The resurgent Minnesota Vikings have entered the NFL playoff picture after a lackluster 0-3 start to the season.
A win at home on “Monday Night Football” against the bottom-feeding Chicago Bears (3-8) would solidify their contention for an NFC Wild Card spot.
Wide receiver Justin Jefferson appears likely to miss one more game before returning to the field after the Vikings’ bye next week.
Justin Fields is back under center for the Bears, who put up a strong showing against the division-leading Detroit Lions last week.
Can quarterback Josh Dobbs continue to surprise as the replacement for Kirk Cousins and lead the Vikings to a primetime victory over their NFC North division rivals?
Let’s take a look at three “Monday Night Football” DFS plays I am targeting on PrizePicks.
T.J. Hockenson more than 63.5 receiving yards
Hockenson has stepped into a massive role as the Vikings top receiving option since the injury to Jefferson in Week 5. He is averaging 7.5 targets and more than 80 receiving yards per game in six games without Jefferson.
The tight end has been putting up massive production despite dealing with a rib injury of his own since early November. He is off the injury report heading into this matchup with the Bears and likely the healthiest he has been in weeks.
Hockenson recorded six receptions for 50 yards in the first meeting between these two teams. But it was the first game the Vikings played without Jefferson this season, and Hockenson was likely still adjusting to his new role as the top option in the offense.
The game was also played outdoors at Soldier Field, as opposed to indoors in the climate-controlled U.S. Bank stadium where this one will take place.
Hockenson leads all NFL tight ends with 75 catches and 736 receiving yards on the season.
He has a great chance to beat this projection in a solid matchup with the Bears.
DJ Moore more than 5.0 receptions
The Bears’ top wideout was likely as happy as anyone to see Fields back as the starter last week. Moore racked up seven receptions for 96 yards in Fields’ return against the Lions.
He has recorded at least five catches in five of seven games with Fields at quarterback this season, while he did it in two of four contests with Tyson Bagent under center.
In the Week 6 matchup with the Vikings, Moore caught five passes for 51 yards. Again, that game was played outdoors rather than in a dome where passing games often get a boost.
Expect Moore to top this projection indoors with his top quarterback back in action.
Roschon Johnson more than 7.5 receiving yards
The Bears’ running back should return to a role as the No. 2 back behind starter Khalil Herbert.
D’Onta Foreman will miss this game with an ankle injury and the Bears waived Darrynton Evans prior to their Week 11 matchup with the Lions.
Travis Homer, the only other running back on the roster, has played just six offensive snaps this season as he is used primarily on special teams.
Johnson has recorded more than 7.5 receiving yards in six of the nine games he has played this season.
The Bears prefer his pass blocking to that of Herbert, which gets Johnson on the field for most passing downs and gives him the opportunity to leak out of the backfield for checkdown opportunities.
Johnson should be able to beat his receiving yards projection with his role as the No. 2 running back and preferred passing-down option.
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