Adrian Peterson has officially been deactivated for the Vikings' week 2 matchup against the Patriots. Peterson has been
Adrian Peterson has been deactivated for week 2 after being indicted on charges of reckless or negligent child endangerment.Scott Boehm/Getty Images
indicted on charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child. The charges stem from injuries to Peterson's son allegedly caused by spanking the child with a switch. The doctor who examined the boy said that the injuries, which included bruises and lacerations, amounted to child abuse.
For More Help: Week 2 Running Back Rankings
This is obviously a serious story, but just from the standpoint of fantasy football it is also a big blow to owners of Peterson. This is a piece for a fantasy team that there will be no equal replacement for at a moment's notice, but there are options. For scrambling owners, the first place to look would obviously be the backup running back spot on the Vikings roster.
The two running backs who might be able to help a fantasy team are Matt Asiata and Jerrick McKinnon. Asiata has more experience, although not by a wide margin. Some fantasy owners may remember an unlikely game in December of last year where Asiata ran for only 51 yards on 30 carries, but he scored 3 touchdowns. This just goes to show that you never know what you might get out of an unspectacular backup. McKinnon's NFL experience amounts to 1 carry for 1 yard, not exactly a large body of work.
My first recommendation to Peterson owners is to scramble to the waiver wire and grab Asiata before league-mates hear the news. If this is not a possibility, here are a couple of other lottery ticket pickups to fill out your lineup. Keep in mind that these are alternatives likely to be available in most leagues, not players that I endorse heavily.
1. Darren McFadden OAK - Maurice Jones Drew is not likely to suit up this week, which makes McFadden likely to see a fair number of carries. I don't love the matchup with a revitalized Houston defense, but the number of carries should push Run DMC to flex or even RB2 territory.
1 A. Latavius Murray OAK - If you aren't a believer in McFadden, feel free to roll the dice with Murray. Who comes out with the better stats is anyone's guess.
2. Dexter McCluster TEN - This one is kind of the opposite of McFadden and Murray. I DO love the matchup in the case of McCluster going against the putrid Dallas defense. I don't know how many times he will touch the ball, but there is always a chance for a home run with this speedy hybrid player.
3. Lamar Miller MIA - If a manager in your league is one of the many who bailed on Miller after Knowshon Moreno's impressive week 1, pick him up. I don't know how much Miller will be used but at the very least he should be a factor in the passing game. Run Miller out there and hope for a touchdown.
Whatever managers decide, it probably won't be as good as Peterson would have been and there is no indication of how long his absence could last. More on this troubling bit of news as word comes out.
