Toby Gerhart In The Minnesota Vikings Offense | 2010 Fantasy Projections

There aren’t words to express how disappointed I was on draft day that the Minnesota Vikings selected runner Toby Gerhart. Don’t get me wrong, it was a good move for the Vikings as they needed someone to replace Chester Taylor as a backup for Adrian Peterson. My problem with this move is that, unless Peterson sustains a last injury, Gerhart will never be a strong fantasy option in his career.

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Even worse, Gerhart will probably go down as a player that fantasy owners with Peterson curse his name because he takes away goal line touchdowns every once in awhile. This is not what I had hoped for Gerhart as teams like the Texans, Chargers, Seahawks and even Browns would have been better fits for fantasy production.

On draft day Mel Kiper Jr, criticized the Vikings for taking Gerhart because he wasn’t a running back that could catch the football out of the backfield. As much as I respect Kiper, he is dead wrong and should go back and watch Gerhart catch the football underneath in Stanford’s offense. Gerhart was effective when the Cardinals called upon him (over 14 yards a catch average last year) in the passing game.

2010 Fantasy Outlook for Gerhart & Peterson

I actually like Peterson less for fantasy with the addition of Gerhart as I’m concerned, he may steal touchdowns from the ultra talented back. This makes Peterson clearly the No. 3 runner in our fantasy rankings this up coming season as Chris Johnson and Maurice Jones-Drew are better options.

Gerhart should be used in the passing game this season but one area Peterson will continue to have success is catching the football as he totaled over 40 catches last year.

In the end, Peterson is still a stud fantasy option and Gerhart is nothing more than a hot waiver wire pickup if Peterson should go down for any length of time. Because of Peterson’s aggressive style, you should consider hand cuffing Gerhart late in the draft if you select Peterson as your first pick.

If Gerhart gets an opportunity on his own, he will be an instant fantasy stud in the Vikings high octane (assuming Brett Favre comes back) offense.

NFL fantasy football player rankings writer Sean E. Douglas: fantasy-info.com

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