Report: Vikings’ Wes Phillips declines Chargers’ interview request for offensive coordinator position

The Chargers are looking for their next offensive coordinator, but it will not be Vikings’ Wes Phillips.

The Chargers are looking for their next offensive coordinator, but it will not be Vikings OC Wes Phillips.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Phillips turned down Los Angeles’ interview request and will stay with Minnesota in the same position.

Phillips has over 15 years of NFL coaching experience.

Phillips moved to the Vikings from the Rams with Kevin O’Connell when he was hired as the head coach in Minnesota last year.

Phillips spent three years with the Rams as their tight ends coach and passing game coordinator.

Before making the move to Los Angeles, Phillips was a quality control/ offensive assistant, offensive line coach and tight ends coach with the Cowboys and a tight ends coach with the then Redskins.

Daily Fantasy: The one Vikings player you need to start in Week 3 on DraftKings

Adam Thielen faces a favorable matchup in Week 3.

The Vikings offense was an absolute mess last week against the Colts, primarily because of Kirk Cousins’ three interceptions and 42.3% completion rate. He and Minnesota will try to bounce back against the Titans in Week 3, who have struggled against wide receivers and opposing quarterbacks fantasy-wise.

Cousins should perform better against Tennessee, which will buoy Adam Thielen’s production. It’s why we’re picking Thielen as the one Vikings player you must start in daily fantasy on DraftKings this week with his salary of $6,900.

Without Stefon Diggs on the other side of the field, Thielen should continue to see a lion’s share of targets from Cousins. He’s been targeted eight times in each of the first two games, though he only caught three passes for 31 yards in Week 2.

He faces a favorable matchup against the Titans secondary and assuming Cousins can figure out which team he’s supposed to throw to, Thielen will be in for a big game. Last week, the Titans gave up 14 catches for 190 yards to the Jaguars’ top three receivers, struggling to contain D.J. Chark, Keelan Cole and Chris Conley.

Thielen should see at least seven or eight passes thrown his way, which he won’t have much trouble turning into 90-plus yards with a touchdown. The only concern is Tennessee slowing the game down with its rushing attack, but that’s not overly worrisome.

Daily Fantasy: The one Vikings player you need to start in Week 1 on DraftKings

Olabisi Johnson provides good value at only $4,100 on DraftKings.

The Vikings didn’t utilize three-receiver sets all that often last season, partly because they didn’t have to with Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen dominating the target share. That could change this season, however, with Gary Kubiak stepping in as the offensive coordinator and Minnesota lacking Diggs on offense.

The guy who could benefit most from a shift toward more 11 personnel is Olabisi Johnson. He’s currently listed as the No. 2 receiver on the Vikings’ depth chart and should see increased playing time opposite Thielen.

Rookie Justin Jefferson will obviously factor into the mix, but right out of the gate, Johnson is the daily fantasy player to target from the Vikings.

Dalvin Cook and Thielen are obviously bigger parts of the offense, but Johnson is a value at only $4,100 on DraftKings. That’s much cheaper than Thielen ($6,700) and even below Jefferson ($4,800) despite the fact that Johnson could get more playing time and see more targets than the rookie.

Last season, he caught 31 of the 45 passes thrown his way, turning them into 294 yards and three touchdowns. His opportunities were limited in the last five games of the year, though, only being targeted 11 times total.

The Packers secondary is headlined by Jaire Alexander, which likely leaves either Kevin King or Josh Jackson likely to cover Johnson. That’s a favorable matchup, and should yield targets from Kirk Cousins.

Johnson may not have put up big numbers last season, but he’s a good value in Week 1.