Minnesota

Vikings

Murray reportedly experienced soreness in his hamstring following the Vikings’ Week 8 loss to the Lions. Carson Wentz will start for the Vikings’ Week 9 Monday Night Football game against the Bills, and potentially longer. If Wentz plays well, Murray could be relegated to the backup role. Murray does not necessarily need to be stashed on benches in two-quarterback leagues at this time. This situation is not ideal for him.

On Monday, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters that Kyler Murray is dealing with a “sore hamstring.” After breaking the news that Wentz will start for the Vikings’ Monday Night Football game, Schefter revealed that Murray is considered “week-to-week.” Unless Wentz flops and Murray’s strained hamstring recovers quickly, Wentz is seemingly in line to start for more than one game. If he plays well enough, he could end up starting for the rest of the season. Wentz’s installation upgrades the fantasy prospects for Vikings pass catchers. Wentz warrants QB2 treatment at this time.

Kyler Murray suffered a hamstring injury in Week 8, but even Schefter alluded to the idea that this would be a soft benching for Murray. Schefter added that it “looks like there’s a question at the quarterback position” for Minnesota. Healthy or not, it sounds like Wentz is going to be under center versus Buffalo. Wentz made one start earlier in the season while Murray was sidelined with a concussion. He only threw for 133 yards on 19 attempts, but Wentz found the end zone three times. Murray hasn’t thrown three passing touchdowns in a game since the end of the 2024 season. Wentz’s gunslinging style will likely be a win for fantasy managers hoping to get more out of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, especially in a potential shootout with the Bills.

Nguyen studied Murray’s film in the Minnesota offense and noted the veteran is often late to recognize an open pass catcher. That could be related to Murray’s clear discomfort in Kevin O’Connell’s offense, as Nguyen noted. “When his first read doesn’t open up, he holds the ball and runs backward,” leading to drive-killing sacks. That’s exactly what unfolded a few times in high-leverage situations against the Lions in Week 8. Justin Jefferson on Sunday appeared frustrated by Kyler’s inability to make the proper reads on critical downs. All of this has an outsized impact on Murray’s fantasy prospects. He now ranks 31st among QBs in expected fantasy points per game, below Bo Nix and Daniel Jones.

Murray appeared to be slowed a bit by an injury in Week 8’s loss to the Lions, so this news isn’t all too surprising. O’Connell said Murray will go “through a full eval” of everything to determine the severity of his injury, but didn’t suggest this will cost Murray any time as the Vikings prepare to face the Bills next Monday night. That said, we know how these types of injuries can linger and lead to some missed time, so we won’t jump to assume Murray is in the clear for Week 9. In the event he can’t go, Carson Wentz would be in line to draw the start against Buffalo.

Jordan Mason led the Minnesota backfield with eight rushes (for 20 yards) while Jones remained the team’s preferred pass-catching option out of the backfield. Jones was battling a knee injury headed into the game and did not appear to be 100 percent against Detroit. He’ll be a deep league flex option in Week 9 against the Bills.

Mason led the team in carries, as Aaron Jones — who came into the game with a knee issue — saw five rushing attempts on the day. Jones remained the team’s pass-catching option out of the backfield while Mason could not get anything going on the ground against a middling Lions rush defense. Mason, who had 15 carries last week, will remain a touchdown-dependent RB3 option in Week 9 against the Bills.

Kyler Murray targeted Addison deep a few times in this one and connected with Addison on a 51-yard deep shot over double coverage in the injury-riddled Lions secondary. It was good to see signs of life from Addison, who entered Week 8 averaging fewer expected fantasy points per game than Cooper Kupp and Kendrick Bourne. The team’s primary downfield threat, Addison’s role in the run-heavy Minnesota offense makes him a boom-bust weekly play. That won’t change in a good matchup in Week 9 against the Bills.

It was Hockenson’s third touchdown grab of the season, as he remains Kyler Murray’s most trusted target in the run-heavy Vikings offense. He now has at least four receptions in four games this year. Hockenson, who came into Week 8 ranked tenth among tight ends in expected fantasy points per game, should remain in all lineups next week against the Bills.

Jefferson once again led the Minnesota offense in targets but it was Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson who had bigger statistical days in what was Kyler Murray’s best game as a Viking. Jefferson secured a short touchdown in the first half and was mostly invisible in the second half. He was seen shouting at no one in particular on the Minnesota sideline late in the fourth quarter. With just two games of more than 60 receiving yards, Jefferson is somewhat touchdown-reliant in the low-volume, run-first Vikings offense. He’ll face a porous Bills secondary in Week 9.