Minnesota Vikings running back Jerick McKinnon made his first big splash in the NFL on Sunday, putting up 135 yards off of 18 carries, good for an average of 7.5 yards per carry. The rookie third-round pick will likely get a similar workload for the foreseeable future, alongside Matt Asiata.
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 5: Matt Asiata, Jerick McKinnon
Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon combined for a potent rushing attack in Week 4. We break down the fantasy implications.
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Unfortunately for McKinnon and potential fantasy owners, once the Vikings got into the red zone, they didn’t give him the ball. They handed it to Asiata, who has proven very effective in short-yardage situations thus far. He carried the ball 20 times for 78 yards and three touchdowns. The two formed a potent rushing combination, but how the carries will break down over the coming weeks is still up in the air.
Fantasy Impact: With Teddy Bridgewater likely making his second start on Thursday, the Vikings will once again try to run the ball early and often. They're taking on the Green Bay Packers, a team that's been incredibly poor against the run this season. But it's hard to recommend either McKinnon or Asiata in fantasy football at this point. With the touchdowns, Asiata is probably the safest bet, but McKinnon could always take away those carries if he gets going fast as he did in Week 4. Asiata is probably a safe start as a second or third running back option.
