Disclaimer
These contests are intended to be fun as you’re watching the game. It’s incredibly difficult to get a real edge as there are so few options, and in MME contests, there are often many duplicate lineups. One play or one penalty can change the entire outcome of the game.
Macro Level Game View
- Over/Under: 43.5
- Spread: Vikings -1.5
- Vikings Implied Team Total: 22.5
- Bears Implied Team Total: 21
Captain Consideration
Minnesota Vikings Showdown Players
Quarterback
J.J. McCarthy - Flex
J.J. McCarthy is an enigma as a projectable player, especially in his first NFL game. In his three-year collegiate career, he threw for just 6,226 yards and 49 touchdowns, yet he wasn't needed to put the team on his back as Michigan was a winning program with a strong running game. McCarthy has been a winner and was selected tenth overall in last year's NFL draft. He's being dropped into arguably the league's best offensive environment for a quarterback to succeed in. Yet he missed all of last season with a torn meniscus that required two surgeries and missed a year of on-field development after being a raw prospect to begin with. McCarthy struggled in college with processing, reading defenses, going through his progressions, accuracy, and being an aggressive downfield passer. There is reason to be excited about Minnesota in 2025, but those expectations must be tempered, especially in Week 1. Do not play McCarthy in the captain spot on any sites. That alone will give your lineup leverage over the field, as many will get ahead of themselves with a player whose film shows you should be doing otherwise.