After leading NFC in rushing, Peterson voted top rookie

By Chris Cluff  |   Wednesday, January 02, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

Fantasy Football
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article!

Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson, who set the league record for rushing yards in a game this season, was voted AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. Peterson twice ran for 200+ yards in a game, including an NFL-record 296 yards in a 35-17 victory over San Diego in Week 9. Despite playing just 14 games, Peterson led the NFC with 1,341 rushing yards, which ranked second in the NFL behind San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson. Peterson also scored 13 touchdowns. He received 46.5 votes from the 50 media members who vote on the award; Cleveland tackle Joe Thomas received the remaining 3.5 votes.

Commentary: Peterson surpassed expectations in his first year, contributing more to the Vikings' offense than many expected considering the team also had Chester Taylor. Despite not starting until Week 6, Peterson had three 100-yard rushing games in the first four weeks. Then he busted off a 224-yard effort against Chicago in the sixth week and added the record game in Week 9. But he had only one more 100-yard game, in Week 13, and finished the season on a low note -- just 144 yards and a 2.7 yard-per-carry average in the final four games. Peterson is a game-breaking runner, but health probably will always be an issue for him and there are still questions about whether he can carry the load full time (he averaged just 17 carries per game this season).

Fantasy Football Impact: Peterson showed from Day 1 that he is a fantasy force to be reckoned with. But can he keep it up when everyone is targeting him? The last four weeks of this season make that a valid question. He also will be a big gamble every year because he can't stay healthy, but he's worth the risk considering the big games he can put up when he is healthy.

For more on the Vikings and the NFL, come back to RealFootball365.com.
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article! (0)

About Chris Cluff

Chris Cluff spent 10 years as an editor and sportswriter for The Seattle Times. He was a key figure in the newspaper's coverage of the Seahawks, particularly during their Super Bowl run in 2005. He also has written two books on the Seahawks: "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Heart-Pounding, ...
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report