Vikings Week 9: Jared Allen Hurts My Fantasy Team

Going into week 9 at 3-4 and coming off of a bye week, the Vikings faced a must win last Sunday. The Vikes prevailed against the pass-happy Texans 28-21. It seems that the Vikings can never get blown out or conversely blow someone else out. Every game is a nail bitter or head scratcher.

Perhaps the most frustrating part of Sunday's game for me was seeing my best fantasy player Matt Schaub hobble off the field due to a low hit by Jared Allen. This came after Schaub had already thrown an interception, lost a fumble, and hadn't thrown a TD - so his fantasy score was pretty awful/non-existent - since he didn't stay in the game to reverse/offset those stats. Thanks in large part to Kurt Warner, Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Antwan Boldin, and Andre Johnson - my team stayed in first in my league.

Week 9 positives

1. Special Teams - we didn't make a disastrous mistake - and limited Jacoby Jones of the Texans to limited yardage on punt returns - Jones had taken 2 punts to the end zone earlier this year. We also owe a big "thank you" to Darren Sharper for his leaping ability and saving the game with his onside kick recovery
2. 1 Back Sets - Adrian finally found some daylight and popped some bigger runs of 20 + on a couple of occassions. Much has been made of Peterson's preference to run out of 1 back sets (without big Tahi in front of him) - that he is more comfortable. If I were Darrell Bevel (O Coordinator) I would listen to #28.
3. Passing Game and Gus - Oh to be old and still be playing in the NFL. Gus has to be loving this! 3 TD's and 1 Int. Berrian and Shiancoe have been playing really well lately. Shows you what happens when the QB can make quick decisions and doesn't have happy feet. Sidney Rice - yes! Hopefully his TD is a sign of things to come.
4. Bend But Don't Break - the Vikes D gave up 398 total yards to the pass-happy Texans. We did have 3 takeaways (2 int's and 1 Fumble recovery) and 5 sacks which helped offset some of the yardage we gave up. I don't like the fact that we have to depend on turnovers, but we have playmakers and they are making plays.

Negatives

1. Jared Allen injured - Allen played the rest of the game, but suffered a shoulder sprain that could keep him out of the year's biggest game this Sunday against the hated cheese heads.
2. D - Line - a great strength this year - may suffer as Allen may be out Sunday and who knows when the water pills appeals will be over. It is likely that Pat and Kevin Williams will get 4 game suspensions. W/out Allen our D - Line consists of RE - Brian Robison, LE - Ray Edwards, DT - Ellis Wymns or Fred Evans, and DT - Otis Grigsby. That leaves only Ray Edwards as the only starter. With the loss of E.J. up the middle our D could be in trouble the next couple of weeks.
3. Coach Childress - can you ever show any emotion. The CBS postgame show had Chilly in the locker room with the guys and he was pretty emotionless - i am not even sure he was happy that we won. Please coach show some emotion and be happy once in a while.

With Green Bay coming to town - it will be a tough NFC North battle. It will be even tougher if J Allen doesn't play. I think the Vikes will follow precedence and will be in the game until the end and will win on a Ryan Longwell game ending field goal 27-24.