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Fantasy Football Week 7 Advice: Don't Be Silly Adrian Peterson

Adrian Peterson. That's the only name I would touch on the Vikings this week against the Packers, but don't be surprised if he's shut down similarly to last week if the Packers jump out to a huge lead.

GREEN BAY WI - OCTOBER 24:  Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings leaps in the air for extra yardage against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on October 24 2010 in Green Bay Wisconsin. (Photo by Jim Prisching/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY WI - OCTOBER 24: Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings leaps in the air for extra yardage against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on October 24 2010 in Green Bay Wisconsin. (Photo by Jim Prisching/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Yes, I'm referencing that commercial, and that's because in the commercial the guy who ultimately pictures his pretty wife as Purple Jesus is watching A-Pete on his Verizon phone running for a 48-yard touchdown against the Green Bay Packers at the Metrodome. Incidentally, the Minnesota Vikings play the Packers at the Metrodome this week. 

And Adrian Peterson getting silly is what the 1-5 Vikings will need to beat the 6-0 Packers. Christian Ponder is making his first NFL start against the best team in the NFL, which is no easy task, so he will undoubtedly rely on AD all day in an attempt to keep the ball in the hands of the Vikings and out of the hands of Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers

Unfortunately, the Packers aren't that bad against the run -- just above the halfway point in the NFL, in fact -- so Ponder will have to hit some targets to open things up a bit. The Packers, because they strike fast and often, allow some decent fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, so Ponder may not be a terrible play if you're desperate (desperate, like, you had to rely on Donovan McNabb in past weeks). 

Adrian Peterson, he's an automatic start every week, of course, but if the Vikings get down big early and are forced to pass a ton, Peterson could see a similar "meh" 10-point week vs. the Packers. So don't be surprised if that actually happens. 

As for the rest of the Vikings players, I wouldn't touch them with a 20-foot pole -- the Packers are going to score and I don't trust any WR to put up points with a quarterback making his debut. 

Photographs by Micah Taylor, clairity, and Fibonacci Blue used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.