CBS Sports Lists Adrian Peterson As "Player To Avoid" In Fantasy Football

There are a lot of questions surrounding superstar running back Adrian Peterson going into the 2012 NFL season. When will he be back? When he comes back, will he be 100%? Will we have to hear stories about how firm his handshake is from every announcer that does a Minnesota Vikings broadcast this season? (Well, I guess there really isn't any doubt surrounding that last one. . .the answer is obviously "yes.")

But apparently CBS Sports has seen enough to declare Peterson one of their "Frightening 15" for fantasy football players. Jamey Eisenberg, the man that wrote the article for CBS Sports, says that he wouldn't take Peterson any higher than the fifth round. Their projections have him down for over 1,500 total yards (1,213 rushing, 312 receiving) and eleven scores, which are good numbers. . .just not OMG ADRIAN PETERSON numbers.

Here's what Eisenberg has to say about #28:

Peterson suffered a gruesome knee injury in Week 16 last year, but he said his goal this offseason is to be ready by Week 1. We hope he can make it, but I don't want to risk it by drafting Peterson before Round 5. In fact, I'd rather wait to take Toby Gerhart in Round 8 or later, and Gerhart had five games with double digits in Fantasy points in his final six outings last year. Peterson has been an elite Fantasy running back since coming into the NFL in 2007, but his best days might be behind him. And he could suffer a setback if he tries to rush back before he's ready. The Vikings would be best served to put Peterson on the PUP list to open the season and bring him back at 100 percent in October. No matter what happens the advice here is not to reach for Peterson too soon because, for the first time in his career, he could disappoint you.

I actually can't disagree with a lot of what he's said here. If you draft Peterson, regardless of the round, you absolutely have to do everything in your power to get Gerhart as well, in my opinion. The Minnesota Vikings are still going to be a good running team, regardless of who's lining up behind Christian Ponder. Gerhart, as Eisenberg details, had a pretty decent run at the end of last season. So, yes, if you do decide to draft Adrian Peterson in your fantasy league this year, be prepared to take Gerhart. . .and be prepared to "overdraft" Gerhart if you have to.