In an era when running back platoons are all the rage in the NFL, players who can carry the football 20-plus times a game and batter a defense with power and speed are becoming increasingly scarce. But the Minnesota Vikings think they may have a rare workhorse in the form of Adrian Peterson, and football collectors are already betting they're right.
Peterson burst on the scene as a freshman at Oklahoma, piling up 1,925 yards rushing in 2004. He also proved he could carry a heavy load, leading the nation with 339 carries, and becoming the first freshman ever to finish as the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy.
A 2000-yard season seemed like an inevitability, but the injury bug bit Peterson during each of the next two seasons. One of the final memories most college fans would have of Peterson would be him breaking his collar bone, ironically while diving into the end zone to finish off a 53-yard touchdown sprint.
Despite the setback, Peterson declared for the 2007 NFL Draft. Though opinion was nearly unanimous that he was the most talented back in the class, skepticism about his health caused him to slide slightly to seventh overall.
The Vikings happily added him to their backfield even though they had 1000-yard rusher Chester Taylor in the fold, and Peterson immediately showed off his knack for the big play. His first NFL touchdown came on a 60-yard catch and run against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1, and he gashed the Chicago Bears for 224 yards and three scores - two of which covered more than 60 yards - in Week 6.
Collectors took to Peterson's explosive, dynamic running style from the get-go, making him one of the most sought-after 2007 rookies. Assuming he can stay healthy, the sky seems like the limit. Peterson appears on rookie cards from all manufacturers, but he signed a spokesperson deal with Donruss to appear on packaging and advertisements.
Adrian Peterson 2007 Rookie Cards
- Absolute Memorabilia # 256 - jersey card #'d to 849
- Artifacts # 152 - SP
- Bowman # 126
- Bowman Chrome # BC65
- Bowman Sterling # APE1 - jersey card
- Donruss Classics # 159 - #'d to 599
- Donruss Elite # 105 - #'d to 599
- Donruss Gridiron Gear # 216 - autographed, #'d to 100
- Donruss Threads # 256 - autographed, #'d to 120
- Exquisite Collection # 133 - autographed jersey card #'d to 99
- Finest # 112
- Leaf Certified Materials # 219 - jersey card #'d to 849
- Leaf Limited # 301 - autographed jersey card #'d to 99
- Leaf Rookies and Stars # 206 - autographed, #'d to 99
- Playoff Contenders # 104 - autographed w/ announced print run of 355
- Playoff National Treasures # 101 - autographed jersey card #'d to 99
- Playoff NFL Playoffs # 101
- Playoff Prestige # 155
- Score # 341
- Select # 341 - #'d to 599
- SP Authentic # 289 - autographed jersey card #'d to 399
- SP Chirography # 101 - autographed, #'d to 199
- SP Rookie Threads # 122 - autographed, #'d to 150
- SPx # 218 - autographed jersey card #'d to 299
- Sweet Spot # 133 - autographed, #'d to 299
- Topps # 301
- Topps Chrome # TC181
- Topps Co-Signers # 70 - #'d to 2249
- Topps Draft Picks and Prospects # 135
- Topps Performance # 109 - #'d to 359
- Topps Total # 456
- Topps Triple Threads # 123 - autographed jersey card #'d to 99
- Topps TX Exclusive # 104 - #'d to 399
- Ultimate Collection # 101 - autographed, #'d to 99
- Ultra # 205
- Upper Deck # 279
- Upper Deck First Edition # 104
- Upper Deck Premier # 131 - autographed jersey card #'d to 55
- Upper Deck Trilogy # 103 - #'d to 399