With Adrian Peterson out indefinitely, third-year running back Matt Asiata is likely to get the bulk of the carries when the Minnesota Vikings take the field against the New Orleans Saints in Week 3. Asiata was considered a potentially solid option for fantasy football owners against the New England Patriots in Week 2, but he ended up struggling when it came to keeping the ball on the ground.
Matt Asiata could be strong fantasy play against Saints
Matt Asiata will get another opportunity to put up big numbers against a suspect run defense in Week 3. We break down the fantasy implications.
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Then again, he only carried the ball 13 times, and the Vikings only ran the ball a total of 19 times, three of which were quarterback scrambles. Asiata picked up just 36 yards on those 13 carries, but added five receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown through the air. Minnesota’s aforementioned Week 3 opponent, the New Orleans Saints, have the No. 22 rush defense in the league after allowing 122.5 rushing yards on average through two games.
Fantasy Impact: Asiata is a must-own for owners previously relying on Peterson. There are other factors in the Minnesota backfield like rookie Jerick McKinnon and wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, but Asiata should be the primary ball-carrier going forward. There's definitely potential for a big fantasy outing for Asiata, but the Vikings will need to get closer to a more even ratio of passes (36 against the Patriots) to runs (19 against the Patriots).
