Ballard: Pierce a ‘week or two’ from returning

Addison and the rest of the primary Minnesota pass catchers struggled through some of the worst quarterback play you will see all season, with Carson Wentz leading an offense that gained only 126 yards while failing to pick up a single first down through 55 minutes of play. Max Brosmer came on in relief of the struggling veteran late in the fourth quarter and made a few really nice throws, but the team maintains one of the worst quarterback rooms in the league. Fantasy managers are left wishing the team addresses those shortcomings ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline to revive an anemic pass offense.

Hockenson struggled along with the rest of a Minnesota offense that managed only 178 yards of total offense, only 126 of which were accounted for with Carson Wentz under center. Max Brosmer came on in relief of the beleaguered veteran on the team’s final possession an nearly led the only touchdown drive of the game, ultimately coming up short on fourth down in the red zone. Hockenson and the rest of the Minnesota pass catchers are surely better off with any other quarterback than is currently on the roster, and there is the potential for the team to address the poor under-center play in the coming hours ahead of Tuesday’s 4 pm ET trade deadline. Hockenson would be a tough fantasy start against the Packers in Week 10 if the situation remains the same.

It was a game to forget for Jefferson and the Vikings, who gained only 178 yards of total offense on just over 17 minutes in time of possession. Jefferson also failed to secure what was initially ruled on incomplete pass on a screen attempt in the first half, later overturned to a Carson Wentz fumble after being ruled a backwards pass. Furthering the pain for Jefferson’s fantasy managers is the fact that 19 of his yards came on the team’s final possession with Max Brosmer under center, leaving arguably the most talented wide receiver in the league completely bereft of a viable option at quarterback considering Wentz’s struggles. His fantasy contingency are best off saying their prayers that the team decides to address the quarterback position in the next 17 hours ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline. Jefferson would be a middling WR2 if the position remains unchanged ahead of a Week 10 meeting with the Packers.

Jones’ six opportunities were three behind backfield-mate Jordan Mason, despite the former getting the start on paper. The Vikings were unable to move the football consistently with Carson Wentz under center, gaining just 178 yards of total offense on just over 17 minutes in time of possession, both of which heavily influenced the veteran back’s opportunities and output. Jones is far from a usable fantasy asset while sharing the workload with Mason.

The Vikings managed only 178 yards of total offense on just over 17 minutes in time of possession, completely incapable of moving the football with Carson Wentz under center. Those shortcomings confined Mason to only eight touches for the second consecutive week. Mason is not a starter-worthy fantasy asset until, or unless, the quarterback situation in Minnesota drastically improves ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline.

Carson Wentz failed to convert a third down through 55 minutes of play while committing three turnovers, prompting the late switch to Brosmer on the team’s final possession. He gave the crowd something to cheer about as he completed six of seven passes, nearly matching the yardage output of Wentz on one drive. It remains to be seen if Brosmer will earn a start in the absence of Kyler Murray, although it appears more likely the team addresses the position in the coming hours ahead of Tuesday’s 4 pm ET trade deadline. Brosmer would not be on the fantasy radar if he draws a start in Week 10 against the Packers.

The carry was really a pass that barely went backwards on a screen in the fourth quarter, bringing his yardage total on the evening to 36. Moore has struggled through injury during his first season in Buffalo and has returned a viable fantasy outing in two of five healthy games. His next opportunity comes in Week 10 against the Jets, where he will be a middling WR3.

Kincaid was asked to block at an increased rate against a Minnesota defense that currently holds the NFL record for highest blitz rate, heavily influence both his route rate and volume. Normal TE3 Keleki Latu caught his first professional touchdown on a broken play near the end of the first half, which was the only touchdown thrown from quarterback Josh Allen. Kincaid has been one of fantasy’s biggest disappointments considering his lofty draft capital this summer, now held to four receptions or fewer in five of eight games to start the 2026 season. He’ll be a high end TE2 against the Jets in Week 10.

The blocking tight end saw his snaps and routes increased against the blitz-heavy Vikings, with his 37 yards finishing second on the team behind Khalil Shakir. Even so, Knox remains unlikely to return weekly fantasy production as the blocking specialist in the run-first Buffalo offense, leaving him well outside of weekly fantasy consideration moving forward.

Shakir saw his routes capped against the tenacious Minnesota defense, with the Bills increasing their 12- and 13-personnel rates to combat the most blitz-heavy defense in NFL history. He made the most of his opportunities while catching all four targets for a team-leading 58 yards. Even so, Shakir remains unlikely to return usable weekly fantasy production as a near slot-only receiver in the run-first Buffalo offense. He will be nothing more than a bye-week FLEX when the Bilsl take on the Jets in Week 10.