LaDainian Tomlinson

Vikings RB Adrian Peterson said he expects to take on an expanded role in first-year offensive coordinator Norv Turner's system, one that seems designed for elusiveness over brawn.

"It's definitely different," Peterson said. "I had an opportunity to sit down and talk to Coach Turner, and I knew when they hired him I was going to be more involved in the spread (offense), running routes out of the backfield.

"It's something I've been waiting for my whole career, and now I have the opportunity to be a part of that style of offense."

As he begins his last season under 30, the age often associated with decline among NFL running backs, Peterson said he sees himself as an every-down player.

He’s coming off of a #6 finish (and groin surgery); it’s the second time in three seasons that he has finished outside of the top 5. He turns 29 in March and while he should continue to be very productive when healthy, one wonders if his 2,241 touches are starting to catch up to him. Along with his sheer talent, there is another reason to be excited about AP’s upside in 2014 — the arrival of OC Norv Turner, who knows what he’s doing on that side of the ball. Turner emphasized that he wants to get Peterson the ball in space, and that means more receptions. Peterson has only averaged 2.0 catches in his career, and has been curiously underutilized in the passing game since day one. He's not quite the natural receiver as LaDainian Tomlinson was, but as a Turner-RB comparison, Tomlinson averaged 2.9 catches in three seasons under Norv Turner.