Bleacher Report - Adrian Peterson

Chris Johnson vs. Adrian Peterson: Who's the Best Running Back in Football?

Ruchir Pandya — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:39:59 -0500

Last year, Adrian Peterson became everyone's unanimous pick as the best running back in the NFL. However, this year, the argument has become more muddled with the emergence of Chris Johnson.

In his rookie season, Johnson went for more than 1,000 yards rushing as the Smash in Tennesee's "Smash and Dash" running attack. But, he had not shown the ability to be an every-down back.

Suffice it to say that that question has been answered.

As the NFL's leading rusher, Johnson has already eclipsed 1,000 yards on the season. People already knew about his blazing 4.24 speed, but Johnson also leads the league in yards after contact.

Despite being a bit undersized at 5'11", 200 pounds, Johnson has shown great strength and tackle-breaking ability. This has helped him evolve into a workhorse for the Tennessee Titans averaging a blistering pace of more than six yards per carry. His production has outstripped all other NFL running backs, including the great Mr. Peterson.

This of course, brings us to the subject of the article. We know Chris Johnson has caught up; has he surpassed Adrian Peterson? With all due respect to Maurice Jones-Drew, this is a two-man argument right now.

While Johnson's production has been better this year, his team has relied on him more than Peterson's, which has the benefit of Brett Favre at quarterback. Production is tough to use as the sole metric, because Peterson's offensive line is superior to Johnson's. So let's break down each facet of each back's game.

Breakaway Speed

Both Johnson and Peterson are elite in this category. Defensive backs are simply not going to catch up to these two if they get past the second level.

Johnson is arguably the fastest player in the NFL. One can attribute his lofty draft pick at least in part to his blazing 4.24 40-yard dash time.

However, Peterson is not far behind, with 4.4 speed. Neither has a problem running away from NFL defenses.

However, a slight edge here goes to Johnson.

Size/Bulk/Strength

The gap here is bigger.

Adrian Peterson has prototypical running back size ad 6'0", 225 lbs. Johnson is smaller, built like Brian Westbrook at 5'11", 200 pounds. However, Johnson has shown the ability to break tackles and leads the league in yards after contact.

However, he seems to gain yards after contact more by taking a hit and refusing to go down rather than inflicting damage on the player attempting to tackle him, which is what Peterson does.

So, I give the edge here all day to Adrian Peterson, who is a nightmare to bring down in the open field.

Juking ability

This is probably the most remarkable aspect of each player's game. They can each cut on a dime, making players miss with ease. They can go around you or through you.

This one is a push.

Receiving ability

Johnson is a favorite target of Vince Young. He has good hands and is a dynamic player that has to be accounted for on third down.

However, the same can be said for Peterson, and his size makes him almost like an H-back coming out of the backfield. Defensive backs do not like seeing this guy in the open field.

Still, Johnson's explosiveness makes up for this.

One again, I call this a push.

Blocking ability

Both are actually pretty willing blockers, especially for younger players. Both players stay in the game on passing downs, and even get downfield to throw blocks for quarterbacks when the play breaks down.

However, due to his size, I'll give this one to Peterson.

Ball security

This one is not even close. If Peterson has a weakness, it's fumbling. It has been a nagging concern for him, and although he doesn't fumble frequently, it does happen more than he'd like.

In contrast, Johnson has lost just one fumble this year.

Overall

Chris Johnson is the most exciting player in football. He can score from anywhere in the field, he makes defenders look silly, and he can also carry the ball 30 times a game. He is intelligent about taking hits to his smaller frame, and is a tenacious runner. He has a bright future in this league.

But, this is Adrian Peterson we're talking about. He has everything you want in a running back. An unmatched combination of size, strength, speed, shiftiness, and hands. He is the prototypical running back. He will take care of the ball better.

So, as you could hopefully tell from the picture, I'll call Adrian Peterson No. 1, and Chris Johnson 1-A. It really is splitting hairs though, as you can't go wrong with either one.

