The Vikings could look to shake up the distribution between three running backs during the final three games of the season.
With rookie Jerick McKinnon placed on injured reserve due to a low back injury, the Vikings have just a running back trio of Matt Asiata, Joe Banyard and Ben Tate. Out of 23 carries between the three running backs in the 30-24 overtime victory over the Jets, Asiata had 19. He finished with 54 yards.
"I think Matt probably had a few too many carries," Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said. "We'd like to get Ben a few more carries this week as well, and so we'll see. Sometimes you just get in the flow of games and things happen. Unless you pre-script it and say, 'This series, this series.' Sometimes that's just the way it goes, but Matt probably got a few too many and those other guys probably got a few too less."
Tate finished with three carries for 15 yards while Banyard gained nine yards on his only carry. Zimmer said Banyard hasn't done anything wrong to receive just one carry and also felt he should get more looks down the road.
Asiata serves as the most experienced running back in this offense and can hold his own as a pass protector, giving him the edge over Tate, who was acquired three weeks ago, and Banyard, who received his first carry three weeks ago.
But Asiata is least explosive runner of the three, and it showed against the Jets averaging 2.8 yards per carry. As the Vikings bring Tate along in offensive coordinator Norv Turner's system, he'll likely cut into Asiata's carries more so than Banyard. It doesn't appear Asiata will creep near 20 carries for the final three games, however.
