# NFL Week 5: Minnesota Vikings (4-0) vs. New Orleans Saints (1-3) Game Preview, Injury Report and Predictions

Source page: https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/news/vikings-unbeaten-run-crashes-into-saints-free-fall

> Minnesota's 4-0 defense visits a reeling New Orleans team in Week 5, with the Vikings favored by 2.0 at the Caesars Superdome.

By Rhett Zone · Published 2026-10-11 15:58 UTC

_Drafted with AI from our own data and checked by an editor._

Minnesota's defense has suffocated four straight opponents while New Orleans can't stop anybody from scoring.

The [Minnesota Vikings](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/teams/minnesota-vikings) (4-0, W4) travel to the Caesars Superdome on Sunday, October 11, 2026, looking to stay unbeaten against a [New Orleans Saints](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/teams/new-orleans-saints) (1-3, L2) team trying to halt a two-game slide. Kickoff is 1:00 PM ET on Fox, with Minnesota favored by 2.0 points and the total set at 41.5.

## Game details

- When | Sunday, October 11, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET
- Where | Caesars Superdome
- TV | Fox
- Line | Minnesota Vikings -2 | O/U 41.5 (market view)
- Minnesota Vikings record | 4-0
- New Orleans Saints record | 1-3

## The matchup

The Vikings have won every game by playing tight, low-scoring football. They beat the Miami Dolphins 15-10 in Week 4, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-16 in Week 3, and shut down the Chicago Bears 9-3 in Week 2. Minnesota has given up just 51 points across four games while scoring 86, and that defense is the whole story of this unbeaten start.

New Orleans is going the other direction. The Saints got run over 24-45 by the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, October 5, and before that lost 27-35 to the Las Vegas Raiders. They've allowed 128 points against 105 scored on the season, and a two-game losing streak has them searching for answers on both sides of the ball.

## Key matchups

Justin Jefferson is questionable with an ankle injury, but if he plays, he's still the focal point of Minnesota's passing game against a Saints secondary that's banged up itself, with [Julian Blackmon](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/julian-blackmon) questionable at safety. [Jordan Addison](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/jordan-addison) is also questionable with a hamstring, which puts more weight on [Jauan Jennings](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/jauan-jennings) and [T.J. Hockenson](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/t-j-hockenson) if either starter is limited.

Up front, Minnesota's run game with [Aaron Jones Sr.](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/aaron-jones-sr) and [DeeJay Dallas](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/deejay-dallas) gets a real boost against a Saints front missing [Kaden Elliss](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/kaden-elliss) and [Anfernee Jennings](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/anfernee-jennings) at linebacker. When a defense loses two off-ball linebackers, short-yardage and goal-line power runs get easier to finish, and Jones is Minnesota's early-down and close-range option.

On the other side, [Chris Olave](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/chris-olave) is the engine of New Orleans' offense and the one player capable of keeping this competitive against a Vikings pass defense that's been tough on volume. [Tyler Shough](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/tyler-shough) has to find him against a secondary missing [Charles Demmings](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/charles-demmings) at cornerback, which opens a window Olave needs to exploit.

## Injuries that matter

Minnesota is dealing with real line concerns. [Christian Darrisaw](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/christian-darrisaw) is out with a concussion, and [Brian O'Neill](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/brian-o-neill) is questionable with a knee injury, which puts pressure on the tackle spots protecting [Kyler Murray](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/kyler-murray). [Michael Jurgens](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/michael-jurgens) is questionable at center with an elbow issue, and cornerback Charles Demmings is out with a hamstring injury, thinning a secondary that otherwise anchors this defense.

New Orleans has its own issues up front and at linebacker. [Jeremiah Wright](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/jeremiah-wright) is out at right guard with a concussion, and both Kaden Elliss and Anfernee Jennings are out at linebacker. [Alvin Kamara](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/alvin-kamara) is questionable with a back injury, which matters a lot for a Saints offense that leans on him in the backfield, and [Barion Brown](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/barion-brown) is questionable with a thigh injury at receiver.

## Fantasy angles

Chris Olave projects for 17.5 DraftKings points and is the clear start for New Orleans this week. He's the one Saints skill player who can win regardless of game script, and Minnesota's banged-up secondary gives him a path to volume.

Tyler Shough projects for 18.0 points, and with Olave as his top target and the Saints likely playing from behind, expect him to be throwing often. He's a streamable option if you need a quarterback with upside.

Justin Jefferson still projects for 13.0 points even on the questionable list. If he's active, he's a must-start, full stop. If Minnesota limits him, Jauan Jennings and T.J. Hockenson see a bump in value.

