Adrian Peterson, 32, hasn’t been the player this year that NFL fantasy owners hoped. Peterson’s best game (against Carolina) saw him gain 33 yards on nine carries with a couple of receptions that averaged 2-yards per. The Saints needed him about as much as fantasy owners did and shipped Peterson to the Arizona Cardinals, where he’ll replace Chris Johnson and compete with Andre Ellington for carries. Fantasy owners keep this in mind: the Cardinals probably didn’t grab Peterson not to play him, and he’ll likely have a chance at a rebirth under head coach Bruce Arians, a former offensive coordinator. But can he do it?
Peterson is a sure Hall of Famer, and Arians should know how to use what gas he has left in the tank — hardly any of which was spent in a Saints uniform this season. ESPN advises fantasy owners to take Jerick McKinnon over Peterson if it comes to that, but the fact that he’s in that conversation seems to raise Peterson’s fantasy value. The 25-year-old McKinnon, in his 4th season, looked terrific running and receiving last week, gaining 95 yards on 16 carries and 51 yards on five receptions against the Bears.
