Adrian Peterson is back – but will he be wearing purple this year?
Adrian Peterson was officially reinstated as an active NFL player on Thursday, April 16, 2015. This milestone closes the loop on a process that has taken almost a year to finalize. Peterson may now participate with the Minnesota Vikings in all scheduled activities. From solely a fantasy perspective, it is great news to have such a dynamic player back in the league.
Over the next few weeks the rumor mill will be in full force with rumblings of where Peterson will play during 2015. As of today, there appear to be four realistic scenarios for how this may play out:
Stays with the Vikings
The brass of the organization have all taken turns publicly admiring and embracing Peterson. The Vikings have stated that they will not be releasing Peterson and have a contract with him through 2017. This offense saw many ups and downs last season, but definitely lacked a strong, consistent run game that Peterson brings to the table. If Peterson stays in Minnesota he is a top 5 RB in fantasy.
Traded to the Cardinals
This scenario appears to be the most unrealistic because of the current salary cap hit Peterson brings with him. Peterson would add strength to a running game in Arizona that struggled to find an identity last year. He would allow Arians to use Andre Ellington in an open space role that is more suited to his style. Ellington would have the potential to take away a few of those long TD runs we are all too familiar with seeing Peterson pull off. If Peterson ends up in Arizona he is a top 10 RB in fantasy.
Traded to the Cowboys
This is the best scenario for fantasy production, uniting one of the best offensive lines with one of the best running backs in football. The relationship between Jerry Jones, Adrian Peterson, and the State of Texas just adds depth to the fairytale story line. He fits the mold of toughness and smash mouth football that the Cowboys played last season, and Peterson could take a legitimate shot at the single season rushing yards record again. The offense would be a Fantasy gold mine with Romo, Bryant, Witten, Williams, and Peterson! If traded to the Cowboys, Peterson is a top 3 RB in fantasy.
Traded to the Raiders
This week, it was reported that the Raiders are among the teams interested in Peterson. Adding Peterson seems like a roster nightmare because the team’s backfield already consists of Latavius Murray, Roy Helu, and Trent Richardson. However, if the Raiders are presented an opportunity to acquire an all pro, they can’t pass that up, right? The Raiders are the only team minus the Vikings that have an abundance of cap room to accommodate Peterson’s salary. Unfortunately, Peterson as a Raider is not as exciting as the other three scenarios. Assuming the backfield stays as crowded as it is, Peterson’s workload may decline a bit. If Peterson is traded to the Raiders he is a top 10 RB in fantasy.
Matthew Ishmael is a correspondent for FantasyPros. You can read more from him at his archive or follow him @Ziff05.