Read more Adrian Peterson news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Football Week 12 Rankings: Top 35 Running Backs

Eric Stashin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:32:30 -0500

With so many running backs injured or having lost their starting job, the grouping after the Top 12 has some surprising names on it. LeSean McCoy? Jamaal Charles? Ryan Snelling? Let’s take a look at how everyone shakes out for Week 12:

Adrian Peterson - Minnesota Vikings - vs. Chicago
Chris Johnson - Tennessee Titans - vs. Arizona
Ricky Williams - Miami Dolphins - at Buffalo
DeAngelo Williams - Carolina Panthers - at New York Jets
Ray Rice - Baltimore Ravens - vs. Pittsburgh
Maurice Jones-Drew - Jacksonville Jaguars - at San Francisco
Frank Gore - San Francisco 49ers - vs. Jacksonville
Steven Jackson - St. Louis Rams - vs. Seattle
LaDanian Tomlinson - San Diego Chargers - vs. Kansas City
Thomas Jones - New York Jets - vs. Carolina
Marion Barber - Dallas Cowboys - vs. Oakland
Cedric Benson - Cincinnati Bengals - vs. Cleveland
LeSean McCoy - Philadelphia Eagles - vs. Washington
Steve Slaton - Houston Texans - vs. Indianapolis
Joseph Addai - Indianapolis Colts - at Houston
Matt Forte - Chicago Bears - at Minnesota
Jamaal Charles - Kansas City Chiefs - at San Diego
Knowshon Moreno - Denver Broncos - vs. New York Giants
Brandon Jacobs - New York Giants - at Denver
Ryan Grant - Green Bay Packers - at Detroit
Pierre Thomas - New Orleans Saints - vs. New England
Rashard Mendenhall - Pittsburgh Steelers - at Baltimore
Laurence Maroney - New England Patriots - at New Orleans
Jason Snelling - Atlanta Falcons - vs. Tampa Bay
Kevin Smith - Detroit Lions - vs. Green Bay
Marshawn Lynch - Buffalo Bills - vs. Miami
Justin Forsett - Seattle Seahawks - at St. Louis
Mike Bell - New Orleans Saints - vs. New England
Rock Cartwright - Washington Redskins - at Philadelphia
Jamal Lewis - Cleveland Browns - at Cincinnati
Tim Hightower - Arizona Cardinals - at Tennessee
Carnell Williams - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - at Atlanta
Correll Buckhalter - Denver Broncos - vs. New York Giants
Beanie Wells - Arizona Cardinals - at Tennessee
Jonathan Stewart - Carolina Panthers - at New York Jets

Does Adrian Peterson belong in the top spot? With the way Brett Favre is playing right now, I don’t know that it’s a guarantee the team just hands the ball to Peterson and let him do his thing. That’s exactly what makes them such a dangerous offense, but it does knock Peterson down a small notch. Still, he’s the best back in the game and it’s tough not to go with him at No. 1.

I know seeing Ricky Williams so high makes us think this list is outdated by a few years. Just look at his performance in Week 11 and the fact that he gets to take on the Bills, one of the worst ground defenses in the league. He easily could be in store for another big week.

No matter what defense he’s facing, Ray Rice needs to be ranked among the best RB in the league due to his ability in the passing game. He’s going to get his yards one way or another.

There was an outside chance Cedric Benson played in Week 11, so for now I’m going to include him on this list (unlike Michael Turner, who could be out several weeks). Monitor the news all week, however. Bernard Scott, who fell just outside the top 35, would move up significantly should Benson be out of action.

Has Jamaal Charles silenced his doubters yet?

After Rashard Mendenhall put up just 80 yards without scoring against the lowly Chiefs, he gets dropped a few notches, especially taking on the Ravens this week. He’s still usable, of course, so don’t do anything hasty and move him to your bench.

The early word on Brandon Jacobs and Marshawn Lynch is that they will both be fine to play in Week 12. Keep an eye on the news, just in case, but we did not drop them in the rankings.

Clinton Portis is still out and now Ladell Betts may be sidelined for the season. That gives Rock Cartwright a chance to be the main back and should be usable in FLEX formats.

What are your thoughts? Who was left off the list? Who should be higher? Who should be lower?

Other Week 12 Rankings:

Quarterbacks

This article is also featured on www.rotoprofessor.com/football

Read more Adrian Peterson news on BleacherReport.com

NFL MVP Favorites Part One: The Overrated

Dave Stanley — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:23:07 -0500

This time of year, the chatter of who will likely take home the NFL's Most Valuable Player trophy begins to heat up. By the end of the season, it has inevitably crescendoed into a raucous cacophony of "no, MY player's better!" and "your player's over-rated!" rants. The funny thing is, by the time the award's actually given out, it's ironically an afterthought of sorts. By that time, teams are deep in the playoff hunt. Home field advantage, sexy storylines and title games captivate more interest in the end. At this juncture, however, the debate is in full swing with many intriguing twists and turns so far. This is the first of a two-part list that breaks down all the usual suspects. The stars in today's slideshow are traditional favorites, yes. But good numbers alone don't merit an MVP. The number one criteria of the award—"where would your team be WITHOUT you?"—bears much significance. In addition, it should be noted that their inclusion in the "overrated" portion of the list does not mean that their play on the field is overrated; their case for the award is. Without further adieu, here are the five best players on the outside looking in. Let the debating commence.

