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Washington signing Peterson

Veteran joins injury-plagued backfield

I am not a big fan of Adrian Peterson (who is joining Washington). He’s 33 years old, and that’s awfully long in the tooth for a running back. Everyone hits the end of the road.

But at the same time, Washington doesn’t have much else at the position. Rob Kelley is a try-hard guy, but he’s awfully limited. I don’t think he has enough speed or ability to be more than a depth guy. Samaje Perine maybe. He’s bigger and runs with a little more pop. But ball security has been a problem and he hasn’t done it yet. (And Perine might be out until September with a sprained ankle.)

Derrius Guice was supposed to be Washington’s tailback – a younger version of Peterson – but he’s out for the year with a torn ACL.

So I understand the decision to bring in Peterson. He’s old and unlikely to stay healthy and productive for a full 16 games. But he’s long been a special kind of dude – cut from a different cloth than the vast majority of NFL players.

As a 32-year-old last year, Peterson had games with 159 and 134 yards for Arizona last year. Those are big totals. There were only 19 other games last year that featured a running back going for more than 134 yards.

So for at least some games this year, Peterson might be a good back to combo with pass-catcher Chris Thompson.

As luck would have it, Washington plays Arizona in Week 1. He could be up for that one. He also might have special interest in the Week 5 game against the Saints.

GAMES WITH 130-PLUS RUSHING YARDS (2017)
PlayerOpp.ScoreAttYardsAvgTD
Leonard Fournette, Jac.at Pitt.W 30-9281816.52
LeVeon Bell, Pitt.at K.C.W 19-13321795.61
Kareem Hunt, K.C.at LACW 24-101717210.11
Jordan Howard, Chi.at Balt.W 27-24361674.60
Bilal Powell, NYJJac.W 23-20211637.81
Adrian Peterson, Ariz.at S.F.W 20-10371594.30
C.J. Anderson, Den.at Ind.W 25-13301585.30
LeSean McCoy, Buff.Ind.W 13-7321564.91
Kareem Hunt, K.C.LACW 30-13241556.51
Orleans Darkwa, NYGWash.W 18-10201547.71
Todd Gurley, LARat Sea.W 42-7211527.23
LeSean McCoy, Buff.Oak.W 34-14271515.61
Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.at Wash.W 33-19331504.52
Kareem Hunt, K.C.at N.E.W 42-27171488.71
Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.at S.F.W 40-10261475.72
Jordan Howard, Chi.at Cin.W 33-7231476.42
Bilal Powell, NYJLACL 7-14191457.61
LeVeon Bell, Pitt.at Balt.W 26-9351444.12
Jordan Howard, Chi.Pitt.W 23-17231406.12
LeGarrette Blount, Phil.at LACW 26-24161368.50
Adrian Peterson, Ariz.T.B.W 38-33261345.22
LeVeon Bell, Pitt.Cin.W 29-14351343.80
Mark Ingram, N.O.Wash.W 34-311113412.21
Melvin Gordon, LACat N.E.L 13-21141329.41
Aaron Jones, G.B.N.O.L 17-26171317.71
Derrick Henry, Ten.Ind.W 36-22191316.91
Mark Ingram, N.O.at Buff.W 47-10211316.23
Frank Gore, Ind.at Buff.L 7-13361303.60
Jay Ajayi, Mia.at Atl.W 20-17261305.00
Leonard Fournette, Jac.LARL 17-27211306.21

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index