First of all, I guess we have to figure out how long Peterson is going to be out. It is a complex issue and difficult to figure out because the NFL is so freaking psycho when it comes to stuff like this.

Regarding the ray rice thing, he originally got a two game suspension and then, after the video came out, he got indefinitely suspended. There is photographic evidence of this. Peterson has never denied that he has done this. The league is concerned about public opinion. But at the same point there is the whole issue of punishment before guilt, which the nfl is pushing the boundary.

I wonder if the nfl and peterson might come to some agreement where he agrees to get some help and miss a certain number of games, even perhaps the rest of the year so that he can play all next year.

Or do you think Peterson would fight to play the rest of this year stretching this thing out till next year?

What does this mean for Asiata and Jerick Mckinnon? Well Asiata from what I have been able to find out is a decent back. He was an undrafted free agent who appears to be in very good shape this year. However, he was an undrafted free agent and has a pretty low ceiling talent level. This does not mean he can not be worth quite a bit fantasy wise, because simply getting the work is often over half the battle.

That being said, I would only take Asiata as a one week or maybe two week fill in. If you need a running back to fill in because perhaps you have tate and he got injured and you couldn't get West, well in that case you go ahead and take Asiata.

Long term, Asiata will likely be supplanted by their third round pick from this year Jerick Mckinnon. This guy is evidently a freak of an athlete. Nike has come up with a single number grade where they measure size,speed, strength, explosiveness, etc. It is called the SPARQ score. Elite nfl players measure in around 140. Freaks like megatron measure in at 150. Mckinnon is 147.5

What does it mean? The vikings will try to get this guy on the field as soon as possible. He used to play qb at an fcs school, but then he played everywhere there. He played different back positions, slot, qb, and heck, he even played cb. If AP is out for a bit of time, Mckinnon is your guy.

The question is who do you drop to pick these guys up.

As said, if you need someone for this week, the safe bet is Asiata. If you think Peterson is only out for this week, Asiata.

If you think Peterson is out for a while, and do not need a starter, the smart pick is Mckinnon.

But what do we mean here? Well, it depends upon the length of your bench and whom you have. Unless you are stocked at running back and are in a small league, I would seriously consider picking up Mckinnon. But whom do you drop for him?

I guess if you have low ceiling players that you can plug in, heck, I would drop them.

In our particular league, you only have two bench spots. Yes, it gets quite tricky with byes, because oftentimes you have to play without your some players. I think the short bench is almost too short, but if certainly makes the waiver more interesting, especially in a 14 team league.

So lets say you have a small bench, say two or three players. You can certainly drop many low ceiling players and even get them later if you need them. If Mckinnon blows up, you are made. I mean if you have Miles Austin, rb Stewart or Williams, etc you can drop these guys for the upside that Mckinnon may be.

But what if you already have high upside guys? Jeremy Hill and Carlos Hyde are both upside guys. Perhaps you used your bench to draft high upside guys. In this case, what do you do?

Terence West? Third round pick. May not play much after Tate comes back. But a decent back. Not the same level of some of Hyde perhaps, or even Hill, but in that same discussion. Plus, he will play now.

It gets very interesting when you start to figure out whom to drop when you are talking with other potential high upside people.

Some say that Mckinnon is more of a workout warrior that we sometimes see. Others say he is an athletic freak that is rarely seen. Even if he is an athletic freak, we see that these types sometimes do not make it in the nfl.

I am thinking you keep Hyde over him. Without a doubt. After that, it gets a little more hazy. West has more immediate upside, so if you need someone short term, he is your man. If you are looking down the pike, and think Peterson is out for a while, well, Jeremy Hill or Mckinnon seems a much tougher choice.

I sometimes think that Hill has a higher floor and a lower ceiling, but not really. If he takes over Gio's spot, or Gio gets hurt, Hill could be a beast. Just how likely is that to happen versus how likely is Peterson out and Mckinnon actually works out.

What does the football board think about this?

What players would you drop for Mckinnon or Asiata? What is the likely impact Peterson is out for a while?