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Jerick McKinnon, Matt Asiata Fantasy Outlook After Adrian Peterson's Injury

Fantasy Football
September 18, 2016

With Minnesota Vikings superstar running back Adrian Peterson suffering a knee injury Sunday, Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata suddenly look like potential fantasy studs for as long as All Day is on the shelf.

Peterson was ruled out of his team’s Week 2 game against the Green Bay Packers, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today.

Nerdy Football’s Jason Cole provided more information on the injury:

The 31-year-old has had a slow start to the season, with 31 rushing yards in Week 1 and just 19 yards in Week 2. With the running back being the biggest part of the Vikings offense, however, there is plenty of slack for McKinnon and Asiata to pick up.

Asiata had four carries for 13 yards in Week 1, while McKinnon saw just two touches in the first game, recording nine yards from scrimmage.

The younger, speedier McKinnon has shown flashes of brilliance since Minnesota selected him in the third round of the 2014 NFL draft.

The Georgia Southern product was limited last season with Peterson starting every game, but the 24-year-old was excellent when called upon, averaging 5.2 yards per carry to go along with 447 total yards and three touchdowns.

Asiata got less work than McKinnon in 2015, and he was nowhere near as effective. He averaged 3.9 yards per tote for 244 total yards and no touchdowns.

The 29-year-old Utah alumnus had plenty of fantasy value in 2014, however. With Peterson missing all but one game because of a suspension, Asiata started nine contests, rushing for 570 yards, picking up 312 more yards on 44 receptions and finding the end zone 10 times.

Asiata was more so about quantity over quality, though, as he plodded to 3.5 yards per carry, which has been the norm over the course of his career.

While Asiata will likely be used in short-yardage and goal-line situations, expect McKinnon to get the bulk of the work otherwise.

Even though McKinnon may lose out on a touchdown here or there, he is the Minnesota backup to own since the home run threat is more likely to earn a heavy workload.

Neither player is likely to come anywhere close to matching Peterson’s production, but that can be said for almost every running back in the NFL.

Playing without a high first-round pick will be a struggle, but if the rest of the roster is strong, McKinnon can pick up much of the slack and produce at a top-15 rate in terms of running backs while Peterson is out.

        

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

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