Ten most impressive players

Adrian Peterson leads offensive players; J.J. Watt tops defense

Originally Published: December 26, 2012
By Herm Edwards | ESPN Insider

As we head into the final week of the NFL season and toward a new year, it's a good time to look back over some of the big questions we had before the season. Would Peyton Manning be the same quarterback he was in Indianapolis? Would Adrian Peterson ever be the same running back he was before tearing his ACL and MCL last December? Did the Seattle Seahawks make the right decision starting Russell Wilson at quarterback?

The answers to these questions are now apparent. And that's why Manning, Peterson and Wilson are among the 10 players who have impressed me the most this season.

Offense

Adrian Peterson | RB | Minnesota Vikings
What more can this guy do? Coming off his horrific knee injury, remember that many people didn't think he'd even start the season on the active list. Instead, he has 1,898 rushing yards on 6 yards per carry. And he has been a workhorse -- on pace to have the second-most carries he's had in his career.


To read more of Herm Edwards' 10 most impressive players from the 2012 season, become an Insider today.

Herm Edwards

ESPN Insider
  • Joined ESPN in 2009
  • Spent eight years as NFL coach, 10 as a player
  • Appears regularly on SportsCenter, NFL Live and NFL32

SPONSORED HEADLINES

MORE NFL HEADLINES

MOST SENT STORIES ON ESPN.COM