Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer wants to get running back Matt Asiata more touches going forward, according to Joe Buscaglia of WGR 550 Sports Radio. While getting Asiata more touches would naturally result in rookie Jerick McKinnon getting fewer touches, Zimmer did specifically mention wanting McKinnon's touches to go down as well.
Minnesota Vikings want Matt Asiata to get more carries, Jerick McKinnon to get fewer; fantasy value iffy for both
The Vikings want Asiata to touch the ball more and McKinnon to touch the ball less. We break down the fantasy implications.
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While Asiata has typically received more of the carries, McKinnon carried the load against the Detroit Lions in Week 6. Asiata had just one carry for 17 yards and he caught two passes for a loss of 5 yards. McKinnon carried the ball 11 times for 40 yards and caught six passes for 42 yards.
Fantasy Impact: McKinnon would seem to have a lot more upside when it comes to putting up big yardage and coming up with big plays given his athleticism. Asiata is a much slower, more plodding running back. That said, the Vikings typically give Asiata the red zone carries as he’s strong in short-yardage situations. Even if McKinnon kept getting more carries than Asiata, it’s likely that neither would be strong fantasy options due to how the carries would be split up.
