The Minnesota Vikings are expected to have Teddy Bridgewater start in Week 10 despite suffering a concussion on what Mike Zimmer felt was a dirty hit against the Rams Sunday. Stefon Diggs, Cordarrelle Patterson and Mike Wallace are solid fantasy options if Bridgewater starts against the Oakland Raiders this weekend.
Bridgewater left the game in the second quarter after taking an elbow to the head and he was placed into the concussion protocol. According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Zimmer said that Bridgewater passed the first concussion test this week and that he thinks he "will be ready to go" on Sunday. Bridgewater said after the game that he felt well enough to come back if he needed to and now it looks like he will be fine to start this weekend.
Bridgewater's status will be updated as the team starts to practice and Wednesday will be the first day to see how he is listed on the injury report. Bridgewater is expected to be "cleared" for the game on Sunday and that is good news for the Vikings, as they are 6-2 this season and right in the mix for the NFC north with the Packers. Bridgewater has not put up crazy stats this season, but he has played a solid quarterback for Minnesota and has the team in position to make the playoffs as things stand now.
Bridgewater is completing 64 percent of his passes and has 1670 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions. Last season Bridgewater had 2919 yards and 14 touchdowns with 12 picks and he is about on that pace once again. Bridgewater has not turned over the ball much and while he has not thrown a ton of touchdowns, Adrian Peterson has been having a great comeback season and that has helped make up for the passing game.
Bridgewater has talent at the wideout position with Stefon Diggs stepping up ahead of Mike Wallace and Cordarrelle Patterson as well as Charles Johnson and the back stretch of the season could see some more production. Peterson has been back to his old ways and he has 758 rushing yards this year after putting up 125 against the Rams on Sunday. Peterson is likely leading the comeback player of the year award race and he should continue to put up numbers.
Diggs has emerged as a starter for the Vikings and while he had a down game on Sunday, Diggs was dealing with a hamstring injury and was a bit slower than usual. Diggs put up record numbers over his first four games and he should continue to be a main target for Bridgewater. Diggs has had at least six catches and 85 yards in four of five games this season and he has scored a TD in two of his last three.
The rest of the Vikings WRs are only good for a WR2 or WR3 start behind Diggs, as Wallace has just 27 catches for 296 yards this season. Wallace is on pace for his lowest total in years, while Johnson has not been too good after many felt he would be a breakout player this season. Johnson has dealt with injuries and he has just nine catches for 127 yards this season. Patterson has not done much on offense and has just two catches for 10 yards and has been a return man for most of the year.