Oddsmakers seem to favor Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson as the number one candidate to win the NFL rushing title during the upcoming regular season.
It is true that Peterson already turned 31, is entering his entering his ninth full season as a starter, and has over 2500 carries for his career, but you can’t argue against the awesome set of skills that Peterson brings to the table when he steps on a football field.
His raw strength makes him a powerful football player that likes to run over opposing defenders to create spaces. His also agile enough to elude would-be tacklers running around them, using an outside route and quickly reaching the open field. Once he does find those gaps Peterson uses his amazing speed to take off and leave most opponents behind.
The only problem with Peterson is that he misses some plays because he’s not that great at blocking or receiving, therefore in those schemes he’s often replaced by backs such as Matt Asiata or Jerick McKinnon.
Is that reason enough to think he can’t win the rushing yards crown? No. First the Vikings offense lacks a solid wide receiver to open up the game; and second, Teddy Bridgewater has ways to go before the Vikings trust him enough to abandon their run-first offense. The third year quarterback could start doing that this season, however the Vikings keep using the long pass and drop back schemes instead of planning short routes where he can improvise when the pocket crumbles and giving him freedom to run.
Until the Vikings change their offensive ways and a wide receiver steps up to help Bridgewater the Vikings will continue to trust Peterson first to win football games. Thus, if Peterson stays healthy he should finish as the regular season rushing leader, something he has already proved he can do in three previous seasons (2008, 2012 and last year.)
NFL Player to Record Most Rushing Yards -Regular Season-
Adrian Peterson +200
Todd Gurley +400
Doug Martin +700
Lamar Miller +700
Eddie Lacy +950
Doug Johnson +950
