Fantasy Player Projections

Matthew Stafford

Last season Stafford completed close to 70 percent of his attempts in two games against Minnesota, with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Earlier this year against Minnesota Stafford attempted 51 passes and threw for 319 yards. More, please.

Mikel LeShoure

It might be easy to get carried away by Leshoure's three-touchdown first half last week, but he remains in a neck-and-neck battle with Joique Bell for carries. Thanks to his 227-pound frame, Leshoure is likely to keep short yardage duties, but his total touches could decline.

Joique Bell

Not only has Bell proven to be the Lions' most versatile back, but last week he gained more rushing yards than Mikel Leshoure despite fewer carries. Bell still trails Leshoure in terms of fantasy value, but each week the gap separating the two shrinks. Bell led Detroit in receiving when these teams met last.

Calvin Johnson

Johnson has caught six touchdowns in 10 career games against the Vikings, with an average of 10 targets and 82.6 yards in his last three trips to Mall of America Field. Anyone who has been critical of Johnson this season should get ready to apologize.

Titus Young

Last week was a fluke; fantasy owners can expect Young to bounce back with another respectable showing against a Vikings defense that gave up two scores to Golden Tate in Week 9.

Ryan Broyles

Broyles has filled Nate Burleson's spot well as Detroit's steady possession receiver, and an argument could be made that he has been more consistent than Titus Young (although he lacks Young's big-play upside). Broyles makes a nice flex option in most leagues.

Brandon Pettigrew

Pettigrew has a tendency to disappear from the game plan, as was the case last week when he caught just one pass. Fantasy owners want something more reliable from a tight end. At this point, Pettigrew is nothing more than a spot starter.

Jason Hanson

Now that Detroit has worked out a few kinks on offense, Hanson's opportunities have plummeted, and he has just one made field goal in the past three weeks. The 42-year-old was much more productive for fantasy owners when the Lions were struggling.

The front four was responsible for six of the eight sacks Detroit collected in its two games against Minnesota last year. This contest will come down to how well Christian Ponder is able to operate under constant pressure.

Christian Ponder

Ponder's completion percentage has been below 60.0 in each of his past three games, and now he'll face a hungry Lions front four. It could be a long afternoon for Minnesota's second-year quarterback.

Adrian Peterson

Peterson has gained 100 or more yards in each of the past three games, and he hasn't averaged less than 4.5 yards per carry in a contest since a Week 3 win over San Francisco. He gained 122 yards from scrimmage when these teams met at the end of September.

Toby Gerhart

It may no longer be necessary for fantasy owners to keep track of Gerhart. He has carried one time in each of Minnesota's last four games, and Adrian Peterson has given the Vikings' coaches no reason to change up the current formula.

Michael Jenkins

With Percy Harvin's status up in the air, the team will look to Jenkins to pick up the slack in the passing game. Someone needs to. Last week no Vikings receiver had more than 14 yards, and Minnesota won't survive this week unless it improves that stat.

Percy Harvin

Harvin was walking with crutches this week but told the media he has not been ruled out of this important divisional matchup. Maybe he should stay on the sideline: The last time Harvin faced the Lions he was held in check, with 34 yards on six touches.

Jerome Simpson

Simpson has been plagued by a bad back, which has limited his effectiveness for fantasy owners. Take a wait-and-see approach before grabbing or starting the deep threat.

Kyle Rudolph

The tight end position has been absent from Minnesota's struggling passing attack in recent weeks. In fact, Rudolph has caught just two balls over the past three games. Fantasy owners should expect quarterback Christian Ponder to work to get Rudolph back in the mix this week.

Blair Walsh

As Minnesota's season has crumbled in recent weeks, so has Walsh's. He has gotten just three field-goal attempts over the past three weeks. Walsh missed his only attempt of the season in his team's 20-13 win over Detroit in Week 4.

Minnesota has allowed 30 or more points in three of its last four games -- all losses. Minnesota notched five sacks in the first meeting with Detroit, but fantasy owners cannot expect the Lions to be as generous this time around.