Fantasy Football Week 3: Matt Asiata Is In Line For a Big Role
By Brad Berreman
@bradberreman24
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
With Adrian Peterson deactivated less than 48 hours before kickoff, Matt Asiata became the No. 1 running back for the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2 against the New England Patriots. The Vikings’ offense did not get much accomplished after a 80-yard drive to start the game, but Asiata had the touchdown reception that capped that drive and he finished with 13 carries for 36 yards, along with five receptions for 48 yards, as he put together a solid day for fantasy owners that had to plug him into their lineup.
Peterson has now been deactivated without a definite timetable for his return, so Asiata will be atop the depth chart in Week 3 against the New Orleans Saints and for the foreseeable future. The Saints are in the bottom-10 of the league against opposing running backs through two weeks (23.0 fantasy points per game; ESPN scoring), so Asiata could have some success again this week if the Vikings can keep him involved in the game plan.
The running game will be Minnesota’s best friend on Sunday, taking pressure of quarterback Matt Cassel while also keeping the Saints’ offense off the field. That puts Asiata in line for a big workload, as both a runner and receiver, though that will probably go out the window quickly if the Vikings are trailing by a substantial margin.
Asiata is still available in over half of Yahoo! leagues, presumably because a lot of fantasy owners were hesitant to add him after Peterson was reinstated on Monday, but I expect to see that change in the coming days. Based purely on his role Asiata is shaping up as a viable RB2 or RB3 each week that Peterson is out of action, and a fairly favorable matchup against New Orleans puts him toward the higher side of that range for Week 3.
Matt Asiata Week 3 Fantasy Projection: 18 carries for 62 yards, five receptions for 25 yards and one rushing touchdown
Brad Berreman is a Columnist at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter.
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