Week 8 at Green Bay Packers
Mr. "Can't Get It Done in Primetime", Kirk Cousins led the Vikings to an upset victory over the 49ers on Monday night this week. It had been nearly a month since Cousins broke the 300-yard passing mark. He finished the night with 378 yards, two touchdowns and threw one interception.
This Green Bay pass defense has been getting the job done this year. They've only allowed one quarterback to break 20 fantasy points. That fact combined with the absence of Justin Jefferson has Cousins down at QB11 in our rankings this weekend.
Week 7 vs. San Francisco 49ers
After tallying three straight 300+ yard games with 2+ touchdowns in each game of the opening month, Kirk Cousin has barely averaged 200 passing yards in October. September saw him throw nine touchdowns, but he's only at five through the first three weeks of October.
This is a tough matchup against the 49ers, as well. Only Joshua Dobbs has scored more than 15 fantasy points against San Francisco so far this season. They've forced 10 interceptions and tallied 14 sacks. We've dropped him all the way to QB15 in our rankings, so hopefully you have a better option on your squad somewhere.
Week 6 at Chicago Bears
Kirk Cousins gets a matchup against the Bears in Week 6. Chicago has let 4-of-5 opposing QBs exceed 20 fantasy points. They held Baker Mayfield under that threshold but he still managed to throw for 300 yards.
Cousins has thrown for multiple touchdowns in each game this year and is one complete pass away from 1,500 yards on the season. He's tallied 13 touchdowns against just four interceptions. We currently have him at QB11 for this week and he's locked in as a starter.
Week 5 vs Kansas City Chiefs
Kirk Cousins went into Week 4 on the back of three straight 300+ yard, multi-touchdown games. Week 4 didn't go quite as well. Cousins went 12-for-19 for 139 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. This is the issue with Cousins-type quarterbacks. When you get nothing on the ground, it's a very fragile projection.
The Chiefs haven't let up a 20+ fantasy point performance from an opposing quarterback yet this year. We have him at QB7, so this could be the week where we see it.
Week 4 at Carolina Panthers
Kirk Cousins is already over 1,000 yards on the season and it isn't even October yet. He's thrown for multiple touchdowns and over 300 yards in every single game. The Vikings have zero wins and three losses to show for it, but we don't care about that in fantasy.
This isn't a particularly scary matchup, either. We just saw Geno Smith fall 4 yards short of 300 yards against this defense. Cousins is a no-brainer start for Week 4.
Week 3 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Kirk Cousins is searching for his first win in a home matchup against the, also winless, Los Angeles Chargers. With a close spread and a total set at 54.5 at most books, this should be a great game environment. We've seen what the Chargers pass defense can allow with Tua Tagovailoa. Even Ryan Tannehill approached 250 yards against this defense.
Cousins has already thrown for 708 yards and six scores in 2023. He's not going to add anything on the ground, and that might catch up to him some weeks but in this game it shouldn't matter. He's our QB6 and has plenty of touchdown upside this week. Cousins is a must-start.
Week 2 at Philadelphia Eagles
The Vikings are coming off of an upset loss against Tampa Bay in Week 1 and are traveling east to face off against the Eagles. Kirk Cousins threw for 344 yards and two touchdowns in the opener, while also getting picked off once in that loss.
The matchup against the Eagles is tough for the offense as a whole, but given Philadelphia's ability to stuff the run we could see even more passing volume from Cousins this week. That defense will be without Nakobe Dean and James Bradberry this week, opening up some passing opportunities. Consider Cousins a low-end QB1 for Week 2.
Week 1 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings host Tampa Bay in Week 1 as 5.5-point favorites. With the multitude of question marks in Tampa Bay, the Vikings have a 25.5-point implied team total which is the third-highest of the remaining games on the slate. Last season, 10 different quarterbacks threw for multiple touchdowns against this Bucs' defense. Cousins was able to accomplish that feat 10 times in 2022, as well. We could be looking at a big opening performance from Cousins.
Fantasy Upside
Kirk Cousins has consistently proven himself to be a reliable quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. In the 2022 season, Cousins threw for over 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns, marking his fifth consecutive season achieving these numbers. His strong connection with top-tier wide receiver Justin Jefferson and tight end T.J. Hockenson has been a significant factor in his success. With the addition of rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison, Cousins has another promising target to utilize in the 2023 season. His consistent performance and the Vikings' strong receiving corps offer a significant upside for Cousins in the upcoming season.
Fantasy Downside
While he does post consistent yardage and touchdown numbers, Cousins isn't exactly the most mobile quarterback. He wasn't able to crack 100 rushing yards on the season last year. This limits his fantasy ceiling compared to dual-threat quarterbacks. His floor is affected, as well. Over the course of the season, he should be fine but there is the chance that when things don't click on offense, he puts up a dud for a week that costs you a matchup.
2023 Bottom Line
Cousins is a solid quarterback option for the 2023 fantasy season. He's currently ranked as QB11 in our projections. His consistent passing numbers and the strong receiving options around him make him a reliable choice. He's worth considering as a QB1 in deeper leagues or a high-end QB2 in standard formats.
Week 17 at Green Bay Packers
Kirk Cousins managed a strong fantasy finish last week on the back of three passing touchdowns to go along with 299 yards through the air. Cousins continues to take advantage of good matchups and the strong collection of weapons he has at his disposal. He gets a bit of a tougher matchup this week against a Packers defense that is better against the pass than the run, but Cousins has already demonstrated the ability to survive on volume in Kevin O'Connell's new offensive scheme when necessary. Coming off three straight finishes as a fantasy QB1, Cousins slots in as a solid option for those who cannot start one of the game's elite passers in Week 17.
