He participated in a walkthrough Thursday, but is still unlikely to play. Winfield is the key to Minnesota’s struggling secondary.

Tough news for Minnesota’s best player in their secondary. They are very thin at cornerback. Look for high-scoring games from the Vikings the next few weeks.

Minnesota was going to rest both starters if they clinched a playoff spot Monday night.

Bad news for Javon Walker owners, although Winfield will probably be far from 100%.

Playing opposite Nnamdi Asomugha, Routt had a whopping 99 passes throw in his direction, allowing just 39 completions. He also finished third in the NFL in Stats Inc.'s “Burn Percentage” list. One negative note is that Routt was among the bottom feeders in YAC allowed (4.9). If he improves his tackling, that three-year, $31.5 million deal will look like money well spent.

After battling a nagging neck injury for much of the season, Winfield underwent year-ending surgery to repair a fractured collarbone a month ago. Though Winfield will turn 35 before next season, he’s played at a high enough level when healthy that the Vikings will probably bring him back at his $7 million salary.

Winfield has a contract clause that called for a salary reduction if he was removed from the starting lineup. It does not matter if the “benching” came via injury. Winfield expects to be back with the Vikings in 2012. “I really don’t know what the future holds. But I expect to. Yeah. I expect to be around here.”

The quick recovery is impressive for a 35-year-old. Winfield is feeling “no side effects from surgery,” and he’s rehabbing at the Vikings’ Winter Park facility. Beat writer Jeremy Fowler fully expects the Vikings to retain Winfield at his $3 million base salary. He’s still the team’s best cornerback.

He’s listed as probable after missing four of the first eight games. Winfield is Minnesota’s top corner when healthy, but it’s hard to imagine this pass defense slowing Aaron Rodgers’ roll with Cedric Griffin and Asher Allen comprising the rest of the nickel package. Winfield is worth re-adding in IDP leagues.

Minnesota is without its top two cornerbacks, setting up Cam Newton for one of the better fantasy matchups of Week 8. Assuming Newton’s pass protection holds up as well as it has all year, he’s easily a top-three fantasy QB play.