Adrian Peterson Rookie Card
Adrian Peterson’s rookie card might be one of the most valuable rookie cards, based on how dominant his rookie season was by itself.
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US $299.99
When a prodigy comes out of college that has all of the physical tools of the greatest NFL running backs, it is easy to dissect his running style and make comparisons. For Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, he just might be the running back that sets the standard for all future running backs to be measured.
The former Oklahoma Sooner entered the NFL in 2007 with unlimited expectations. The only question surrounding Peterson was how his body would hold up after suffering from injury problems in college.
So far, so good.
Peterson’s rookie season showed him wasting no time, as he dominated opponents on his way to 1341 rushing yards and winning the NFL’s Rookie of the Year Award. Amazingly enough, he cruised to over 1300 yards while still missing time due to an injury suffered in the Vikings shut out loss to the Green Bay Packers.
His decorated rookie seasons included him breaking the NFL record for most rushing yards in a single game, as he racked up 296 yards on 20 carries against the San Diego Chargers. This performance led many to believe they were viewing greatness, and the comparisons started to flood in. The punishing and powerful style of running by Earl Campbell, the elusive and low running style of Barry Sanders, the speed of Eric Dickerson.
The scary thing? All of these components combined into one player.
Adrian Peterson followed that rookie season by gaining 1,760 yards in his sophomore campaign. Forget the sophomore slump, Peterson became the focal point of the Vikings offense as he led his team into the playoffs.
In 2009, the Vikings offense had somewhat of a makeover as Brett Favre took over the reigns at quarterback, shifting much of the attention to the Vikings passing game. As a result, Peterson flourished in the category that matters the most, touchdowns. Peterson led the NFL in 2009 with 18 touchdowns in spite of his total carries being reduced significantly, 49 less than the 2008 season.
But his touchdown total shows just how balanced, and versatile of a player Peterson has become. Adrian Petersons Rookie Card is sure to grow in value as Peterson continues to mature. In the 2010 NFC Championship game, Peterson scored 3 touchdowns, but also managed to lose 2 fumbles. He will continue to grow, but already having the title of “rookie of the year” makes this card even stronger.