Begin Slideshow

Is Adrian Peterson Overrated? Not a Chance

Michael Hamburg — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:08:51 -0500

Is Adrian Peterson overrated? Not a chance.

How people can even think that the two time Pro Bowler (2008 Pro Bowl MVP) is the slightest bit overrated. Any such notion is completely absurd.

After six teams passed on the fragile, injury prone product from Oklahoma, Peterson has purely dominated in his first two full years in the league. In his young career, he has already begun breaking records and also won the offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2007.

Can someone be over hyped or overrated when you lead the league in rushing during your sophomore season with 1,760 yards? That feat is especially impressive when you consider the Vikings quarterback situation, swapping between Tavaris Jackson and Gus Ferotte.

When defenses put eight in the box and have no respect for the passing game, does an overrated player break the single game rushing record? In Adrian’s eighth game during his rookie season, against a (4-3) San Diego Chargers team, he broke the single game rushing record (296 yards) by one yard with Brooks Bollinger as his quarterback. You read that right, Brooks Bollinger.

Yes, Adrian has had some fumbling problems, but everyone has their flaws. Soon enough he will overcome the fumblitis. Some say that he is not the complete back, because he lacks the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. That’s what practice and OTA’s are for.

Now that Brett Favre is in the picture, it is easy to say that Peterson is being undervalued. Not a single football show in America can not go a whole segment without saying No. 4's name, while Peterson has often been neglected.

Peterson is still leading the NFC in rushing and touchdowns,but now that the Vikings finally have a quarterback, Peterson is going unnoticed and being ridiculed for not having the most rushing yards in the NFL.

Now that the Vikings are NFC North front runners and perhaps even Super Bowl favorites, good old "All Day" is being overlooked because of some forty year old Viking that is constantly in the lights.

Fantasy owners are upset because he isn’t the “beast” he was supposed to be, but now with a competent quarterback, some of the pressure has been taken off of Peterson to carry the whole entire offense.

The bottom line is that Adrian Peterson is one of the hardest working players in the NFL, and with that comes high expectations. Not to take anything away from Chris Johnson, but the first two seasons of his career have mirrored those of Peterson's. Like Peterson, Johnson is the focal point of the Titan offense.

Hopefully Johnson can handle the criticism once his team turns around.

Read more Adrian Peterson news on BleacherReport.com

NFL MVP? Time To Pick O-Lineman

Dan Brickl — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:41:41 -0500

Since 1957, the Associated Press has chosen either a running back or quarterback as the NFL MVP every year with the exception of two defensive players (Alan Page and Lawrence Taylor) and, ironically, one kicker (Mark Moseley).

The emphasis on Quarterbacks and Running Backs has been so prevalent—not even one of the best football players of all time, Jerry Rice, was deemed worthy of NFL MVP. Although there have been subtle arguments for a defensive player like Darren Sharper to win the 2009 MVP award, most NFL writers consistently mention Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Brett Favre, in no particular order.

What constitutes an NFL MVP? Is it measured by a players worth to their team or a players worth to the league as a whole? Although the “player’s worth to their team” is the said reason 99.9 percent of the time, the votes instead often reflect a player's worth to the league as a whole—which is wrong.

I for one believe that an MVP should only be considered on teams that are legitimate Super Bowl contenders because winning in the NFL reflects the ultimate measure of success in business, war, and life. Perhaps the Associated Press should also come up with a “Best Player on a Sorry Team” award which would be more suitable for great players who are not necessarily successful. By success I mean winning.

In most cases, a team will not make it to the Super Bowl unless they have a dominating offensive line. Vince Lombardi knew this. Tom Landry, Don Shula, Bill Walsh, Joe Gibbs, Bill Cowher, and Bill Belichick also knew/know this. During the Denver Broncos glory days, Mike Shanahan was able to literally pull a running back off the street to be a 1,000 yard rusher simply because he had the best offensive line in football.

