Vikings expected to rest starters

The Associated Press reports that the Vikings will name Gary Kubiak their new OC. Kubiak spent 2019 on the Minnesota staff as an offensive adviser and assistant to HC Mike Zimmer. The move gives Minnesota continuity from the scheme that helped usher in RB Dalvin Cook's 2019 breakout while deploying 1 of the league's most run-heavy approaches. We'd expect plenty more running under an OC who has historically liked his RBs. QB Kirk Cousins, meanwhile, finished 2019 low in QB2 territory, reaching 2 TD passes in just 7 of 15 games. Expect him to remain in QB2 territory in our 2020 fantasy football rankings, and approach Cousins as a platoon option in the double-digit rounds of early best-ball drafting. He and Minnesota's WRs do, at least, present a nice week-to-week ceiling.

Vikings QB Kirk Cousins admitted on Thursday that he's not sure how much or even if he'll play against the Bears this weekend. Minnesota is locked in as the NFC's #6 seed after Monday night's loss to the Packers. Cousins and his WRs are shaky Week 17 fantasy plays that we'd try to avoid. We're not expecting RBs Dalvin Cook (shoulder) and Alexander Mattison (ankle) to play vs. Chicago.

The Vikings have hired Gary Kubiak as an "offensive advisor." He was originally reported to be taking Denver's OC job, but that evidently fell through. It's unclear exactly what Kubiak's role will be alongside OC Kevin Stefanski, but he brings 22 seasons of experience as an NFL HC or OC.

Sustained winds around 20 mph with gusts over 40 are expected for today's Vikings-Jets game. That'll impact the deep-passing and kicking games. We've moved Kirk Cousins, Sam Darnold, Dan Bailey and Jason Myers down the Week 7 Rankings. Cousins remains in QB1 territory, though, because he tends to throw a bunch of short passes anyway. WRs Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs should also remain locked into fantasy lineups.

Vikings new OC John DeFelippo isn't making major changes to last year's offense under Pat Shurmur. Both DeFelippo and Shurmur run West Coast systems. “The things you keep the same are formations, for example — what you call formations,” DeFilippo explained. “We’re calling the run game pretty much the exact same. If there was a [similar] pass concept that we’re putting in, we called it what they called it last season. Coach Shurmur got taught by Coach [Andy] Reid, and like the purest West Coast guys. I’ve learned from some of the guys on that tree, as well. So from a philosophical standpoint, there’s very similar things." Between the OC switch and the arrival of QB Kirk Cousins, there have been significant changes to a Vikings offense that ranked 11th in yards and 10th in points last year. Some continuity in offensive scheme should help the transition go more smoothly.