LaDainian Tomlinson vs. Adrian Peterson

August 29, 2008 @ 07:19:00

By Thomas Griffenkranz
Edited by Cory J. Bonini

You have the first pick in your 2008 fantasy football draft; this pick will make or break your season. The right pick could mean you are heading to the playoffs, and the wrong pick can lead to you being the subject of ridicule from the rest of your league. The past few seasons the choice was an easy one, San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson. After his rookie season, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has cast some doubt as to whether Tomlinson should be the clear No. 1 overall selection.

LT vs. AD

When looking at his body of work there is no question Tomlinson has been a dominating force in fantasy football almost since he entered the league in 2001. During his first seven seasons he has averaged 1,521 rushing yards, 16.4 rushing touchdowns and 65.4 receptions per season. Tomlinson has never rushed for less than 1,200 yards, scored fewer than 10 rushing touchdowns or caught fewer than 50 passes in any one season during his seven-year career.

In 2007, Tomlinson had what some said was a down year. During his "down" year he led the NFL in rushing with 1,474 yards. Adding to these impressive numbers, Tomlinson has missed only one game during his career, which was a coach's decision heading into the playoffs.

LT suffered a second-degree medial collateral sprain and disrupted hamstring fibers in the playoffs, but he has looked sharp in offseason practices, per reports. Tomlinson has an awesome amount of talent around him, ranging from a strong line to arguably the best tight end in the game in Antonio Gates. With a quality receiving corps and a respectable quarterback in Philip Rivers (knee), who shouldn't be limited much after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament late last season, Tomlinson has a supporting cast that will keep defenses honest.

In 2007, Peterson made fantasy owners salivate and caused many to reconsider Tomlinson as the top-ranked player on their draft board. Peterson has absurd talent. He is a big back with breakaway speed, agility and the change-of-direction ability to leave the field littered with jock straps as he heads toward the end zone.

During his rookie campaign, Peterson ran for 1,341 yards on only 238 carries, a 5.6 yards-per-carry average, and added 12 rushing touchdowns. AD, as he's known, chipped in 19 receptions for 268 yards and one touchdown through the air. He was downright dominating at times. In a Week 6 win over the Chicago Bears, Peterson ran the ball 20 times, piling up 224 yards (11.2 yards per carry) and scoring three touchdowns. He topped that performance with an NFL single-game record 296-yard day in Week 9 against the Chargers, reaching the end zone three times in that victory as well.

The 2007 season was not without questions for Peterson. He missed two games due to a sprained knee. After returning from the injury he was not himself. In the five games (Weeks 13-17), Peterson ran for only 260 yards, a 52.0 yards-per-game average. He had injury concerns coming into the NFL, and he did nothing to change the perception of a player that always seems to be hurt.

Fantasy owners of Peterson probably remember all too well that he essentially laid an egg against the lowly San Francisco 49ers in Week 14 (generally the first week of fantasy playoffs). Peterson carried the ball 14 times for a whopping three yards. He did not score, nor did he even catch a pass.

Peterson doesn't have much to take the pressure off him with a suspect receiving corps and a generally inept quarterback in Tarvaris Jackson, but he has arguably the best offensive line in the league. Peterson also has a quality backup in tailback Chester Taylor to help shoulder some of the load to keep Peterson fresh.

Where LT and AD really differ the most is as receivers. Peterson hauled in 19 passes, reaching the end zone only once. Peterson, while capable, is simply no LT when it comes to catching passes. Then again, who is? Tomlinson, on the other hand, caught 60 balls and scored three times. This obviously makes Tomlinson far superior in a point-per-reception format.

Getting back to Taylor in the backfield with Peterson, Taylor garnered 157 rushing attempts in 2007. Taylor had very respectable numbers last season, running for 844 yards, seven scores and 29 receptions. With Taylor being a solid back in his own right, the Vikings will not have to run Peterson into the ground to have success. Optimistically, Taylor earning around 10-12 total touches per game in 2008, especially as the season wears along, to help keep Peterson fresh.

The San Diego backfield is less crowded. With running back Michael Turner now the starter with the Atlanta Falcons, tailback Darren Sproles will battle rookies Jacob Hester and Marcus B. Thomas to be Tomlinson's primary backup. Sproles is not a threat to take away a lot of carries. Hester could emerge as the No. 2 back but is not expected to have a large role in the San Diego offense right away. Thomas figures to be a special teamer in his rookie season.

Table: Pros and cons of each running back

Category	LT	AD	Tie
Speed		X
Strength		X
Agility	X
Receiving ability	X
Big-play potential			X
Versatility	X
Durability	X
Offensive line		X
Passing game/receiving corps	X
Upside		X
Track record	X
Likely to lose the fewest carries	X
Weather			X
Team defense			X
Weaker divisional defenses	X
Ball security	X
Lower mileage		X
Total	9	5	3

With the first pick....

Tomlinson is still the choice with the first pick. His career averages are better than the numbers Peterson put up in 2007. While we love Peterson's upside, Tomlinson has scored at least 18 touchdowns in each of the past four seasons and has at least another year or two of elite production left in the tank. Peterson may emerge as the top pick in a season or two, but right now Tomlinson is the safer choice of the two, and the right choice, as the No. 1 pick in your 2008 fantasy draft.

KFFLians are saying....

Comment

 

---

What do you think? We want to hear from you!

Name: E-mail: Please, enter the number that you see

Comment Guidelines

Thomas Griffenkranz
Thomas has been a KFFL contributor since 2007.

Talk Sports 24/7!
KFFL Sports Forums: Over 24,000 strong and growing!

2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers (02/10)
Fantasy football players in the news (02/10)
2012 NFL Scouting Report: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama (02/09)
Fantasy football players in the news (02/09)
2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford (02/08)
Fantasy football players in the news (02/08)
2012 NFL free agency: DeSean Jackson looking to score (02/07)
2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama (02/07)
Fantasy football players in the news (02/07)
KFFL.com 2012 NFL Mock Draft: Round 1 (02/06)