You could make a solid case for a handful of players as the No. 1 overall pick in fantasy football this year. But, for the most part, it's going to come down to one of five players: Jamaal Charles, Eddie Lacy, Le'Veon Bell, Marshawn Lynch and Adrian Peterson. Each one has a unique attribute that would serve owners well at the top of the draft,
Charles is the best homerun threat of them all, averaging 5.5 yards-per-carry for his career. Lacy is a workhorse back who totaled 288 touches last season. Bell has arguably the best hands of any ball carrier in the entire league, finishing second to Matt Forte with 83 receptions. And Lynch is the model of consistency, rushing for at least 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns in each of the last four seasons.
But ESPN Senior Fantasy Analyst Matthew Berry still thinks Peterson is the best bet at the top of the draft.
"My number one is Adrian Peterson," Berry said on ESPN. "You can make an argument for any of the five running backs you just saw. They all have a few warts but they are all very good players. But for me, it's Adrian Peterson.
"Last year, Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinon combined to be the seventh best back in fantasy behind a makeshift offensive line. The Vikings didn't discover Charles Johnson until Week 12, Kyle Rudolph was out for the year, rookie quarterback, all those things. Now, they are solid. They added Mike Wallace. He's certainly motivated as well.
"Adrian Peterson has scored double-digit touchdowns every single year of his career other than last year, obviously. I expect that to happen again this year. He's a great fit for what Norv Turner wants to do with that offense."
Peterson tore his ACL in late 2011 only to return and threaten Eric Dickerson's all-time single-season rushing record the next season. This guy is used to defying expectations. But at 30-years-old and nearly a year away from football, is he too big of a risk at No. 1 overall?
