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Fantasy Football fans, be careful taking Adrian Peterson early

Today the Vikings GM Rick Spielman made a pretty interesting comment in regards to the future of Adrian Peterson.  Spielman told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that while Adrian Peterson is the face of the franchise, the team will utilize two backs to keep him fresh. 

“He’s getting to the point where you don’t have to give him the ball 50 times a game for 16 games,” G.M. Rick Spielman recently said, via Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.  “Adrian’s the face of our franchise, but [offensive coordinator] Norv [Turner] has a history of having two backs to keep him fresh, because I think it’s very important as you go through the season that they’re still strong in Week 16 and they’re still strong when you get into the playoffs.”

Over the past several years, Adrian Peterson is a work horse, especially if you are in a Fantasy league that gives you major points for a running back.  If Peterson is going to split carries or the Vikes are planning to take some touches away from Peterson, it makes you wonder who will get the ball.  I know Norv Turner does a good job with players, but could this team really be that dumb to go away from the greatest running back in this era?

With the price tag of the running back declining, the Vikings could be trying to force Peterson out the door. Vikings cannot afford to pay eight figures to a guy who plays a position with a value that has been plummeting.  Peterson will received a base salary of $11.75 million in 2014.  Next year, it moves to $12.75 million.  Then, it climbs to $14.75 million.  By 2017, Peterson will make $15.75 million.

As the price tag goes up each year, the Vikings seem to be planning a reduction in Peterson’s workload, which could mean his future is not as bright as we all hope for….

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