Mike Martz created the “Greatest Show on Turf” with Kurt Warner at the helm, an immobile Quarterback who had a slow release, because he had a great offensive line. Look what happened to both coaches (throw in Gibbs) when they lose their great offensive linemen.

This brings us to the 2009 NFL MVP arguments.

Although many argue that Brett Favre became disgruntled with the Green Bay Packers when General Manager Ted Thompson decided not to pursue Randy Moss in free agency, many players and friends of Favre hint that it was Thompson’s decision to let All-Pro offensive guard Marco Rivera and Pro-Bowl guard Mike Whale leave via free agency in 2004 that made Favre turn sour on the organization.

Thompson’s theory was that Favre’s amazing pocket presence compensated for mediocre linemen and the money could be spent elsewhere. Unfortunately for Thompson, he clearly underestimated Favre’s football intelligence.

Most NFL coaches don’t even come close to Favre in understanding NFL offensives as well as defenses, and Favre knew that his chances to win a Super Bowl quickly disappeared when he lost Rivera and Whale despite the 2007 season success.

Torn between his love for the Green Bay Packers and the writing on the wall with Thompson’s undervaluing of offensive linemen philosophy, Favre retired despite knowing he could still be one of the top NFL Quarterbacks in the league if he just had a decent offensive line.

Fortunately for Favre, in 2006 the Minnesota Vikings were so adamant about winning that they were willing to test the boundaries of NFL rules to acquire/steel the best offensive lineman in football, Steve Hutchinson. Known as the “Poison Pill Provision,” the Vikings were willing to do whatever it takes to win immediately knowing that their stadium lease would expire in 2011.

They chose an offensive lineman despite the availability of big time skilled position free agents. They risked scrutiny by the NFL to get an offensive lineman who would guarantee enough success to hopefully keep the Vikings in Minnesota beyond 2011.

This set a precedent that inspired Favre to start scheming, not to mention his admiration of an organization willing to do whatever it takes to win the Super Bowl. Although the NFL didn’t find the Vikings guilty of tampering with Favre during his retirement, we know that being the “all-mighty” of any sport often grants a superstar forgiveness because players like Favre are money shakers and sport leagues are essentially businesses.

All one has to do for proof is look at Michael Jordan and the NBA decision to not seriously investigate allegations of gambling and point shaving. The steroid fueled Mark McGwire-Sammy Sosa homerun chase came a few years after the 1994 baseball strike and MLB was desperate to have fans interested again.

Adrian Peterson was then drafted in 2007. Although I support arguments that Peterson is the best running back in football, how successful would he be running for the Green Bay Packers this year? It is Hutchinson that allows Peterson’s skills to shine. It was also Hutchinson, not Peterson, that was Favre’s main focus when he began discussing opportunities to play for the Vikings with Offensive Coach and friend Darrel Bevell and Coach Brad Childress in 2008.

Not to say Peterson and the Viking defense weren’t important to Favre, but defense and a running back are only as good as the ability of the offense to control the line of scrimmage. For the Vikings, that begins and ends with Hutchinson.

I disagree with NFL players like Jeremy Shockey and Shaun Rogers who recently argued that Lebron James couldn’t play in the NFL. He could if he ran behind Steve Hutchinson.

See, the Vikings would still be Super Bowl contenders if Peterson got hurt and was replaced by Chester Taylor and had Favre at Quarterback and Hutchinson at guard. The Vikings were successful minus Favre last year with Adriane Peterson running behind Hutchinson.

Take away Hutchinson last year and they don’t make it to 8-8. Take away Hutchinson this year, and the Vikings begin losing those close games and Brett Favre starts throwing interceptions because of pressure and because of the Vikings inability to keep defenses honest via the run – which starts with Hutchinson, not Peterson.

Which is why this year, the Associated Press Sports Writers should honor the value of all NFL offensive linemen who are mixing it up in the trenches every Sunday, by voting Hutchinson MVP. Barring any major injuries, the Vikings are serious Super Bowl contenders only because skill players like Favre, Peterson, and Rice have holes to run through and protection.

Hutchinson was able to lead the Seattle Seahawks to their first Super Bowl in 2006. Since his departure they have been mediocre at best despite playing in football’s weakest division. With Hutchinson, the Vikings have improved each season. Without Hutchinson, even with Favre, Allen, and Peterson, they would struggle to be 8-8 this year.

Steve Hutchinson should be the NFL MVP—Period!

Read more Adrian Peterson news on BleacherReport.com