Adrian Peterson: Why He's Still the Best Fantasy Football Performer in the NFL

It appears that the Minnesota Vikings finally remembered that they have running back Adrian Peterson on their roster, involving him early in their matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. And the fifth year pro responded in a big way, gaining 86 yards on 13 carries and scoring three touchdowns, as the Vikings staked themselves to a 28-3 halftime lead.

Peterson's been off to a slow start (by his standards) this season, topping 100 rushing yards only once in four games, but even with that sluggish start to the season Peterson still ranked ninth among fantasy running backs entering today, so although his fantasy football owners likely haven't been giddy about his production things could have been much worse, and there's plenty of room for optimism that things will improve.

A large part of that room for optimism lies with the Vikings passing game, or more appropriately the lack thereof. To say that the Minnesota aerial attack has been anemic would be a backhanded compliment, as the Vikings entered today ranked 31st in the NFL in passing and quarterback Donovan McNabb has looked like McCrap, so if the purple and gold are going to move the ball with any consistency they'll likely have to do so on Adrian Peterson's back.

Peterson's done fairly well so far this season when given the opportunity, averaging 4.6 yards a carry playing behind an offensive line that's been somewhat shaky. That's made it all the more puzzling that Minnesota hasn't fed Peterson the ball more, especially given that the Vikings, although 0-4, haven't really been getting blown out of games or forced to air the ball out.

Adrian Peterson's far from alone so far as elite fantasy running backs getting off to a slow start this season goes (although most of the others are due to injuries), and with any luck head coach Leslie Frazier has finally seen the light and realized that Minnesota's best chance to win lies in riding Peterson "all day".

If that does prove to be the case Peterson's fantasy owners will likely be all smiles over the next several weeks, because if the immensely talented running back is given the opportunity to showcase those talents there's a very good possibility that Adrian Peterson will finish the 2011 campaign as fantasy football's top dog at his position.