Before I load up the family truckster and head to Illinois for a two-week preseason battery charge, below are fantasy spins on recent whispers from mini-camp, random thoughts and easy-to-read lists, several of them. For those who relish berating accessible writers, please throw your verbal barbs in the comments section.



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• The Purple Jesus’ resurrection is well underway. After a season-long suspension and lengthy standoff with Minnesota’s front office, Adrian Peterson is not only back in action, he’s extremely motivated to extend his career beyond 2015. Suffice it to say, he’s angry, a frightening prospect for defenses (65.5 career yards-after-contact percentage). It’s no wonder why many in the "expert" realm are pushing owners to invest a No. 1 overall pick in him, even in PPR formats.

Consider me one of them.

This fall could mark the future Hall of Famer’s finest season yet. Critics contend his advanced age (30) and general wear (2,359 career touches) are clear signs he’ll break down. Those concerns are reasonable, but Peterson is a rhinoceros of a runner when healthy, a once-in-a-generation back. Since entering the league in 2007, no running back has averaged more fantasy points per game.

During his illustrious career, the three-time All-Pro finished a season ranked as the top dog among RBs only once, but that feat may soon be duplicated. The Vikings sail into 2015 with sharpened axes. Teddy Bridgewater, who completed a rock solid 64.4 percent of his attempts his rookie year, is a rising star. His effectiveness should only improve with Mike Wallace, Charles Johnson and Kyle Rudolph to throw to. Additionally, the Vikings offensive line, which was the 13th-best in run-blocking last year according to Pro Football Focus, is formidable. And don’t get fixated on his age. Tiki Barber, Corey Dillon, Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton and Priest Holmes are just a few geriatric backs who stiff-armed Father Time at the same point in their respective careers.

Most promising, Peterson is expected to be Norv Turner’s engine, functioning as an all-purpose weapon. As the RB recently told the Star Tribune, he will be “more involved in the pass game, being out wide and presenting [himself] for a check-down.” Essentially, he will be an invaluable safety net for a young quarterback. His production could mirror what LaDainian Tomlinson achieved in Norval’s system from 2007-2008 (3,485 total yds, 30 TDs, 112 receptions), meaning he could shatter his previous season high in receptions (43) by some 15-20 catches. His consistency, money motivation and favorable situation are why I moved him ahead of Jamaal Charles. Come year’s end, his net worth could match that of “Jurassic World.”

Purple reign. Purple reign.

• To the cursory drafter, total points mean everything. These are the same people who shamelessly shove hot-dog stuffed crusts in their mouths without thinking about the physiological consequences. They look at a player’s final rank and assume steady production will follow.

Take, for instance, Ben Roethlisberger.

Pittsburgh’s gunslinger finished 2014 the No. 5 overall passer. An under-performing Steelers D combined with the stellar execution of Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and Le’Veon Bell elevated him to new heights. Though highly commendable, his fantasy effectiveness was wildly unpredictable, fueling weekly “Start or not to start?” frustrations for his owners. Though he averaged 19.4 fantasy points per game in standard Yahoo leagues, Big Ben finished with less than 17 points in 10-of-16 contests. His back-to-back 6-TD eruptions against Indy and Baltimore Weeks 8-9 skewed the stats. Oh how averages can be deceiving.

What other fantasy ones (QB1-QB12, RB1-RB12, WR1-WR12) were erratic in 2014? Here are the kings of inconsistency/consistency at each position using Yahoo, non-PPR default scoring:

QBs (Games less than starter-average (QB1-QB12) 16.8 fantasy points): 1t) Matt Ryan (9, 56.3%), 1t) Ryan Tannehill (9, 56.3%), 3t) Ben Roethlisberger (8, 50.0%), 3t) Philip Rivers (8, 50.0%), 5t) Tom Brady (7, 43.8%), 5t) Eli Manning (7, 43.8%)

QB1s (Games with more than starter-average 16.8 fantasy points): 1) Andrew Luck (13, 81.3%), 2) Aaron Rodgers (12, 75.0%), 3) Tony Romo (11 (out of 15 gms), 73.3%), 4t) Peyton Manning (11, 68.7%), 4t) Drew Brees (11, 68.7%)