Fantasy Football Report – Could AP Wind Up In Big D?

After serving what has already been a season long suspension for violating the leagues domestic violence policy, Adrian Peterson is still waiting to be reinstated by the NFL. With Peterson’s status uncertain, possibly facing further punishment by the league, and a very public spat between Peterson’s agent and the Minnesota Vikings front office, there has been a lot of speculation about whether Adrian Peterson will be returning to the Vikings for the 2015 season.

That speculation has invited many NFL pundits to consider possible landing spots for Peterson, should the Vikings choose to honor his yet to be publicized demand for a trade. But of the potential suitors being mentioned, the team that can best showcase Peterson’s talents, and maximize his fantasy football value, is the Dallas Cowboys. And behind the NFL’s best offensive line in Dallas, Peterson could not only duplicate, but obliterate, the league leading rushing numbers DeMarco Murray put up for the Cowboys last season. He is on a very short list of running backs capable of making disgruntled Cowboys fans say, “DeMarco who?”

I know. Much smarter people than myself will tell you that there is no chance of Peterson being traded to the Cowboys. They will tell you the Vikings have all the leverage and want Peterson to stay in Minnesota. They will cite cap implications. They will place emphasis on his age and huge contract. They will applaud the ‘new Cowboy way’ of fiscal responsibility. Some will even try to tell you that Darren McFadden, signed as a free agent in March to replace Murray, isn’t a fragile player or well past a prime he never had. A few may even actually believe he is a suitable replacement for Murray. And they may be right about Peterson not being moved. They probably are right. But I don’t accept it. And if you love fantasy football, neither should you.

The Cowboys had a potential Super Bowl contending team last season for the first time since the days of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin. Then they let the league rushing leader walk in free agency to a division rival for below market value. That’s not the traditional model for sustained success. And Murray was a big part of the Cowboys success last season. Maybe the biggest. And thus far, his potential replacements are a washed up McFadden, that couldn’t even beg a veteran minimum contract to stay with the Oakland Raiders (THE RAIDERS!!), an undersized shoplifter, and a guy. The speculation is that Dallas will be aggressive players for one of the top RBs in the draft. Fine. Some interesting talent there. But, if you are a Cowboys fan, are you comfortable replacing the rushing title holder with an unproven rookie? I wouldn’t think so. And neither should The Jerruh. In JerryWorld, you need a star to replace a star.

Adrian Peterson is a shining star. A physical freak of nature capable of performing nearly superhuman feats. He is arguably the best running back in the game. And, more importantly to fans of fake football, he has been fantasy gold since entering the league. While one could argue that Peterson’s tremendous talents have been wasted on mediocre Vikings teams, he has been the reason for many fantasy teams championship runs. Impressively, Peterson has done most of his damage consistently facing a stacked box and defenses schemed to focus on him. That is a testament to his talent, while also an indictment on the Vikings, who haven’t had a good quarterback since a guy named Fran. Don’t give me post-GB Brett Favre or I’ll have to go on a diatribe about why he is one of the most overrated players of all time. But I digress.

Behind that lauded Dallas o-line, Peterson would be cyborg-like in his unstoppable rampages to the end zone. He immediately improves the impact that Tony Romo and Dez Bryant can have in the passing game by drawing defenders towards the line of scrimmage and eliminating the double teams Bryant would otherwise face. Those who follow Bryant closely know that is one aspect of his game that he has struggled in at times. Dez had his best season last year with a very productive DeMarco Murray in the backfield to keep defensive backs honest. McFadden and Company will not warrant that same respect or attention because none of them are what Murray was last season, and Peterson is every season … a game changer. Adrian Peterson is the increasingly rare, every down bell-cow, in an age of running backs by committee. A role the always broken McFadden, Joseph Petty Criminal Randle or Lance Practice Squad Superstar Dunbar have never proven capable of. With Peterson and Bryant, the Cowboys could have the inconceivable combination of a 2,000 yard back and 2,000 yard receiver. Both the real and fantasy implications of that possibility are staggering.

In short, Adrian Peterson is the only logical replacement for DeMarco Murray. Jerry Jones knows it. Cowboys fans everywhere know it. And I know it, because Peterson is the ‘keeper’ on my fantasy team. A keeper I acquired two seasons ago via trade by giving up a team gutting package that included DeMarco Murray. It was a leap of faith. A blind belief in a divine outcome. But so far it’s only resulted in trials and tribulations. For both me and Peterson. But my faith is strong in the Purple Jesus. Even stronger if he’s preaching in Dallas blue and silver this up-coming season.