Fantasy Faceoff: David Johnson vs. Adrian Peterson

Here's a look at whether fantasy football owners would be better off selecting Arizona Cardinals RB David Johnson or Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson in 2016 drafts:

2015 Stats

The Case for David Johnson

Johnson wasted no time cementing himself as a reliable pass-catching running back as a rookie, compiling 137 receiving yards and two touchdowns on nine catches in the first four weeks of the season. He later thrived after taking over bellcow duties from Chris Johnson, racking up 378 rushing yards and three scores while adding 11 receptions from Weeks 13 to 15.

David is expected to prominently feature as the Cardinals' workhorse back and is far more valuable than Peterson in dynasty and PPR leagues. However, the difference between the two in standard leagues is minuscule.

Best Case Scenario: Johnson receives the lion's share of touches from Week 1 and literally runs with it. He has all the tools to be an elite RB1 in fantasy and should solidify himself as such this season. He could be a steal, even as a late first-round draft pick.

Worst Case Scenario: He's a one-shot wonder and can't handle a full season of work as a feature back. Though it's unlikely, it's possible Johnson is the next Darren Sproles, who only has value as a change-of-pace back.

The Case for Adrian Peterson

Peterson has been widely regarded as one of the best running backs in the NFL for years - and he proved it again last season, ranking first in rushing attempts, yards and yards per game and tying for the lead in rushing TDs.

As history shows, a running back's production in the NFL begins to drastically decline when he hits his 30s, and with the huge workload the 31-year-old Peterson has shouldered throughout his career, regression is coming soon.

That said, he has only fallen short of 1,200 yards once when given more than 200 carries in a season and will continue to be one of the first RBs off the board until his production recedes. Peterson certainly has a higher floor than Johnson, but his ceiling? Not so much.

Best Case Scenario: AP proves age is just a number and tears up opposing defenses en route to exceeding his value as a top-5 overall fantasy player. He has the highest floor among active running backs and is among the safest plays at the position.

Worst Case Scenario: He shows that he is human and fails to return his first-round value. Fantasy players could wind up with a version of Peterson that resembles Peyton Manning from last season, which would be disastrous.

Verdict

Though Peterson has more job security than Johnson, and is relied upon heavily in the Vikings' offense, Peterson's ineffectiveness in the passing game hinders his value. Johnson is a much more attractive pick, providing owners with plenty of upside in both rushing and receiving yards.

In PPR and keeper leagues, Johnson is the no-brainer choice. In standard leagues, some owners will argue floor over ceiling, but given how Johnson performed last season in a supporting role, a higher volume of touches paired with his yardage bonuses makes him extremely tough to pass up.