Those who bothered to tune in to Sunday’s Pro Bowl were treated to yet another chapter in the expanding legacy of Adrian Peterson. The rookie rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries, earning MVP honors as he helped the NFC topple the AFC 42-30.
And those who didn’t see the game will surely see the highlights on SportsCenter or read about All Day’s exploits in the sports page. And since there won’t be another game played before drauction day, this is the picture that will stick in the minds of fantasy footballers as they head into their draft or auction.
Before I flash the caution lights, let me stress again that I am in no way an Adrian Peterson hater. On draft day I had my eight-year-old son chanting in front of the television with me, “Peterson! Peterson!” as we implored the Purple to make the right pick. For Christmas my son and I exchanged Adrian Peterson jerseys, and last Friday as his school capped Spirit Week with “Jersey Day,” not only did I proudly send him off to second grade adorned in Vikings #28, when I showed up at school to volunteer for the Book Fair I too sported my Peterson jersey.
But one key to fantasy success is to divorce one’s self from their emotional attachment to players and remain objective. And that is why I simply can’t bring myself to champion Peterson for the first overall pick.
In fact, on my personal draft board, I have him fifth.
Because as dazzling as he was in Hawaii, as outrageous as he was against the Chargers when he set the NFL rushing record, right now there are too many question marks to make him No. 1.
For starters, the AFC defense wasn’t exactly motivated to bring their A-game, and they didn’t spend the entire week scheming to shut down Peterson.
Second, there was just a wee bit more talent at quarterback for the NFC squad than what the Vikings will bring to the table next fall. And that may qualify as the greatest understatement of the year.
Finally, despite the collection of talent in the NFC backfield Peterson didn’t surrender much in the way of carries. After AD’s 16, Marion Barber III had the next most with six. Unless Brad Childress changes his spots, expect Chester Taylor to top that total in almost every game next year.
NFC coach Mike McCarthy said he would have run Peterson 50 times if he could have. Of course he would have; and if Peterson would have blown a knee or snapped an ankle it would remove another obstacle from the Packers’ path to another NFC crown. I’m a little surprised Brad Childress wasn’t on hand to send Taylor into the game after each Peterson carry of more than 20 or so yards.
Is Peterson capable of snapping ankles and dropping jaws every time he touches the ball? Abso-freakin’-lutely. Do I love the fact that he’s on my team on Sundays, and by my team I mean the Vikings? You betcha. And if he also winds up on my fantasy team, you’ll hear no complaints when he dissects a defense for 200 yards and three scores.
But unless the Vikings upgrade significantly at quarterback and Childress decides to stop splitting the carries and Minnesota finds a way to keep defenses from putting eight and nine and ten defenders in the box, there are going to be too many days like his 11-36-0 effort against the Broncos in Week 17. Or his 9-27-0 outing against the Redskins in Week 16. Or his 14-3-0 stat line from Week 14 in San Francisco. Or… see where I’m going with this?
Hey, I as much—probably more—than anyone hope the Vikes correct their deficiencies and Peterson reaches the 2,000-yard goal he’s set for himself.
But unless he falls into my lap on drauction day, I do believe he’ll be doing his fantasy damage—both positive and negative—on another fantasy squad.
