Adrian Peterson Snubbed From Pro Football Focus Top 101 List
Sam Monson at Pro Football Focus must really not like Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. His off-the-field stuff is what it is, but his play between the lines speaks for itself.
The popular, highly-respected football website released its list last week for the top 101 NFL players from the 2015 season. Four Vikings made the list and they were all in the top half, but Peterson wasn't one of them. The list was based solely on 2015 play, and three other running backs were chosen ahead of him.
Peterson has his flaws, namely pass protection and fumbling, but he led the NFL in rushing with 1,485 yards and added 11 touchdowns. He helped carry the Vikings to an NFC North Division title, into the playoffs and was selected First Team All-Pro. But to not have him among the league's top 101 players? Really?
Before we look at the rushers chosen ahead of "All-Day," here is a look at the Vikings players that did make the list.
Anthony Barr (20)
Anthony Barr had a big year at linebacker and as an edge rusher in the right situations. He was chosen No. 20 on the top 101 list. Barr finished the season with 68 tackles, including 54 solo tackles, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble. He's at the center of a young linebacker group that Mike Zimmer will be in charge of for the long haul.
Harrison Smith (22)
Harrison Smith is one of the best young safeties in the NFL, and he'll get fairly compensated for that soon. He was chosen No. 22 on the list. He finished the season with 66 tackles, including 49 solo tackles and 1.5 sacks. He's one of the most feared secondary players in the league by opposing teams, mostly for his ability to punish receivers.
Joe Berger (40)
Joe Berger filled in admirably at center last year after John Sullivan went down due to injury. He was solid in the run-blocking game, making it even stranger that Peterson, the centerpiece of the rushing offense, didn't make this list. Berger was on the list at No. 40.
Linval Joseph (48)
Linval Joseph was one of the Vikings' best defensive linemen last year and made the list at No. 48. He would've been higher if he was health all year. He clogged up the middle of the line and finished the season with 56 tackles, including 42 solo tackles, a half sack and a forced fumble.
So which running backs were picked in the top 101 ahead of Peterson? Doug Martin, Jonathan Stewart and Lamar Miller.
Martin finished second in the NFL in rushing last year with 1,405 yards. He was on the list at No. 38. Stewart made the list at No. 83, and Miller made it at No. 85 after averaging 4.5 yards per carry, almost three yards after first contact and scoring eight touchdowns.
With all due respect to Pro Football Focus, to have a list of the top 101 players from last season and not have the league's leading rusher on it at all, it's flawed at best. That smells of somebody who doesn't like the player for other reasons. The good news: The person that cares the least about said list is most likely Peterson himself.