Cousins goes home to Minnesota, and Mendoza gets Las Vegas

Monday night told the Vikings everything. Carson Wentz went 8 of 25 for 81 yards and two interceptions in a 23-6 loss to Buffalo, was pulled in the fourth quarter, and finished with a passer rating of 8.9. Less than a day later Minnesota had Kirk Cousins back for a third-round pick.

Minnesota's receivers are back in business

Cousins knows this offence better than anyone in the building. His first year under Kevin O'Connell was 4,547 yards and 29 touchdowns, and he threw 20 touchdowns in nine games for the Raiders this year. The Vikings have scored 16 points or fewer in five of their eight games. That stops now.

Justin Jefferson has been fine despite his quarterbacks. With Cousins he's a top-five receiver every week, starting at Lambeau on Sunday if Cousins is ready in time. Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson go from benchable to playable. Neither is a must-start, but both were unstartable with Wentz.

Kyler Murray is out of a job

Murray has a grade 2 hamstring strain and is expected to miss more time. He also had five touchdowns and three picks in six starts at 6.6 yards an attempt. You don't trade for a 38-year-old to keep his seat warm. When Murray is healthy he's a backup, and a backup on a deal that big is a release or trade candidate next spring. In superflex, hold him only if your bench is deep. In one-QB leagues he can go.

The Mendoza era starts against Seattle

Fernando Mendoza was the No. 1 pick, won the Heisman and a national title, and has sat for nine weeks. Klint Kubiak says he exceeded everything they asked of him in practice. His first two starts are the Seahawks and the Broncos, two of the best defences in the league, so don't start him in a one-QB league yet. In superflex he's an add today. A starting quarterback with a top pick's job security is worth more than whatever you're holding at QB3.

For Brock Bowers, nothing changes. He's the safety valve a rookie looks for first. Tre Tucker takes the hit: his downfield targets lived on Cousins's anticipation. Ashton Jeanty may see more eight-man boxes, but more carries come with that.