Vikings RB Adrian Peterson
In just his fourth NFL season, Minnesota Vikings running back ADRIAN PETERSON has already posted rushing numbers amassed by few others in league history. On Monday night, when the Vikings visit the New York Jets (ESPN, 8:30 PM ET), Peterson will look to add to his accomplishments.
"Adrian Peterson is a special talent," says Pro Football Hall of Fame running back JIM BROWN. "His ability to make moves, accelerate and break tackles is what makes him special."
Selected in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft (No. 7 overall) out of Oklahoma, Peterson has rushed for 4,876 yards and 43 touchdowns in 49 career games. With 124 rushing yards this week, Peterson can become the fifth player in NFL history to reach 5,000 yards in his first 50 career games. So far this season, he is averaging 130.7 rushing yards per game (392 yards, three games), the second-best mark in the league.
PLAYERS TO REACH 5,000 RUSH YARDS IN FIRST 50 GAMES
| Player | Games |
|---|---|
| *Has 4,876 yards in 49 career games (Source: NFL) | |
| Eric Dickerson | 45 |
| Earl Campbell | 46 |
| Jim Brown | 48 |
| Terrell Davis | 50 |
| Adrian Peterson | 49* |
He can also join elite company and rank in the top five in most rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in a player's first 50 NFL games.
MOST RUSH YARDS IN FIRST 50 GAMES
| Player | Rushing Yards |
|---|---|
| *Through 49 games (Source: NFL) | |
| Eric Dickerson | 5,597 |
| Earl Campbell | 5,411 |
| Jim Brown | 5,248 |
| Terrell Davis | 5,062 |
| Clinton Portis | 4,958 |
| Adrian Peterson | 4,876* |
MOST RUSH TDs IN FIRST 50 GAMES
| Player | Rushing TDs |
|---|---|
| *Through 49 games (Source: NFL) | |
| Jim Brown | 49 |
| Eric Dickerson | 47 |
| Larry Johnson | 47 |
| Steve Van Buren | 47 |
| Earl Campbell | 46 |
| Adrian Peterson | 43* |
"This guy is a tremendous football player and I've said before I think he's the best running back in the National Football League," says Vikings head coach BRAD CHILDRESS about Peterson. "He's a great player. He's explosive, strong and he's really doing some good things in being patient with those runs and taking great looks at them."
Peterson, who has 392 rushing yards and three touchdowns in three games this year, will also look to continue two impressive streaks in 2010.
Last season, Peterson became the first player since Pro Football Hall of Famer BARRY SANDERS to start the Pro Bowl at running back in each of his first three seasons. He rushed for 1,383 yards and a league-best 18 touchdowns in 2009 and joined Pro Football Hall of Famers EARL CAMPBELL and Sanders as the only players in NFL history to rush for at least 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns in each of his first three seasons. With another such season in 2010, Peterson will join Campbell as the only players to accomplish the feat in each of his first four seasons.
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