In Minneapolis, the Vikings seized control before halftime. Isaiah Rodgers sparked a turnaround with a 66-yard return TD after forcing a Chase Brown fumble, then Ja’Marr Chase fumbled on Minnesota territory as Jeff Okudah pounced on the loose ball. Minnesota added a 5-yard Jordan Mason TD and Will Reichard drilled a 62-yard FG to push the halftime lead to 34-3. Evan McPherson’s 45-yard field goal was Cincinnati’s lone scoring punch in the frame.

The first-half rhythm was all Minnesota: aggressive defense, short-field opportunities, and explosive special-teams plays that left the Bengals searching for answers as the stadium roared through the break.

Two six-round picks swapped for Harrison Phillips catapulted a surprising midweek shift as Minnesota sent Phillips and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Jets in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick. The move clears $7.4 million in cap space for 2025, enabling Minnesota to pivot its defensive front toward veteran anchors. Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave step in as the immediate interior stalwarts, while Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez, and Elijah Williams provide youth and depth behind them. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s regime and Brian Flores’ scheme appear to prioritize a mix of proven talent and developmental upside, signaling a clear plan for a stronger run defense and interior pressure.

From a fantasy lens, the Vikings’ interior upgrade with Allen and Hargrave could lift sack and pressure rates, elevating fantasy DLs and boosting Flores-driven coverages. The Jets gain cap flexibility and add Phillips’ interior disruption, potentially tightening their run defense and altering opponents’ rushing plans. Depth rotations will matter for IDP managers as younger players step in, while both teams’ moves hint at a broader, more aggressive frontline approach entering 2025.

Harrison Phillips was traded from Minnesota to New York in a deal that nets the Vikings a 2026 sixth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick, with a 2027 seventh flipped to the Jets and Minnesota paying half of Phillips's salary. The move slots in a fortified Vikings defensive line that already features free-agent additions Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, plus promising young interior players Jalen Redmond and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins. In New York, Phillips arrives to reinforce a run-stopping interior and bring veteran presence to a front already anchored by players like Quinnen Williams and others in the rotation.

The swap signals strategic cap and depth management for Minnesota, which has stacked its trenches this offseason, while giving the Jets a veteran anchor who can contribute immediately. Phillips's off-field philanthropy in Minnesota adds a human dimension to the move, underscoring the impact players have beyond the stat sheet. For fantasy managers and bettors, the deal hints at shifting snap counts and roles inside both teams' trenches, with potential ripple effects across IDP targets and rotation-based fantasy plays.

The Minnesota Vikings traded Harrison Phillips to the New York Jets on a package that includes a 2026 sixth-round pick, a 2027 sixth-round pick, and a 2027 seventh-round pick. Minnesota will absorb half of Phillips’s $7.4 million 2025 salary, creating $3.7 million in 2025 cap space and $7.5 million in room for 2026. The move unlocks cap flexibility as the club leans into a crowded interior by pairing two former Pro Bowl tackles with Phillips’ replacement-level depth.

With roster cuts looming, Minnesota’s defensive line depth—and how it will absorb the loss—remains a focal point. Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave joined Phillips in the offseason to fortify the middle, while Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez, and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins are among the players vying for spots behind a retooled front. The Jets gain a veteran anchor to help stabilize a rotation that already features emerging run-stoppers.