Cardinals D/ST or Vikings D/ST: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 1 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Start the Vikings — the lineup-share and opponent scoring edges are too wide to ignore.

Vikings D/ST is started in more leagues (started rank 15 to 32) and faces the lower-scoring offense (23.0 implied points to 28.5). the Cardinals's edge is opponent giveaways, 3.8 sacks allowed to 2.1. The gap is wide.

Cardinals D/ST

D/STARIvs LAC

Projected Points

Toss-Up

Vikings D/ST

D/STMINvs GB

Projected Points

Sit

Why Cardinals D/ST

Toss-Up

Toss-up — a middling defensive matchup (No. 28 this week): LAC gives up 3.8 sacks and 1.2 turnovers a game, and Vegas has them at 28.5 points.

  • LAC's offense gives up 3.8 sacks and 1.2 turnovers a game (2025), well above league average.
  • Vegas has LAC at 28.5 points as 11.5-point favorites.
  • Under-started: only 0% of leagues have them in, 32nd among defenses, against a No. 28 matchup.

Why Vikings D/ST

Sit

Sit — a bottom-tier defensive matchup this week (No. 25): GB protects the ball (0.8 turnovers a game), and 4.1 pts projected vs GB.

  • GB's offense gives up 2.1 sacks and 0.8 turnovers a game (2025), below league average.
  • Vegas has GB at 23 points as 1.5-point favorites.
  • Over-started: 11% of leagues have them in, 15th among defenses, against a No. 25 matchup.

Head-to-head stats

MetricCardinals D/STVikings D/ST
Projected points
Projection rankProj.DST28Proj.DST25
Started in0% of leagues11% of leagues
Opponent sacks allowed / game3.8(2025)2.1(2025)
Opponent turnovers / game1.2(2025)0.8(2025)
Opponent implied total28.523.0
Home / awayAwayHome

Signal breakdown

  • 3.4 vs 4.1 projected PPR pointsVikings D/ST +
  • Started rank 32 vs 15 (0% vs 11% of leagues)Vikings D/ST +
  • 3.8 sacks / 1.2 TO vs 2.1 sacks / 0.8 TO per game allowedCardinals D/ST +
  • Opponent implied 28.5 vs 23.0 pointsVikings D/ST +
  • Away vs HomeVikings D/ST +

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