Power Ranking the NFC North: Offense
By Mike Payton
Running Backs
Sep 15, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The Bears won 31-30. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
1. Adrian Peterson
Until proven otherwise, Peterson is the king of the running back mountain in the NFC North. Despite all the child abuse charges and all the other off field antics, Peterson is expected to make his return to the Vikings in 2015 and will more than likely start immediately. Of course the giant question attached is will Adrian Peterson go back to being himself? Or will a his age along with a year off prove to be his downfall?
2. Matt Forte
If only the Bears would use Forte the way he should be. Forte could be in the upper echelon in the NFL, but the Bears refuse to use him properly. Forte is a guy that should be taking the ball up the middle and creating something for himself, yet the Bears continue to use Forte as an additional receiver and while works out sometimes, it does not appeal to his true strengths. Nevertheless Forte’s talents continue to carry him.
3. Eddie Lacy
As a Lions guy, I hate to say it but Eddie Lacy scares me. He’s an old school run you over running back that should not have the type of speed he has for a guy his size. While he did have a down year in 2014, be on the lookout for him to bounce back and replace Adrian Peterson as the best running back in the NFC North in 2015.
4. Joique Bell
Bell may not be in the upper crust of running backs in the NFL. But he is still an underrated threat in the backfield. He will never make the top of this list, but the Lions have a hidden gem because Bell has consistently gotten better as the years have gone by. Despite the Lions drafting Ameer Abdullah, don’t be surprised to see Joique Bell take the majority of the carries for the Lions in 2015.
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