Matt Asiata, Jerick McKinnon's Instant Fantasy Reaction After Week 4

The 2014 season has been a wild one for fantasy running backs, and Matt Asiata is strangely enough becoming a top option at the position. Then again, the man behind him is also looking like a flex option.

Early on during the Minnesota Vikings Week 4 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, Asiata was a force to be reckoned with, carrying the load directly into the end zone.   

Along with Asiata, Jerick McKinnon made an early impact and showed his speed out of the backfield. Here's a look at Asiata and McKinnon's statistics from the matchup:

Player	Attempts	Rush Yds	Rec.	Rec. Yds	Targets	TD
Matt Asiata	20	78	3	22	4	3
Jerick McKinnon	18	135	1	17	3	0

The two rushing touchdowns were his first of the season, but he had a receiving touchdown against the New England Patriots. Asiata added another score late, adding on to a monstrous fantasy day for the running back.

He's not a supremely talented running back, but Asiata has shown he runs hard when necessary. Sigmund Bloom of FootballGuys.com passed along his analysis of Asiata as a fantasy option:

His limited touches were concerning, with no more than 15 during his previous two games coming into Week 4. But what Asiata lacks in talent, he makes up for in the red zone. That alone makes him a potential flex option moving forward.

As for McKinnon, the rookie proved himself as another potential pickup off the waiver wire. His early production proves he has explosiveness, but Asiata is still the back getting touches when they count. Stashing him away now could prove to be a big boost late in the season if he blossoms for the Vikings.

Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer offered his take on the explosiveness of McKinnon, per Dawn Mitchell of Fox 9:

Peterson's fate moving forward is unknown, so Asiata's value is still high. Owned in 66.5 percent of ESPN leagues, he's not likely to be available on waivers after this week. Owners who have him on the bench might seriously want to look at starting Asiata in the future.

Both players will be fighting for touches moving forward, but certainly offer value thanks to their production. If Asiata continues to get red-zone touches and McKinnon explodes for huge yardage, either could change the outlook for a fantasy team.

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