The Facts:
Jim Brown knows all about being the NFL rushing king. Nobody has held the career rushing title longer than Brown, who had it from 1963-84. Emmitt Smith is the current rushing leader, having set the mark in 2002. But Brown said Peterson could top it one day. "If he wants that and he dedicates himself and he has good fortune, that's a great possibility," Brown said. "I think if he sets his goals and he understands his circumstances and he knows what it takes, that he can be successful. I'm not saying that he will break the record, I'm just saying it's a possibility."
Reported by the St. Paul Pioneer-Press
Fantasy Football Diehards Line:
As Pioneer Press staffer Chris Tomasson understated, it won't be easy. Smith rushed for 18,355 yards in 15 years before retiring after the 2004 season at 35. Peterson spoke about breaking Smith's record after gaining 2,097 yards in 2012, the second-most in NFL history. But he didn't help himself in 2013 when his total dropped to 1,266 during a season in which he missed two games and most of another because of injuries. Because Brown believes Peterson could break Smith's record, he obviously believes he will continue to dominate. But it remains to be seen how healthy Peterson, who underwent groin surgery in January, can remain into his 30s. Peterson would have to gain 8,241 more yards to break the mark. Smith rushed for 7,121 yards after turning 29. For fantasy football owners, a 2014 in which Peterson is fully healthy for 16 games would be a fine starting point.
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