Adrian Peterson to catch 50-60 passes?
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) runs the ball at Cincinnati Bengals strong safety George Iloka (43) in the second half of the game at Paul Brown Stadium. Cincinnati Bengals beat the Minnesota Vikings by the score of 42-14. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowksi-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Vikings superstar running back Adrian Peterson didn’t repeat the gaudy statistics he put up in 2012, but he still had a very successful 2013 campaign despite worse blocking up front and nagging foot and hamstring injuries down the stretch of the regular season. Still the best back in the league despite the play of LeSean McCoy and Marshawn Lynch, Peterson dashed for 1,266 yards last season for an average of 90.4 yards per game. He also had ten rushing touchdowns and 29 receptions, and it’s the latter stat that could double next season.
Peterson is the focal point of the Vikings offense, but his receiving numbers have never come close to his sky-high rushing totals. In fact, he has caught 40 passes just twice in his career, with his career-high for receptions being 43. However, it sounds like AP will be a much bigger part of the Vikings passing attack next season, as new offensive coordinator Norv Turner sounds ready to get the ball into AP’s hands out of the backfield on passing plays more often.
Turner told KFAN that he expects Peterson to catch between 50 and 60 passes next season, and that would easily be a new career record for the future HOFer. The Vikings OC said, “I would expect Adrian Peterson to catch 50/60 balls next year.”
I guess this also makes him an even more valuable fantasy football commodity, huh?