The Minnesota Vikings have quarterback Teddy Bridgewater as a Week 5 game time decision on Thursday and fantasy football owners should be ready to start or sit the QB ahead of the game and that move could make Jerick McKinnon, Jarius Wright, Matt Asiata, Cordarrelle Patterson and Greg Jennings solid fantasy starter options depending on who is under center.
The Vikings come into the game after a win over the Falcons and according to Pro Football Talk, Bridgewater will be a game time decision for the matchup. The Packers are playing their third straight division game, while the Vikings come in knowing that this is a big NFC North matchup with the Lions leading the division with a 3-1 record and the Packers coming in with a win over the Bears. Bridgewater is a strong start option for fantasy owners if he is on the field and as long as he is active, he is worth putting in.
Jerick McKinnon, Matt Asiata and Cordarrelle Patterson are the three best options for Thursday night for the Vikings, with Patterson likely the highest scoring player on points for fantasy owners. Patterson has turned out to be a great draft pick and he has shown some explosive skills catching the ball, but also running the ball on reverses and other rushing plays. Patterson has become the new Percy Harvin for the team and he has developed as a receiver as well.
Bridgewater looked good in his first start, as he was accurate and found his receivers without turning the ball over and he ended up with 317 yards. The week being short hurts Bridgewater since he is recovering from an injury and that is the main factor in seeing whether he will play or not. The team lists him as a game time decision and that means fantasy owners should keep an eye on the reports leading up to the game.
Patterson has been one of the best surprises in the league this season and he has 13 catches and 181 yards to go along with 95 yards rushing and one TD. Patterson has the chance to breakout on Thursday even if it's Ponder under center. Last season Patterson had 45 catches for 469 yards and he easily should beat that this season. Wright is not a start option in most leagues, but for deeper league teams he could be a sleeper this week. Wright played in over half the snaps in the last game and he had 10 targets from Bridgewater for eight catches and 132 yards and that could lead to another big game.
McKinnon had his best game last week with over 130 yards rushing and he should have the chance to do it again in this matchup. McKinnon is banged up a little and was limited in practice, but he is expected to play. Asiata has found his way into the endzone on a consistent basis and he has been a surprise for fantasy owners. The team will likely rush the ball a bit more if Ponder is under center, so owners of the two Rbs should look out for that as well.