Titans vs. Vikings, Week 3: How to watch, what to watch

Ryan Tannehill’s impressive, highly efficient finish to 2019 has carried into 2020 and is a big reason why the Tennessee Titans are 2-0. Tannehill posted a 16:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio in his final seven starts last season, and he threw more than 30 passes in just one of those games. He tallied four scores on just 24 passes against the Jaguars this past Sunday as Tennessee survived at home, 33-30.

This Sunday afternoon, those Titans will visit the Minnesota Vikings, whose first couple of weeks haven’t been nearly as enjoyable. Their young cornerbacks have been exposed, allowing a completion rate of 73.9 to Aaron Rodgers and Philip Rivers thus far. Minnesota’s defense has allowed 71 total points, and its offense outside of Dalvin Cook pretty much tanked in Week 2 against the Colts as Kirk Cousins completed 11 of 26 passes and tossed three interceptions.

TV Info

Date: Sunday, September 27
Time: 1 p.m. eastern
Channel: CBS
Broadcast map

Notable Statistical rankings (Football Outsiders)

Titans: 10th vs. Pass, 222nd vs. Rush
Vikings: 19th vs. Pass, 23rd vs. Rush

DraftKings Sportsbook odds

Titans: -2.5, -136
Vikings: +2.5, +112
Total: 47.5

Injury report

Titans

OUT: WR A.J. Brown (knee), CB Chris Jackson (hamstring), LB Derick Roberson (illness)

Vikings

OUT: CB Cameron Dantzler (rib), CB Mike Hughes (neck)

QUESTIONABLE: RB Mike Boone (concussion), CB Kris Boyd (hamstring)

Fantasy football start/sit advice

Titans

Corey Davis, Wide Receiver, $5,200

This is obviously contingent upon A.J. Brown missing his second consecutive game due to a bone bruise in his knee. Even though his DraftKings price has increased $1,800 since the season began, Davis remains a pretty good value and has shown a decent connection with Tannehill. He has 10 catches on 13 targets — tied for the most on the team — to go along with 137 yards and a score. He looks like Tennessee’s WR1 at the moment, and you want to ride those players whenever they are taking on the Vikings right now.

Jonnu Smith, Tight End, $5,200

Smith is the man who sits next to Davis as Tennessee’s target leaders. He has scored three times so far, and considering that the Vikings just ceded three touchdowns to Mo Alie-Cox, Smith should be one of the safer bets among all tight ends to score in Week 3. With linebacker Anthony Barr out for the season, Smith should be able to have his way over the middle of the field.

Vikings

Kirk Cousins, Quarterback, $5,500

You shouldn’t sugarcoat how poorly Cousins has played through two weeks. Before bottoming out this past Sunday, he did log close to 23 DraftKings points in Week 1, but almost all of that was accrued after the Vikings entered the fourth quarter trailing 29-10. Yes, it all counts in fantasy, but it’s not something you want to rely on. Still, at his current price, Cousins is close to being a punt play and is facing a defense that just permitted three TDs and more than 300 yards to Gardner Minshew.

Irv Smith Jr., Tight End, $2,800

Smith and Kyle Rudolph ($3,200) are basically splitting snaps in Minnesota. If you’re desperate, the Titans have given up some meaningful numbers to tight ends through the first two weeks. Noah Fant posted a 5-81-1 line on six targets in Week 1, and the Titans allowed the formidable combination of James O’Shaughnessy and Tyler Eifert to each catch a few passes, while Eifert got into the end zone. The Vikings’ target tree is pretty uncertain beyond Adam Thielen, so there’s always hope for Smith to get a handful of looks and do what other tight ends have done against Tennessee: score.