Matt

Asiata

That was the plan all along. Gerhart will test his injury on Friday. The same is true of Adrian Peterson (foot). Gerhart is considered more likely than AD to suit up against the Eagles, but he’s far from a slam dunk. The Vikings will be left with third-year undrafted free agent Matt Asiata at running back if neither Gerhart nor Peterson can go.

Asiata got the start with Adrian Peterson (foot) and Toby Gerhart (hamstring) inactive. A fullback-tailback hybrid, Asiata wound up playing extensively in two games due to injuries, finishing with this stat line and 30-51-3 in Week 15. With Gerhart headed to free agency, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Asiata could be Peterson’s primary backup in 2014. He’ll surely face competition, however.

Peterson has been diagnosed with a sprained right foot. While it’s good news that he isn’t dealing with a more serious injury, ESPN previously reported that Peterson isn’t expected to play against the Eagles and coach Leslie Frazier said the team’s 3-9-1 record will be a factor in how they proceed with him over the rest of the season. AP will be reevaluated once he’s out of the boot, but no one knows when that will be. Toby Gerhart (hamstring) would handle lead-back duties if he’s able and needs to be owned in all formats. Matt Asiata is the Vikings’ third-string back.

Gerhart tweaked his hammy during a 41-yard touchdown run late in the loss at Baltimore last week. It didn’t appear to be too bad of a pull, but we’ll find out for sure when the Vikings resume practicing this week. Gerhart is still worth an add while we wait to see how his injury and Adrian Peterson’s foot issue shake out. We suspect Gerhart is far more likely to suit up than AP. Matt Asiata is the Vikings’ third-string back.

Adrian Peterson is doubtful, and Toby Gerhart has been ruled out. Asiata flukishly rushed 30 times for a paltry 51 yards in a Week 15 start against the Eagles, scoring three touchdowns. This week, he’s expected to rotate with Joe Banyard against a tough Detroit run defense. Asiata will not be a recommended fantasy option in daily or standard leagues that extend into Week 17.

We don’t know whether Asiata is going to play Sunday at Cincinnati. We do know he won’t be a fantasy option with Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart back.

The fantasy folk hero is trending in the wrong direction for Week 16. Even were Asiata to suit up, his moment in the sun has come and gone with both Adrian Peterson (foot) and Toby Gerhart (hamstring) expected to play.

The Vikings’ players were reportedly informed the decision on Saturday night, meaning neither back will even get a chance to state their case in warmups. It leaves Minnesota with Matt Asiata, Joe Banyard and FB Jerome Felton as candidates to carry the ball. We’d expect Asiata to get the start, but talent/experience limitations coupled with the Eagles’ poor secondary should lead to a pass-heavy approach. Asiata would be a total shot in the dark as a desperation plug-n-play.

Asiata, a plodding 6'0/234 former undrafted free agent, goes from third string to first string in one week. We’d keep expectations very low. The Vikings will use practice squad callup Joe Banyard and fullback Jerome Felton for some reps, and the Eagles could very well sprint out to an early lead. If Minny is going to move the ball, it’s likely to be through the air against the Eagles’ No. 29 pass defense. Asiata is our No. 38 play at the running back spot this week.

With Adrian Peterson (foot) and Toby Gerhart (hamstring) both inactive, the Vikings had no choice but to turn to third-stringer Asiata. It was perhaps the worst three-touchdown performance in NFL history. Asiata showed absolutely zero burst, lateral agility or vision as he did a poor man’s Jackie “The Elephant” Battle impersonation. Two of his scores came from one yard out and the last was from five yards out. Even if Peterson and Gerhart both sit out at Cincy in Week 16, Asiata would be a desperation TD-dependent fantasy play only.