Aaron Jones Sr. also projects for 13.0 points, and with Elliss and Jennings out of New Orleans' linebacker corps, this is a smash spot for him in short yardage and inside the ten.

Alvin Kamara is questionable and projects for just 8.5 points, the lowest of New Orleans' main skill players listed. Treat him as a game-time call rather than a locked-in starter until his back checks out.

## The pick

The market has Minnesota favored by 2.0 with a score of 22-20, and that number makes sense given what each team has shown. A defense that's allowed only 51 points through four games travels well, even on the road, and New Orleans has been outscored by a wide margin over its last two outings.

Give the edge to the Vikings here. Their defense has been the story of this unbeaten start, and until the Saints prove they can slow anybody down, Minnesota is the team built to win a game that stays close.

## Injury report

- Player | Team | Pos | Status
- Jordan Addison | Minnesota Vikings | WR | Questionable
- Christian Darrisaw | Minnesota Vikings | OT | Out
- Justin Jefferson | Minnesota Vikings | WR | Questionable
- Michael Jurgens | Minnesota Vikings | C | Questionable
- Brian O'Neill | Minnesota Vikings | OT | Questionable
- Ben Yurosek | Minnesota Vikings | TE | Questionable
- Charles Demmings | Minnesota Vikings | CB | Out
- Barion Brown | New Orleans Saints | WR | Questionable
- Alvin Kamara | New Orleans Saints | RB | Questionable
- Jeremiah Wright | New Orleans Saints | OG | Out
- Julian Blackmon | New Orleans Saints | S | Questionable
- Kaden Elliss | New Orleans Saints | LB | Out
- Jaylan Ford | New Orleans Saints | LB | Questionable
- Anfernee Jennings | New Orleans Saints | LB | Out
- Lorenzo Styles Jr. | New Orleans Saints | S | Questionable
- Christen Miller | New Orleans Saints | DT | Questionable

## Projected starters

- Pos | Minnesota Vikings | New Orleans Saints
- QB | Kyler Murray | Tyler Shough
- RB | Aaron Jones Sr., DeeJay Dallas | Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller
- WR | Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings | Chris Olave, Devaughn Vele , Bryce Lance
- TE | T.J. Hockenson | Juwan Johnson

## Recent results

- Team | Last games
- Minnesota Vikings | Wk4 W 15-10 vs Miami Dolphins, Wk3 W 23-16 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Wk2 W 9-3 vs Chicago Bears
- New Orleans Saints | Wk4 L 24-45 vs Atlanta Falcons, Wk3 L 27-35 vs Las Vegas Raiders, Wk2 W 24-17 vs Baltimore Ravens

[**Game page**](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/game/70)

## In this story

- [Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/game/70)
- [Minnesota Vikings](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/teams/minnesota-vikings)
- [New Orleans Saints](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/teams/new-orleans-saints)
- [Aaron Jones Sr.](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/aaron-jones-sr)
- [Alvin Kamara](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/alvin-kamara)
- [Anfernee Jennings](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/anfernee-jennings)
- [Barion Brown](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/barion-brown)
- [Ben Yurosek](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/ben-yurosek)
- [Brian O'Neill](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/brian-o-neill)
- [Bryce Lance](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/bryce-lance)
- [Charles Demmings](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/charles-demmings)
- [Chris Olave](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/chris-olave)
- [Christen Miller](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/christen-miller)
- [Christian Darrisaw](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/christian-darrisaw)
- [DeeJay Dallas](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/deejay-dallas)
- [Devaughn Vele](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/devaughn-vele)
- [Jauan Jennings](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/jauan-jennings)
- [Jaylan Ford](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/jaylan-ford)
- [Jeremiah Wright](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/jeremiah-wright)
- [Jordan Addison](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/jordan-addison)
- [Julian Blackmon](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/julian-blackmon)
- [Justin Jefferson](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/justin-jefferson-min)
- [Juwan Johnson](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/juwan-johnson)
- [Kaden Elliss](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/kaden-elliss)
- [Kendre Miller](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/kendre-miller)
- [Kyler Murray](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/kyler-murray)
- [Lorenzo Styles Jr.](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/lorenzo-styles-jr)
- [Michael Jurgens](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/michael-jurgens)
- [T.J. Hockenson](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/t-j-hockenson)
- [Tyler Shough](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/tyler-shough)

*Written by Rhett Zone, an AI analyst, from News Hub Fantasy data (schedule, scores, box scores, injuries and depth charts), and checked against that data before it published automatically. Read how we use AI in our [editorial standards](https://profootballnewshub.com/editorial-standards).*

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