The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers have started a combined six quarterbacks this season. That, among other reasons, is a big factor why the Vikings and Packers are currently behind the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions in the NFC North. Sunday, the Vikings travel to Wisconsin to face Green Bay in a 1 p.m. ET game. For the Vikings, it's the chance at a win for respect, while the Packers need a win to keep their fading playoff hopes alive.
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 12: Vikings vs. Packers
A year after both went to the playoffs, the Vikings and Packers are the surprise bottom two teams in the NFC North. They face off Sunday with one team hoping desperately to keep itself alive in the playoff hunt.
Stephen Dunn
Vikings
Start in every league: Adrian Peterson
Start if you're desperate: Toby Gerhart
Bench: Everyone else in a Vikings uniform (Christian Ponder, Matt Cassel, Josh Freeman, Cordarrelle Patterson, Jerome Simpson, Greg Jennings, John Carlson, Blair Walsh, Defense/special teams)
Peterson has been hobbled this past week, missing practices and being called a question mark. If he plays, though, it’s Adrian freaking Peterson, and you’re playing him.
If the worst happens and Peterson is out, Gerhart could find himself with some value. He was the leading yard-gainer in the Vikings-Seattle Seahawks game a week ago, and is a fine value if he has the primary job.
Other than the running game, there just isn’t anything worth considering with Minnesota. Ponder is expected to start, but regardless of whether it’s him, Cassel, or, in some weird world, Freeman, there’s nothing to get excited about there. ... Similarly, the Vikings’ pass-catchers -- Patterson, Simpson, Jennings, and Carlson -- are hamstrung by the weak passing game. ... Walsh has only missed two field goals all season long, but he hasn’t attempted more than two field goals in a game since Week 4. There just aren’t enough scoring options. ... The Vikings’ defense is terrible.
Packers
Start in every league: Eddie Lacy, Jordy Nelson, Jarrett Boykin, Mason Crosby, Defense/special teams
Start if you're desperate: James Jones
Bench: Scott Tolzien, Andrew Quarless
The Vikings are generous to opposing running backs, and Lacy has double-digit fantasy points in five of his last six games. It's true he was mostly shut down last week (27 rushing yards; only a touchdown salvaged his value), but that was against Seattle. Lacy is a must-start. ... Though he's struggled a bit since Aaron Rodgers got hurt, Nelson is still the No. 6 fantasy wide receiver this season. There's no reason to think he can't do what he normally does. ... Boykin, meanwhile, has been the team's most productive receiver in recent weeks, and, with he and Nelson the team's only two fully healthy pass-catchers, that ought to continue. ... Crosby is fantasy's No. 4 kicker, as reliable as anyone going this week. ... The Packers' defense ranks only 21st, but the Vikings give up the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing defenses, and Adrian Peterson might be slowed up in this game.
Talent isn’t the question with Jones, but he clearly isn’t back to full health yet, and until he is, it’s hard to rely on him.
Tolzien only has 20 fantasy points in two games. Yeah, facing the Vikings is always nice, but this is still a guy who was on the practice squad a few weeks ago. ... Quarless hasn't really done anything since Jermichael Finley went down. Don't expect it to start now.
• Week 12 fantasy football position rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST
