Adrian Peterson was officially ruled out for Week 17 on Saturday, and now Toby Gerhart will join him on the inactive list for the Minnesota Vikings in their regular season finale. Third-string running back Matt Asiata will make his second start of the season.
Adrian Peterson, Toby Gerhart out for Vikings, fantasy owners in Week 17
It’s another “next man up” scenario for the Vikings today. Matt Asiata will start at running back. We break down the fantasy implications.
Matthew Stockman
Peterson is dealing with a foot injury, while Gerhart has an ailing hamstring that will keep him out of commission to finish his contract year. Asiata started in Week 15, and despite struggling to find any room to run, he scored three touchdowns that day.
Fantasy impact: Owners might have made a smart decision starting Asiata two weeks ago, but now is not the time to get risky. The Detroit Lions rank No. 4 in the NFL in run defense. Their defensive line will cause problems for an already lackluster running back in Asiata.
If you’re absolutely in dire need of a flex play, you might roll the dice and hope for a red zone touchdown. However, since Week 4, the Lions have only allowed three rushing touchdowns to running backs, and keep in mind those all came in snowy conditions against the Eagles. It’s best to avoid Asiata.
• Week 17 fantasy football position rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST
