Tag: Adrian Peterson

Week 14 RB Recap

There are a few running backs available in leagues across the country that must be considered as we head into the last three weeks of the season.

Analysis: Bobby Rainey is available in 8-50% of fantasy leagues. Today against the Bills he carried the ball 22 times for 127 yards and a touchdown. He tacked on 3 receptions on 4 targets. Rainey is flying a bit under the radar but he is a must start. He has averaged 22 carries per game over the last four weeks and has 4 total touchdowns in that span. He isn’t a fringe or flex option at this point, 22 carries per game is legit. Up next for Rainey is the Niners in week fifteen.

Who knows how severe the Adrian Peterson injury is but Toby Gerhart is now a must own. The Vikings do not have a reason to put Peterson at risk the next few weeks in a lost season. Peterson could be traded during the offseason which is even more incentive to take extreme caution. Today, Gerhart rushed for 89 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown in Baltimore. Gerhart’s career yards per carry average is at nearly five per… he can play. He’s available in 80-99% of fantasy leagues.

Kyle Rudolph Is Surging

Kyle Rudolph caught 5 balls on 9 targets for 55 yards and 1 touchdown Sunday against the Chicago Bears.

Analysis: Kyle Rudolph has had at least 55 yards, 5 receptions, 9 targets and 1 touchdown in each of his last two games. It does help that Percy Harvin is out with an ankle injury but Rudolph has an impressive 7 touchdowns this year.

Even if Harvin plays next week the Vikings will have to rely heavily on their passing game. The Vikes have Green Bay twice, Chicago again and Houston on their upcoming schedule. These are not games they can simply get by letting Adrian Peterson pound the rock. Keep in mind that Rudolph does have more touchdown receptions this year than Heath Miller, Owen Daniels, Vernon Davis, Jason Witten and Antonio Gates. Rudolph may not be lighting it up in PPR leagues and is benefiting from Harvin’s absence but he does score touchdowns which cannot be ignored. He’s available in half of leagues and it makes more sense to start him over Antonio Gates and own him over Dennis Pitta(how is he still owned).

Pick Up Toby Gerhart

Adrian Peterson is most likely out for Minnesota’s week twelve matchup with Atlanta as the fantasy world turns its attention to Toby Gerhart .

Analysis: While the injury to Adrian Peterson is not as severe as once thought, high ankle sprains do tend to linger. Even if Peterson was somehow able to go next Sunday, why risk it? At 2-8, the Vikes are going nowhere this year and there is no point to putting the top back in the league out there.

Toby Gerhart who is available in well over ninety-seven percent of fantasy leagues is the logical fantasy replacement for Peterson. He should be in line for a solid chunk of carries in week twelve. He’s physical enough to be playing in goal line situations and he is one fresh back at this point in the season.

It isn’t all good when it comes to Gerhart’s potential this week and beyond. Atlanta is second in the NFL is rushing yards allowed and seventh in yards per carry against. Atlanta is at home and if they can put the Vikes in a hole early- it will not be a good fantasy day for Gerhart. Either way, he is an absolute must pick up this week. Start him at your own discretion.