When Dalvin Cook went down with a torn ACL, Jerick McKinnon stepped up in the Minnesota Vikings’ backfield. In Weeks 5 and 6, he combined for 245 total yards and three touchdowns on 37 touches, solidifying himself as a fantasy asset.
Fantasy football Week 8: Jerick McKinnon, start or sit?
McKinnon took a backseat to Latavius Murray in Week 7. We break down the fantasy implications.
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However, McKinnon’s production took a drop in Week 7, thanks to the presence of Latavius Murray. While McKinnon still saw 17 touches and got 57 total yards, Murray led the way with 113 rushing yards and a touchdown in the Vikings’ win over the Baltimore Ravens.
Fantasy impact: McKinnon was hardly phased out of the offense, but Murray’s usage showed that he won’t be an every-down running back, which puts a dent in his fantasy ceiling. He’s still a talented player who has all the passing-down work to himself, so fantasy owners shouldn’t jump ship yet. However, his Week 5-6 production could end up being his best games of the season.
When the Vikings travel to London this week, McKinnon is a riskier play than you might think against the Cleveland Browns, whose defense is giving up the 27th-fewest fantasy points to running backs. Still, with six teams on bye, he’s worth considering in your flex spot.
Recommendation: Start if you’re desperate
