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RB Adrian Peterson, Chicago Bears

HT: 5-10, WT: 206, Born: 7-1-1979, College: Georgia Southern, Drafted: Round 6

2008 Projections

Average draft position

Current as of June 28th. [Full ADP list]

Overall: A Bradshaw (143), Adrian Peterson (144), J Hardy (145),
Position: K Watson (139-RB47), A Bradshaw (143-RB48), Adrian Peterson (144 - RB49), S Alexander (147-RB50), R Torain (152-RB51)
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Best Case

The Bears running attack is ineffective to start the season and the club turns to Adrian Peterson to give the team a lift. The offensive line exceeds expectations and he ends up with 12-15 carries per game and has some production in that role.

Worst Case

Peterson's chance to seize the bull by the horns last year and become the starting running back failed miserably and the club decides to look elsewhere for running back help going forward. He will be 29 years of age this season and it could be his chance at NFL success has passed him by.

Outlook

Peterson likely had his final real shot at becoming a starting RB at the NFL level last season. He simply wasn't good enough as his 3.4 YPC would indicate, and it is doubtful he'll get another opportunity to be the man in 2008. However, with the release of Cedric Benson, Peterson will have a role in spelling rookie Matt Forte.

Relevant Articles

2008 Schedule

2007 Game Summaries

Week 1 - Peterson had an opportunity to show off for the coaching staff and perhaps earn more playing time in this game, but it appears that he literally fumbled that chance away. With Cedric Benson struggling to get anything going in the run game, Chicago turned to Peterson more as the game went on. His seven rushes for 38 yards (5.4 YPC) is certainly a large upgrade over Benson's 2.2 YPC. But Peterson's fumble early in the fourth quarter with the Chargers up 7-3 put San Diego in position to drive in for the clinching score. With the Bears trying to salvage the game later, Peterson was stood up on third down and two to go. He was very tentative on the play, and his baby steps approach obviously didn't get the job done.

Week 2 - Peterson saw action in relief of Benson, and was the target of screen passes that were designed to keep the Chief defense off balance. He only saw two rushing attempts so the team pretty clearly felt Benson was the way they wanted to run the ball.

Week 3 - In the game on third downs as well as the primary back on the Bears' final drive, Peterson had 24 total yards in the game.

Week 4 - Peterson only came into the game to spell Benson.

Week 5 - Peterson played well in spot duty to both spell Cedric Benson and serve as the third down running back. He had a 30 yard on a swing pass in the second quarter, and his 32 receiving yards was good enough for third on the team.

Week 6 - Peterson saw exclusive action on screen passes out of the backfield, and was a key contributor in the Bears game plan versus the aggressive Vikings defense.

Week 7 - Peterson spelled Benson in the running game, carrying the ball four times for 21 yards and catching three passes for 33 yards on five targets.

Week 8 - Peterson had only one carry for eight yards in the first half. He would only have one more carry in the second half for three yards, but he did have six catches for 41 yards as the Bears faced a lot of third and long situations in the second half.

Week 10 - Peterson stepped in for Benson, mostly on third downs, rushing the ball twice for six yards on the ground and adding three receptions for 14 yards on five targets in the passing game.

Week 11 - Peterson was used as a change of pace back and aside from vulturing a TD, did not produce much at all. All of his carries were in the first half.

Week 12 - Peterson showed determination in carrying the pile four yards for a score in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to seven and combined for 86 yards in replacing Cedric Benson following a potentially serious injury. Given increased reps in practice and strong receiving skills out of the backfield, Peterson filled in as a seamless replacement in the Bears backfield, though most of his targets came in the first half of this game before Benson had departed.

Week 13 - Now the starter in Chicago with the season ending injury to Cedric Benson, Adrian Peterson carried the ball 22 times for 67 yards, while catching seven of his eight targets for another 82 yards through the air. Peterson provided Rex Grossman with a great dump off option out of the backfield, and Rex didn't hesitate to use it frequently. Though Peterson's longest rushing play of the game only went for nine yards, he had big 29 yard reception down the left sideline, and another 25 yard gain on a screen pass with time running out in the second quarter.

Week 14 - The Bears tried to the run the ball in the first half as they gave the ball to Peterson 13 times, but he did not have a lot of success against a solid Redskins defense as he only had 30 yards. Peterson only had one catch for nine yards, and had a 25 yard catch called back on penalty in the second quarter. Peterson only got two carries for two yards in the third quarter as Chicago started throwing the ball much more in the second half. He would get a carry with the ball on the Washington one yard but, the Redskins defensive line got a good push and tackled Peterson for a three yard loss. The Bears used backup RB Garrett Wolfe a lot more in the fourth quarter in passing situations.

Week 15 - The Bears came out throwing and never tried to establish their rushing attack, so Peterson did not receive many opportunities to run the ball. When he did run, he could not find much daylight against the Minnesota front seven (not surprising since few RBs have had success against them this year). Peterson was very active in the passing game at least, and as long as Orton is playing QB, he should have decent value in PPR leagues.

Week 16 - Peterson was the workhorse of the Chicago offense. The Packers knew the Bears were going to run, but still had trouble consistently stopping him. While his longest run of the day was for 21 yards, most of his carriers were picking up 2, 3 and 4 yards at a time. Due to the weather conditions, a large part of the field was four down territory, giving Peterson extra opportunities.

Week 17 - Peterson received only one target, as he remained in the backfield as an extra blocker to protect Kyle Orton on many downfield passing plays. Rookie running back Garrett Wolfe was brought in on many third and other passing downs, limited Peterson's action out of the backfield. On the ground game, Peterson averaged over four yards per carry, but saw his biggest play of the game come from nine yards out, when he pulled up from his run to find a wide open Bernard Berrian in the back of the end zone.