Top 25 Vikings Of 2014: No. 25 FB Jerome Felton
By Dan Zinski
Over the next few weeks we will reveal the top 25 current Vikings players, counting them down Casey Kasem-style from 25 all the way to number 1. Let’s kick off the countdown with the man at #25, fullback Jerome Felton.
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The pure blocking fullback is an endangered species in the NFL, but there are still a few out there plying their eternal trade, and Jerome Felton may be the best of the bunch.
2013 got off to a rocky start for Felton, who missed the preseason after undergoing an emergency appendectomy, then sat out the first three games of the year as punishment for a DUI arrest. Once Felton got back on the field, he once again demonstrated his value as a blocker for Adrian Peterson, leading the way on many of Peterson’s electrifying runs.
We know Felton can still be effective in his role as a blocking fullback, but the question now is how he fits into Norv Turner’s new scheme. There’s certainly a spot for a fullback in Turner’s offense, but will the Vikings go with a pure lead blocker like Felton, or do they favor someone who can bring more to the table as a receiver?
Despite still being one of the better players on the roster, Felton is in some danger of being cut loose in training camp. The Vikings re-did his contract in the offseason, making it easier to justify carrying him, but that may not be enough to save him if they determine that a younger player like Zach Line has more value.
At 27, and lacking the versatility that teams look for in backs these days, Jerome Felton could soon find himself on the street. For now, he’s the 25th best player on the Vikings roster.
Video: Adrian Peterson talks about the value of Jerome Felton (via the Star Tribune)
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