What You Need to Know:

• A 34-year-old Peterson ran for 898 yards and 5 TDs on 4.3 yards per carry last year.
• The Redskins exercised his 2020 option, bringing him back on a $2.25 million salary.
• Peterson figures to back up Derrius Guice, who has played just 5 games through 2 NFL seasons due to 3 separate knee injuries.

Still truckin’

Peterson is a cyborg. He’s gotta be.

He toted the rock 211 times for 898 yards (4.3 YPC) and 5 TDs this past season … at 34 years old. Only 4 RBs — John Henry Johnson, John Riggins, Emmitt Smith and Frank Gore — have rushed for more yards in a season at 34 or older.

And Peterson did it on a bad offense. Washington finished 32nd in points scored and 31st in total yards last year. The offensive line ranked 18th in Football Outsiders’ Adjusted Line Yards and 15th in Pro Football Focus’ run-blocking grades.

Peterson ranked 18th in Pro Football Focus’ Elusive Rating among 45 RBs with 100+ carries last year. He finished 26th in PFF’s rushing grades and 27th in Football Outsiders’ DVOA. There’s still gas left in his tank. Somehow.

2020 outlook

Washington exercised its option on RB Adrian Peterson this offseason, bringing him back at a $2.25 million salary. That makes AP just the 21st highest-paid RB this season, so he’s certainly not locked into a significant role. In fact, we’d bet on a healthy Derrius Guice leading this backfield in touches. Of course, a healthy Derrius Guice has been a rare occurrence. Three separate knee injuries have limited him to just 5 games through 2 NFL seasons. Washington also added rookie Antonio Gibson and veterans Peyton Barber and J.D. McKissic to the backfield this offseason. But Gibson is a RB-WR hybrid, and neither Barber nor McKissic really move the needle. If Guice misses more time, Peterson looks like the favorite for lead ball-carrying duties.

Now, he’d again be operating in what figures to be a bad offense. The Redski…