When Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson missed most of 2014, Jerick McKinnon filled in reasonably well. With Peterson back this year, though, McKinnon has been relegated to a much smaller role. That changed Sunday, as McKinnon had his biggest game of the season in Minnesota's 38-17 win over the Chicago Bears.
Fantasy football waiver wire advice: Jerick McKinnon has biggest game of the season
The running back scored his first career touchdown Sunday. We break down the fantasy implications.
Hannah Foslien/Getty Images
Peterson missed some time in Sunday’s game with an ankle injury. That opened the door for McKinnon, who had seven carries for 10 yards and four receptions for 76 more and a touchdown. McKinnon had only 213 yards from scrimmage all year before Sunday, and only 56 receiving yards, so Sunday marked a big change in usage for the second-year back. The touchdown was the first of McKinnon’s career.
Fantasy impact: McKinnon has plenty of talent, but as long as Peterson is healthy and on the field for the Vikings, he’s the centerpiece of that offense (see also the spike in Teddy Bridgewater’s production Sunday, with Peterson banged up). Peterson reportedly sprained his ankle Sunday, and while he returned to the game, he was ineffective after the injury.
With the Vikings still in the thick of the playoff race, Peterson will play if he at all can, making McKinnon only fantasy-valuable to owners who have Peterson and want to handcuff him for a possible Week 17. If Peterson is forced to miss Week 16, though, McKinnon would suddenly become much more interesting, as would position-mate Matt Asiata; the two would likely split time if Peterson were out.
