The Minnesota Vikings aren't the best team in the NFL, but they do have two of the league's very best players. Running back Adrian Peterson and defensive end Jared Allen both are ranked among the top 25 players in the entire league on ESPN's Top 200 list, which was released on Monday.
On the list, Peterson is ranked as the best running back in the league and the seventh-best player overall, while Allen is ranked as the second-best defensive end in the league and the 24th-best player overall. Only San Francisco's Justin Smith got a higher ranking among DEs on ESPN's list.
The analysis from ESPN notes that Peterson has "an outstanding combination of size, strength and athleticism for the position. He has great power to move the pile on contact and shows good vision to hit a crease. He has solid receiving skills as a target in the passing game. When healthy, Peterson is an impact player and one of the best backs in the league."
Anyone that's ever watched Peterson play certainly would have a tough time disagreeing with any of that.
As for Allen, ESPN praises his "great length and athleticism for the position. He has excellent initial quickness as a pass-rusher with deceptive power to counter and collapse the pocket."
Last season, Allen put up a league-leading 22 sacks in addition to 66 total tackles and four forced fumbles. Few players ever reach that level of statistical performance.