Jerick McKinnon, Matt Asiata's Instant Fantasy Reaction After Week 7

If you managed to sell high on Matt Asiata following his three-touchdown performance in Week 4, congratulations. You've dodged a fantasy bullet.   

The Minnesota Vikings running back officially ceded his starting job to rookie Jerick McKinnon in last week's loss to the Lions, and Week 7's 17-16 loss to the Buffalo Bills proved that's no fluke. McKinnon started for the second straight Sunday, emerging as Minnesota's clear workhorse option.

The fourth-rounder outcarried Asiata 19-6, gaining 103 yards for his second career 100-yard rushing day. Asiata showed up most regularly on third downs, where the Vikings prefer using him as a pass-blocking option and receiving threat out of the backfield.

Player	Carries	Yards	Yards Per Carry	Receptions	Yards	Targets	Total TDs
Jerick McKinnon	19	103	5.4	2	-2	4	0
Matt Asiata	6	24	4.0	1	13	2	0

That Asiata had a shrug-worthy 37 yards on his seven touches (he also had a reception) should be all the proof anyone needs as to why Mike Zimmer made the move. Since Adrian Peterson's departure, McKinnon has emerged clearly as the more talented of his two replacements. Asiata's steadying presence as a pass-blocker helps Teddy Bridgewater in the pocket, but he doesn't bring nearly the explosiveness or vision as a runner.

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Taken in the third round as a long-term project, the Vikings were initially hesitant to give McKinnon the every-down role. He moved back and forth between quarterback and running back at (then) FCS Georgia Southern and is still developing in the areas of the game that don't involve running the football.

“[It has been] a whirlwind,” McKinnon said, per Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune. “Everything happened so fast. I think I prepare myself to be ready for whatever happens. There has definitely been a lot thrown my way, just from a rookie standpoint, going through a whole bunch of different things. But I think it’s helped me in my progression to become a better NFL running back.”

Sitting at 2-5 after Sunday, the Vikings elevated McKinnon with an eye toward the future. The promise he showed in limited opportunities has carried over, as he's consistently made his way into the second wave of the front seven. The Peterson-esque breakaways aren't yet a regular occurrence, but he's averaging better than five yards per carry despite a struggling offensive line.

Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

In a nutshell, it's simple: Jerick McKinnon is a starting NFL running back. He received 46 offensive snaps to Asiata's 16 last week, per Football Outsiders, a split the Vikings appear committed to continuing. With rookies Bridgewater and McKinnon at the helm of a core that won five games in 2013, not much can be expected from a pure football perspective.

The fantasy outlook for McKinnon, though, is all roses and sunshine. He's a talented rusher who is going to receive the lion's share of the work, and the Vikings should get better as their young players coalesce. McKinnon is an every-week start in most formats and a must-have for anyone in a long-term keeper league.

As for Asiata, do as the Vikings did and waive goodbye to that era. He's droppable in every league.

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