If there’s one thing the Packers have done well this year it’s run the ball. Josh Jacobs has 648 yards on the ground through 10 games and, more importantly, a remarkable 11 rushing touchdowns. Unfortunately, the veteran running back is likely to be sidelined from this game with a knee injury, so Green Bay will turn to Emanuel Wilson to step up. Wilson took over partway through last week’s game against the New York Giants, managing 40 rushing yards and a touchdown.

The Vikings have been stout against the run all year and have only given up eight rushing touchdowns on the season, but the Packers are favoured by 6.5 points at home. I expect Green Bay to control this game, especially given Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy’s recent struggles, giving ample opportunities for Wilson to get into the endzone.

Despite playing alongside arguably the best wide receiver in the entire NFL in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison has quietly been a key target for struggling quarterback JJ McCarthy. In the three games he’s played with the young signal caller, Addison has 22 targets and is averaging 34 receiving yards per game.

His yards per catch numbers are also decent, coming in at 15.2 YPC for the same stretch. Given he hasn’t had fewer than two receptions in a game this season, I like Addison to hit the 25-yard mark in this one. The Packers are 9th in the NFL in passing yards allowed, but like so many teams, they will likely focus on trying to neutralise the threat of Jefferson, leaving Addison open to benefit.

It’s been an odd season for Jordan Mason, who joined the Vikings from San Francisco in the off-season. Many assumed he would be the 1B to Aaron Jones’ 1A, but he’s been used in more of a backup role with Jones healthy. Even when the veteran did miss time, Mason never truly capitalised.

However, that allows for some low yardage totals to appear, and the 15-yard mark should be more than achievable, even against a strong Packers defence. Mason has only failed to reach that number once this season and is averaging 4.53 yards per carry. He has also not seen fewer than four carries in any game this year. Given JJ McCarthy’s struggles, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Vikings lean on the run a little more here.

Aaron Jones is still going strong at 30 and has managed to fend off the competition of new face Jordan Mason, earning the bulk of the running back snaps for the Vikings this season when healthy. He always offers a nice option in the receiving game and has become a safety blanket for quarterback JJ McCarthy this year.

In the four full games they’ve played together, McCarthy has peppered Jones with 17 targets. That has led to Jones hitting the 10-yard receiving mark in every healthy game this season, with or without McCarthy under centre. The Packers just gave up four receptions for 51 yards to Giants running back Tyrone Tracy last week, and Jones will look to top that against his old team this week.