Kyler Murray gets Green Bay for his Minnesota debut, with, hilariously and fittingly enough, Jonathan Gannon(!) calling the defense on the other side. There’ll be some familiarity (and perhaps unspoken animosity) after their Arizona years together, although I’d bet Kevin O’Connell’s about to show Gannon a Kyler he hasn’t seen. And any read on the Vikings is already aided considerably by what Green Bay won’t have: Josh Jacobs in the backfield, and Micah Parsons coming off the edge. Below is my preview, prediction, and pick for this week’s NFL game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers.
Here’s how I’ll play it. I’ll be pumping out these predictions for individual games all season, with plenty of coverage here on DraftKings Network. Follow my handle @dansby_edits for more betting plays.
Vikings vs. Packers prediction, preview
For MarShawn Lloyd, this is the moment, man. And he knows it. His six career NFL carries tell us very little about how he’ll handle Jacobs’ work, especially near the goal line (13 rushing TDs for Jacobs last season). Chris Brooks can help with passing downs, and Kaleb Johnson has arrived from Pittsburgh to terrify every fantasy football manager out there. I’m expecting Lloyd, health assumed, to get catches as well as carries in this offense; he scored on an 11-yard choice route against Denver in the preseason. Asking him to replace everything Jacobs did in one afternoon would be a lot, but you get the sense this kid has the world to prove, and has been dealt with enough injury hell that he’s about to go there and back to do so.
Behind a line moving Jordan Morgan to left tackle and Sean Rhyan to center, the Packers’ backs will also have to pick up Brian Flores’ psychotic pressure packages. Minnesota blitzed on 51.2% of pass plays last season, easily the league’s highest rate. When Jordan Love threw from a clean pocket, he completed 79.6% of his passes last season. When rushers got through, though, that figure fell to 41.6%, with no TDs against four picks. I’m nearly certain Flores will keep making Green Bay prove it can pass those rushers off.
Jordan Love can beat that approach, of course. Christian Watson caught six TDs while averaging 17.5 YPR in 2025. An apparently-fully-healthy Tucker Kraft gives him a crucial safety valve who can turn short completions into a meaningful gains. That’s why Minnesota should take care leaving Watson alone outside just to send one more man. Flores has earned some trust in deciding when to take that chance, though (49 sacks; 34.5% third-down conversions allowed last season). Dallas Turner and Andrew Van Ginkel accounted for 15 of those sacks, and helm the second level of this defense still
Packers vs. Vikings pick, best bet
On offense, getting Justin Jefferson more than two TD catches on the season feels like a reasonable place for O’Connell to start. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the goal for just this game. Jefferson still managed 84 catches for 1,048 yards through last year’s quarterback carousel, while Minnesota QBs took 60 sacks (I will not say his name.). Kyler Murray brings enough speed to the position to rescue a few plays that used to end behind the line. With Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson available, too, I like his chances of finding a completion before he needs to run. I like even more his chances of being a QB1 for this week in fantasy.
Only nine preseason snaps for Murray leave plenty we haven’t seen, and Blake Brandel is taking over at center. A few rough possessions will not surprise me, nor should it you. At 1.5, though, a field-goal win is enough, with Will Reichard coming off a 33-for-35 season when drives stalls in opponent territory. I’ll take Murray’s elite weapons in the passing game, and Flores against an uncertain backfield and a quarterback who’s not at his best under pressure.
Best bet: Vikings -1.5 (-108).
Projected score: Vikings 24, Packers 20.
Best Bet: Vikings -1.5 (-110) vs. Packers
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