Arizona Cardinals hand fantasy football players a gift
By Jim Koch
Arizona Cardinals’ running back Adrian Peterson should be given the opportunity to produce some major fantasy football points
The Arizona Cardinals may have done fantasy football players around the country a favor. Their acquisition of running back Adrian Peterson appears to have cleared up a muddled backfield situation in the desert. Workhorse backs are hard to come by in the NFL these days, but the future Hall of Famer may fit that very role for the Cards.
A running back by committee is an enemy of fantasy league participants. In the fantasy world, runners who get alot of carries for their respective teams carry the most value. A bevy of backs sharing touches diminishes the value for each of them.
The week one wrist injury suffered by Arizona starter David Johnson, a back who rarely came off of the field, had created such a situation for the Cardinals. It left the club using three replacements for their sidelined star. None of which were able to nail down the every-down role that Johnson was so productive in.
Kerwynn Williams got the first chance to show what he could do. The fourth-year Cardinal failed miserably, somehow managing to average less than two yards a carry. A former seventh-round draft pick of the Indianapolis Colts, Williams’ main role going forward will be as the Cards’ kick-returner.
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Next up was Chris Johnson, who was brought back before the second game. “CJ2K” was released following training camp, before being asked to return. The 32-year old was completely ineffective however, and was jettisoned once again this week to make room for “AP”.
Andre Ellington showed the Arizona brass during his first couple of years in the Valley that he can’t be a full-time contributor. His body just couldn’t withstand the punishment that came with such a role. The 2013 sixth-round draft pick is best-suited as a pass-receiver out of the backfield, his current assignment.
Peterson has made it perfectly clear that he wants the rock. He was an unhappy camper with the New Orleans Saints, having to share time with Mark Ingram and rookie Alvin Kamara. The long-time Minnesota Viking is hoping for a big workload in his new home, and the Cardinals appear more than willing to accommodate his wish.