3 NFL Storylines to Watch in Week 6
Jerick McKinnon Is a Thing
Those of us in the fantasy football community who get excited over college production and workout metrics have been waiting for Jerick McKinnon to take over the spotlight for quite some time. An unfortunate season-ending knee injury to rookie Dalvin Cook has created that opportunity. And while the former option quarterback from Georgia Southern has flashed crazy athleticism at various times since entering the league in 2014, now is the time for McKinnon is deliver in a very big way.
After rushing for 32 touchdowns in his final 24 collegiate contests, McKinnon set the NFL Scouting Combine on fire. On PlayerProfiler, McKinnon scored in the 90th percentile or above across the board: 40-yard dash time, height-adjusted speed score, burst (the sum of the vertical and broad jump), and agility (20-yard shuttle plus 3-cone drill), as well as a record-setting performance in the bench press for a running back.
Jerick McKinnon has finished as a top-24 back (PPR) in 7-of-10 games when he sees at least 55% of #Vikings snaps dating back to last year.
— Graham Barfield (@GrahamBarfield) October 10, 2017
Not only is McKinnon among the most physically gifted NFL athletes in recent memory, but he's been performing at a higher level on the field than most people realize.
Last week against the Chicago Bears, McKinnon outsnapped Latavius Murray by a rate of 67.14 percent to 31.43 percent -- and that should not be a surprise. It's important to note that Murray recently admitted that his surgically repaired ankle is still giving him trouble. Fast forward 22 touches later, and McKinnon rolls up 146 yards of offense including this electic 58-yard touchdown run.
The Vikings will play another divisional game this week when they host the Green Bay Packers. Once again, it's all systems go for McKinnon. Green Bay just allowed 116 rushing yards to Ezekiel Elliott, in addition to 100 scrimmage yards to both Joe Mixon and Devonta Freeman in recent games.
