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Taking a gander at your Week 4 fantasy football lineup and it seems like you’re stuck between starting or sitting Minnesota Vikings running back Matt Asiata. Yes, we all know he isn’t an athletic freak like Adrian Peterson, but he has shown the past couple weeks that he can handle the reigns as Minnesota’s feature back. Before making your decision about starting or sitting Asiata, take into consideration these key figures.
The third-year running back from Utah heads into Week 4 showing a lot of versatility in the Vikings’ offense. He hasn’t blow anyone away in the running game this season, averaging 3.0 yards per carry (3.5 YPC in his career), but he has shown the ability to be a vital asset in the passing game (9 receptions, 89 yards, and a touchdown on the season). Asiata hasn’t put up any Peterson-like numbers yet, and probably never will, but he certainly can be that guy who gets you 60 to 70 all-purpose yards on a weekly basis.
In Week 4, Asiata has a very favorable matchup against an Atlanta Falcons defense that has given up the third most fantasy points to RBs this year. The advantage for Asiata is not necessarily the numbers Atlanta gives away on the ground (27.6RPG, 109.3YPG, 3.9YPC), but the numbers they give up to running backs through the air (7.6RPG, 74.6YPG, 9.7YPC). Rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is making his first NFL start in Week 4 and there was no hiding the fact he enjoyed throwing short passes to his running backs, targeting Asiata and Jerick McKinnon numerous times in his three quarters of work last week. Both finished with a total of 11 targets against the New Orleans Saints in Week 3.
Speaking of McKinnon, he does offer some sleeper potential down the road, but I would not worry too much about his workload in Week 4. He could see some action, but the Vikings favor Asiata as their workhorse in the run game, for now.
Look for the Vikings to exploit Atlanta’s weak run defense with a combination of Asiata and Bridgewater this Sunday in Minnesota. Even if Minnesota falls behind early, Asiata still has a chance to excel in the passing game for fantasy owners.
In my opinion, he is a must-start in Week 4. In standard leagues, he is a low-end RB2 and a very considerable Flex play. In PPR leagues there is no doubt he should be in your starting lineup as a RB2 or Flex. Asiata is still only owned in 64.3% of ESPN Fantasy leagues, so I highly encourage you to pick up this Week 4 top 15 RB and add him to your starting lineup.
Fantasy Forecast: 17 carries, 57 yards, 1TD and 5 receptions, 54 yards.
Ryan Terrill is a Fantasy Sports Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @RyanCTerrill, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.
