Time for the backups to rack up the points
Uh-oh. Talk about putting a damper on the debut of your glossy stadium …
Even though he was off to a poor start to the season, the sight of Adrian Peterson being taken to the locker room, unable to put any weight on his right leg, had to make Vikings fans — and his fantasy owners — scared.
Though we don’t yet know the full extent of his knee injury, Peterson seems assured of missing some games. Which means Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata again return to fantasy relevance.
One need look only to Pittsburgh and Kansas City to see how valuable the right backup in the right situation can be. DeAngelo Williams is currently the top RB in Fantasyland. Spencer Ware ranks in the top five. Both are expected to shift back to supporting roles once Le’Veon Bell and Jamaal Charles return, respectively.
But until then, the backups are racking up the points.
Catch ’em while you can
Jerick McKinnon, RB, Vikings: Peterson’s owners were hurting enough watchis ing their first-round pick get stuffed by the Packers, and the Titans before them. Now they’ll be scrambling to add McKinnon, who has played well in the past when called upon. Cameron Artis-Payne, RB, Panthers: Famously fragile Jonathan Stewart pulled a hammy against the 49ers, leading to a career-best 100yard rushing performance from third-stringer Fozzy Whittaker in his absence. Though Whittaker could get the start in Week 3, ArtisPayne is Stewart’s primary backup and should be the best option to step into his cleats if the injury lingers. Jay Ajayi, RB, Dolphins: Speaking of fragile backs ... Arian Foster is hurt. Again. Ajayi is the next man up in Miami’s struggling offense, for what that’s worth. Charles Sims, RB, Buccaneers: Owned in two-thirds of all fantasy leagues mostly because of his prowess as a receiver, Sims could be the team’s starting tailback if Doug Martin’s hamstring keeps him sidelined. Corey Coleman, WR, Browns: The rookie had his coming-out party Sunday and available in about a third of all leagues. Though he’s facing the possibility of playing catch with fellow rookie Cody Kessler, Coleman is a playmaker.
Don’t be fooled
Christine Michael, RB, Seahawks: Thomas Rawls had a leg contusion Sunday, giving Michael another chance to stake his claim to the lead rushing role — but Michael has stumbled too often for me to justify recommending him. Danny Amendola, WR, Patriots: He benefited from the absence of Rob Gronkowski, but the entire team could be hampered with Jacoby Brissett under center for the next couple of weeks. Anquan Boldin, WR, Lions: He reeled in his first TD with Detroit, and had another score nullified by a penalty. But he’s still the third wide receiver in this offense, and he will do more harm to Golden Tate’s value than he’ll add to your fantasy team.