Adrian Peterson is thriving -- as are two teams that moved on from him
A good trade should help both teams involved. In the case of Adrian Peterson, we can go a step further: All three teams directly related to either adding or subtracting Peterson in 2017 are thriving after making their respective decisions.
*The Vikings? After watching their running game sputter both when Peterson was healthy and when he was hurt last season behind a dreadful offensive line, they moved on from the 32-year-old running back in the offseason while upgrading their blockers and scheme. They drafted Dalvin Cook who was sensational before he tore his ACL. Even without Cook, their running game with Jerick McKinnon and Latavius Murray has been solid. The Vikings are averaging 120 yards rushing, ninth in the NFL, after finishing dead last at 75.3 ypg last year. They’re 6-2 this year.
*The Saints? They added Peterson in the offseason to a crowded backfield. Through four games and a 2-2 record, the Saints’ running game had failed to top 86 yards in three of four games. At that point, they traded Peterson to the RB-needy Cardinals. Since then, Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara have exploded. The Saints are averaging 149 yards rushing in their last four games since the trade, all victories.
*The Cardinals? They scooped up Peterson and immediately started giving him the workload he craves. In his first game against Tampa Bay, he went for 134 yards and two TDs on 26 carries. His second game (11 carries, 21 yards) was a dud in a loss to the Rams, but on Sunday he carried a career-high 37 times for 159 yards in a win at San Francisco. The Cardinals are 2-1 since the trade.