Minnesota Vikings: Fantasy Football Dark Horse to Watch for

Adrian Peterson may be the key factor back in the Minnesota Vikings backfield, but his probable successor could be just as valuable in 2016-17.

The third round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings out of Georgia Southern showed glimpses of his potential in a rookie season that was cut short due to injury, playing in 11 games averaging a very respectable 4.8 yards per carry along with 27 receptions.

Last season McKinnon’s lack of immediate production was the result of Adrian Peterson’s return from a year-long absence.

It came as expected, Adrian Peterson is a once in a lifetime running back who, at some point, will be named among the greats in NFL history. But now in this day and age, the bulk of these NFL teams have an adequate “Robin” to their “Batman”, and the Vikings may have found their guy towards the end of the season to compliment Adrian.

Asiata and McKinnon both did a fine job under the circumstances they were given during the 2014-15 season with the Peterson debacle and Teddy Bridgewater taking over the offense as a rookie. It was a trying year for everyone involved, not to mention a newly named rookie head coach in Mike Zimmer.

Last season the Minnesota Vikings received the production of their best weapon yet again and reinvigorated life under the new staff and their even younger players; down the stretch, McKinnon brought life back into an offense that lacked unpredictability during their two game losing streak.

Jerick McKinnon is much more than a typical change of pace running back; the stout third year player can produce quite a bit of pop in between the tackles, and possesses the skills needed to step into blocks in pass protection.

He’d be the first to tell you he’s not perfect, nobody is, Adrian Peterson himself has some very glaring holes in his game as well. McKinnon may have the softest hands of the running back group, and arguably the quickest twitch in his hips compared to even Peterson.

An underrated factor that also bodes well for the former triple option quarterback in college is the durability issues of his predecessor.

The running back spot is a position that is very difficult to remain healthy while playing in general, it just so happens to be that Adrian Peterson has only played four full 16-game seasons in nine years, one of those seasons missed due to suspension.

Who’s to say that McKinnon won’t be one of those key late addition flyers that could carry a fantasy team through their playoffs? Let’s take a look at the stats in the final three games he was incorporated much more in.

In McKinnon’s last three regular season games for the Minnesota Vikings in 2015-16, “Jet” had at least 70+ total yards with 7+ plus touches each game and three touchdowns. Production that would have been suitable for an RB-2 or flex option during the fantasy playoffs.

The Minnesota Vikings offense ran more fluently with the different variables McKinnon and Peterson provided towards the end of the season, something opponents should expect to see much more of going forward. McKinnon’s consistency, per game, will be influential to the offense per Mike Wobschall of Vikings.com.

Adrian Peterson will still be the top back of choice out of this Minnesota Vikings’ stable; but given any sliver of opportunity, McKinnon may become the most vital handcuff to have when fantasy owners hit that stretch run to end the 2016-17 fantasy season.

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