Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 15: Matt Asiata, Joe Banyard have questionable value
The Minnesota Vikings will reportedly be without running backs Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart. That leaves Matt Asiata and Joe Banyard as their backs for Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles. We break down the fantasy impact.
The Minnesota Vikings entered Week 14 with considerable depth at running back, but entering Week 15 they find themselves quite thin. The team is likely going to be without starting running back Adrian Peterson and backup Toby Gerhart. Undrafted rookie Matt Asiata is left as the team's No. 1 running back vs. the Philadelphia Eagles. The team also signed Joe Banyard off their practice squad to provide depth.
Peterson left the team’s Week 14 contest with a sprained right foot. He insisted he wanted to play this week, and Friday afternoon it appeared there was a chance he would make it to Sunday. However, the team decided that with nothing left to play for, it was better to play it safe and bench their star running back,
Gerhart replaced Peterson in Week 14 and looked solid, but he reportedly injured his hamstring late in the game. He sat out Wednesday and Thursday practice and got in limited work on Friday, but it appears it was not enough. He is expected to join Adrian Peterson on the sideline.
Fantasy impact: Matt Asiata is expected to get the start against an Eagles defense that is in the middle of the pack when it comes to fantasy points allowed. Asiata is not a great start given that he has three total snaps in his NFL career. It is not that he is a bad play, it’s that he is an extremely risky play. He is worth starting if you were relying on Peterson simply because he should get the carries, but his value is entirely up in the air. If you have another starting back available on your bench, play them. If not, roll out Asiata and hope for the best. Banyard should be benched in all formats.
• Week 15 fantasy football position rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST
