NFL

Fantasy Football: 5 Bold Predictions for Week 5

Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse the slideshow

The Vikings/Eagles Game Will Be the Highest-Scoring Game of the Week

At the time of this writing, the over/under for the NFC Championship rematch game is positioned at a lowly 45 points -- the fourth-lowest total on the slate. I see this game going a different way.

The primary basis for this prediction is the rate at which both teams call plays. The Philadelphia Eagles have run the 2nd-most plays in the league through four weeks, and the Minnesota Vikings have called the 10th-most. With both teams playing at an above-average clip, there should be plenty of opportunities for both sides to put points on the board.

The play-calling tendencies of both teams should also help rack up the points. Minnesota has the highest pass-to-rush ratio in the league with 2.77 pass plays called per rush play. Philly has been playing stout run-defense this year, allowing only -1.53 Rushing Net Expected Points per attempt. Net Expected Points are the value a team adds to their expected points total with each play in a game of football game -- you can read more about them in our terms glossary. This has led to teams running 2.25 pass plays per rushing play against the Eagles through four weeks.

This sets up Kirk Cousins for monster volume -- which he already had -- as he currently leads the league in pass attempts. But what about the home favorites?

Carson Wentz is healthy again after tearing his ACL at the end of last season. He's looked good in the two games since his return, attempting 87 passes in that time.

The once-vaunted Minnesota defense is currently in shambles. Two of their starting cornerbacks -- Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes -- popped up on the injury, and one (Waynes) remains. And if you didn't already know, the team is missing defensive end Everson Griffen. What looked like an elite defense coming into the season is currently giving up the third-most net yards per pass attempt and the sixth-most Adjusted Defensive Passing NEP per play.

This game is shaping up to be a pass-happy shootout and could be the highest-scoring game of the week.