It may have escaped your notice, but as part of their efforts to fluff out the offseason, the NFL has released their annual top 100 players list, which recently released a final top 10 installment. If you haven’t seen the list yet, I will not spoil the top position for you. Instead, I am focusing on a debate that has popped up surprisingly that seems to warrant attention. The debate is whether Adrian Peterson is better than LeSean McCoy.
I am not looking to bash any players in particular. In fact, in this era the passing game is king, and running by committee seems to be very popular among most teams. Both Peterson and McCoy, along with Jamaal Charles and Marshawn Lynch, defy these trends and are some of the most exciting players in the league today.
To question which running back is the best though, shouldn’t be a matter of discussion, as the so-called Purple Jesus is clearly the man. McCoy, may well be the defending rushing champion and is clearly a top level talent in the league, but that one season playing in Chip Kelly’s high tempo offensive unit does not put him above AP just yet.
Let us not forget that in his comeback season, just 2 seasons ago from ACL surgery, which was supposed to take a season of playing to get the sharpness back, not only made a mockery of that suggestion, but actually had the 2nd best rushing season in NFL history, just 9 yards short of Eric Dickerson’s record. That in alone is achievement enough, but to do that with the current Vikings is even more impressive.
From the moment Percy Harvin went down that season, before moving to Seattle, AP was the Vikings offense! With Christian Ponder as QB and Matt Cassell as well, opposing defensive coordinators quickly realised that the Vikings were not going to beat you through the air, therefore when the Vikings QBs handed the ball off to him, AP was regularly seeing eight to ten men in the box. Even allowing for this he still came that close to a single season rushing record.
The performance of Vikings QBs in 2014 was probably even worse in 2013, but AP went 70 plus yards on his first carry of the year. With Teddy Bridgwater now looking likely to be the Vikings QB this year, the threat of a passing game and the emergence of Cordelle Patterson, may just force opponents to play a bit more pass defence, and that would open up more room to run. The man himself has predicted that a 2.5k season is possible and it may well be this coming year.
McCoy is a fantastic player, likewise with Charles, and I expect McCoy to be a big part of the Eagles gameplan, but will the addition of Darren Sproles cut into his playing time? Nick Foles needs to prove he is a big threat passing without DeSean Jackson going deep and opening holes for McCoy. Riley Cooper will not be a surprise to teams this year.
McCoy may be a better backfield threat in the passing game, with almost certainly the better hands of the established running backs, which makes him ideal for Chip Kelly’s system. McCoy you can expect to have another great year, and may possibly with his passing game options be a viable option as a first round selection for the fantasy owners out there.
The debate is about running back though, and who is the best? He may not be on the best team, he may be less likely to appear in the post-season, but Adrian Peterson is as Tina Turner could explain, “Simply The Best.” I am not even sure it’s close!
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