Minnesota Vikings RB Jerick McKinnon had Calvin Johnson-like SPARQ score

In the wake of the Adrian Peterson news, the Minnesota Vikings have a game to plan on Sunday afternoon and need to adjust properly.

More from Minnesota Vikings

• Kirk Cousins trying to emulate Patrick Mahomes after seeing co-star on Netflix doc
• NFL rumors: Dalvin Cook gives another status update on RB’s free agency
• Vikings: Jordan Addison issues apology after reckless driving charge
• 3 biggest mistakes from the NFL offseason
• Patrick Mahomes is picking a fight with the Kirk Cousins haters

Likely taking over Peterson’s role is running back Matt Asiata, though for how long? Asiata showed flashes during a small sample last season though the Minnesota Vikings didn’t waste a third-round pick on Jerick McKinnon for no reason. He’s certain to see the field in a change-of-pace role with Peterson out, but might he take the starting job from Matt Asiata?

At this current point, that doesn’t seem likely though if Jerick McKinnon can show his collegiate skills which earned him one of the highest SPARQ scores in nearly two decades, we might have a competition.

"He’s also a freak. An average NFL skill position player will ring in at around a 110 pSPARQ, a good athlete at 120, and very good at 130. Elite is about 140, and the 150+ range is reserved for Calvin Johnson, Vernon Davis, and a select few others. McKinnon’s 147.5 is one of the top scores among all running backs over the last 16 years."

So what is a SPARQ score, you ask? In short, it’s a metric developed by Nike to gauge a player’s athletic ability. Such a score doesn’t include intangibles like the ability to see a hole or break a tackle, but rather more physical gifts regarding said players’ athletic skills.

Given that, it’s no suggestion that Jerick McKinnon is the second coming for the Minnesota Vikings though anytime you’re put in conversation with Calvin Johnson and Vernon Davis, it’s a good thing.