EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The last two years in ESPN's NFL Rank project, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson finished third in the league (coming off a MVP season) and fourth, after he battled nagging injuries on the way to 1,266 yards in 2013.

The fact that Peterson finished 11th in this year's poll, at age 30 and a year off from the league, probably speaks as much to the running back's enduring on-field reputation as where he finished the two previous years.

Peterson was the top-rated running back in this year's project, which polled 71 voters from ESPN, as well as partner sites like Pro Football Focus and Football Outsiders. He finished with an average of 92.58, as players were rated on a 1-100 scale, and finished just ahead of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch was next at Peterson's position, finishing 14th overall.

The 2012 NFL MVP was the only Vikings player in the top 100.

"His return to the backfield alone should make them a wildcard team," one voter said of Peterson, and it's difficult to imagine the Vikings would be garnering as much preseason attention as they are without Peterson. It remains to be seen whether he'll be rejuvenated or rusty once he finally gets back on the field Sept. 14 in San Francisco, but there's little doubt Peterson is motivated to have a big year after 2014's suspension, and his position in our rankings shows there are plenty of people expecting Peterson will accomplish his goals.