Adrian Peterson projected as NFL’s 2016 rushing leader
By Adam Carlson
A recent article on NFL.com’s website projected Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson to lead the NFL in rushing during the 2016 season.
While much of the football talk around the world right now revolves around the 2016 NFL Draft, it is also fun to think about which players could have standout seasons or make big jumps in productivity.
The guys over at NFL Now on NFL.com sat down to discuss who they felt would be the league leaders in each statistical category, and the Minnesota Vikings got a nice nod during the video, with one player being picked as a prime candidate to be the best at his position.
Former NFL player Jamie Dukes gave his predictions as to who would be the league leaders in NFL.com’s video. Here are the players who he selected:
2016 passing leader: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
2016 rushing leader: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
2016 receiving leader: Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers
Two of these picks are bold selections. Drew Brees is an elite passer, but he lacks the kind of weapons that a quarterback like Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Ryan, Aaron Rodgers or even Tom Brady has. Until New Orleans can upgrade their protection and get more reliable targets, Brees should be considered a stretch to lead the league in passing.
Adrian Peterson led the NFL in rushing during the 2015 season, he had a lot of help in winning that award, with several other star running backs going down with injuries or sitting out due to suspensions, it was almost by default that Peterson won the title.
Meanwhile, Antonio Brown is a solid pick to lead the league in receiving yards. His speed and hands combined with Big Ben’s arm strength and deep ball accuracy make him a big threat on every play.
Next: 2016 NFL Draft: First round mock draft
Of course, there is no way to know if any of these players will win the awards predicted by NFL Now’s Jamie Dukes, but it is fun to speculate about. Who do you think will lead the league in passing, rushing or receiving? Leave your picks in the comments below.