Aug 8, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Jerick McKinnon (31) carries the ball during the second quarter against the Oakland Raiders at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

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

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.