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Fantasy Football Week 12 Start or Sit: Ben Tate

By @bradberreman24

Ben Tate, Fantasy Football, Minnesota Vikings

Jason Miller-Getty Images

With Adrian Peterson fairly certain to miss the rest of the season now, the Minnesota Vikings claimed running back Ben Tate off waivers from the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday. Tate signed as a free agent with the Browns last offseason, but after seeing  just two carries in Week 11 his role was at best uncertain and it was not too surprising he was let go.

Tate had 333 rushing yards and four touchdowns in eight games for the Browns this season, on 106 carries, highlighted by a 124-yard effort against the Tennessee Titans in Week 5 and a 78-yard,  two-touchdown game the following week against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Can Tate be an instant contributor for his fantasy owners on his new team in Week 12?

The Vikings have been using Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata as their top two running backs in Peterson’s absence, and both have had some good moments. But both missed practice earlier this week with injuries, Asiata with a concussion and McKinnon with a lingering lower back issue, so concern about either guy’s status for Sunday against the Green Bay Packers likely prompted the move to add Tate.

The Packers are 29th in the league against the run (139.2 yards per game), but they are around the middle of the pack in fantasy points allowed to running backs (17.2 per game; ESPN scoring). After allowing five total touchdowns (four rushing, one receiving) to the position over their first three games of the season, Green Bay has only allowed two rushing scores to a running back since then.

McKinnon was able to practice on Thursday on a limited basis, so Asiata clearly stands out as the Vikings’ running back who won’t play against the Packers. Tate may step into Asiata’s short-yardage and goal line role, even with limited knowledge of Norv Turner’s offense, but as long as McKinnon suits up his ultimate workload will be unpredictable. The Vikings do have a couple other running back options, with Joe Banyard and recent practice squad addition Dominique Williams as possibilities to be among the 53 active players against Green Bay.

Tate is not guaranteed to even be in uniform on Sunday, and if he does play the chances he gets enough playing time and touches to be worth considering as a fantasy starter look remote. Owners that didn’t drop him during his downward turn in Cleveland can hang onto Tate right now, but for Week 12 he belongs on the bench.

Brad Berreman is a Columnist at Rant Sports.com. Connect with him on Twitter or Google +.

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