Washington Redskins: 3 Takeaways vs. Vikings in Week 10

2. Young offensive players take advantage of opportunities

Starting running back Rob Kelley went down with a leg injury in the first half. It was another disappointing day for Kelley, who’s seemingly been injured in every game he’s played in this season. That opened the door for rookie running back Samaje Perine. Perine, a fourth-round pick from Oklahoma, has had his share of mistakes this season. Whether it’s fumbling the ball, or botching a handoff with Cousins, it’s a big reason why Gruden kept him on the bench.

On Sunday, with Kelley down, the Redskins needed Perine to step up so Chris Thompson didn’t have to play every down. He answered the call. Against Minnesota’s top-five defense, Perine carried the ball nine times for 35 yards. Sure, those aren’t huge numbers, but Perine had a few big runs where he showed patience, vision and the ability to break tackles. He also caught one pass for 25 yards that gave Washington a critical first down late. Moving forward, Perine needs to build off this performance. He’s a more talented option than Kelley.

Harris is another young player who took advantage of a major opportunity. Just called up from the practice squad last week, Harris made one of the best catches in the NFL this season with his touchdown grab. He caught two balls for 50 yards and there seems to be a trust there from Cousins. As a rookie last fall, Harris caught some big third-down throws from his quarterback.

It’s telling the Redskins chose to use Harris more than free-agent disappointment Terrelle Pryor. Expect more Harris as the season goes on. He possesses good size and strong hands and has the confidence of his quarterback.