The Dolphins-Vikings Week 6 Matchup from a Fantasy Perspective
The Miami Dolphins will look to improve to 4-2 on the season when they face the Minnesota Vikings at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, and one of the many ways to examine the matchup is through the fantasy football perspective.
With that in mind, let's look at Sports Illustrated Fantasy Editor Michael Fabiano's Week 6 Start 'Em and Sit 'Em as they pertain to the Dolphins-Vikings battle.
We'll list the players mentioned in the matchup with Fabiano's comments and offer our take on that particular projection.
Start 'Em
Vikings QB Kirk Cousins: Cousins, listed as a start ‘em QB last week, put up a season-high 22.2 fantasy points in a win over the Bears. He’ll be a nice option this week, too, as the veteran faces a Dolphins defense that’s allowed 20-plus fantasy points to three different quarterbacks including more than 40 to Josh Allen. With four teams on a bye, Cousins will be a low-end No. 1 quarterback.
Our take: It's difficult to argue against this recommendation based on the pass defense issues the Dolphins have had this season, though it should be noted that Zach Wilson threw for barely over 200 yards last Sunday without a touchdown pass and that was with the Miami defense playing without Xavien Howard, who very well might be back for this game. So buyer beware here.
Vikings TE Irv Smith Jr.: Smith has been putting up huge totals, but he’s seen no fewer than four targets in four straight games during which time he’s averaged 5.8 targets. That’s good enough to consider him a bye-week replacement for a plus matchup against the Dolphins. Their defense has allowed an average of nearly 15 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends in 2022.
Our take: The reality here is that only one tight end has put up big numbers against the Dolphins this season and that was Mark Andrews, who does that against most teams. If the Dolphins pass defense struggles in this game, it's a lot more likely to be because of the Vikings wide receivers than Smith.
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FOR EVEN MORE COVERAGE ON THE MIAMI DOLPHINS, CHECK OUT SPORTS ILLUSTRATED'S MIAMI DOLPHINS PAGE ON SI.COM
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More starts
-- Vikings WR Adam Thielen
More sits
-- RB Chase Edmonds
-- Dolphins defense
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SI.COM WEEK 6 FANTASY RANKINGS
Vikings QB Kirk Cousins — 11th
QB Skylar Thompson — 28th
Vikings RB Dalvin Cook — 9th
RB Raheem Mostert — 24th
RB Chase Edmonds — 43rd
Vikings RB Alexander Mattison — 47th
RB Myles Gaskin — 57th
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson — 3rd
WR Tyreek Hill — 9th
WR Jaylen Waddle — 19th
Vikings WR Adam Thielen — 33rd
Vikings WR K.J. Osborn — 58th
Vikings TE Irv Smith Jr. — 14th
TE Mike Gesicki — 27th
Vikings K Greg Joseph — 7th
K Jason Sanders — 16th
Vikings defense — 8th
Dolphins defense — 22nd
