Minnesota Vikings fans want to know if running back Adrian Peterson, 30, can return to form after missing all but one game last year. Similarly, fantasy football owners want to know how much stock to put into Peterson as a RB1 this season.
With Norv Turner running the offense, many expect Peterson to be more active in the passing game this season. This would allow him to avoid some wear and tear on his body and improve his fantasy value, especially in PPR formats. But just how much more involved in the passing game will he be? It's an issue that was brought up to ESPN Vikings reporter Ben Goessling in his weekly mailbag.
@GoesslingESPN at the end of the season, who will have more TD catches? Adrian Peterson or Kyle Rudolph? #VikingsMail
— Adam Patrick (@Str8_Cash_Homey) July 17, 2015
"For as much as the Vikings want Adrian Peterson to have a bigger role in the passing game, if he's got more touchdowns than Kyle Rudolph at the end of the season, something went wrong," Goessling wrote. "Rudolph needs to be on the field for a full season, and if he is, he should have a major role in the passing game. He should be especially effective as a red zone target, which is where he's made his money in the past. I got a few questions this week about Peterson's role in the passing game; I'd expect he'll wind up with 40-50 catches, and he'll be able to turn some of those into big plays. But Rudolph should be a safety blanket for Teddy Bridgewater if he's healthy, and his size should help the Vikings be more effective in the red zone this season."
Peterson's career high for catches came back in 2009 when he hauled in 43 passes for 436 yards. If Goessling's projection is accurate, AP should finish around that level again this season, making him a viable RB1 option.
But even if he does reach those same heights in the passing game, don't expect him to out-catch a healthy Rudolph. The 25-year-old tight end needs to put together a healthy season to justify the five year, $36.5 million contract he signed this year.
