3 FanDuel Defenses to Target in Week 1
Minnesota Vikings
FanDuel Price: $4,500
numberFire Projection: 10.8 FanDuel points
With a middle-of-the-pack price tag, it is easy to forget that the Minnesota Vikings were an elite NFL defense in 2017, leading the league in both yards (275.9) and points (15.8) allowed per game. In 2018, they bring back 10 starters from last season's elite unit while upgrading at defensive tackle with the addition of Sheldon Richardson.
Suffice it to say the Vikes are poised to be a first-class defense once again. They will get to flex their muscle from the start with a favorable home matchup against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1, a spot in which they are 6.0-point favorites and the Niners own an implied point total of just 20.0 points, the third-lowest total on Sunday's main slate.
San Fran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has entered the season with a lot of hype, but he still remains one of the least experienced starting quarterbacks in the league, attempting just 272 passes over his four-year career. While his record as a starter -- 7-0 -- may be perfect, his play has not been. Garoppolo's 2.8% interception rate last year was the eighth-worst mark out of the 36 quarterbacks to attempt at least 175 passes in 2017.
The Niners will also be without their projected lead running back in Jerick McKinnon. McKinnon was lost for the year with an ACL tear, leaving Alfred Morris and Matt Breida to split carries. Both backs may be sluggish from the start as Breida missed most of training camp and Morris wasn't signed until August.
