Adrian Peterson or Aaron Jones? The NFL Stat Breakdown

This is as close as it gets. Adrian Peterson and Aaron Jones split the statistical categories evenly — 3 apiece — making this one of the most genuinely contested RB comparisons in NFL history. When the numbers are this balanced, the debate comes down to which statistics matter most to you.

Adrian Peterson's Rush Touchdowns of 120 compared to Aaron Jones's 53 represents a 126.4% advantage — dramatically better than their counterpart in this critical category. Both players exceed the RB career average of 40 in this category, but Adrian Peterson leads by 126.4%. It is the single most decisive number in this comparison and the clearest statistical argument for Adrian Peterson's edge.

The most competitive category in this matchup is Yards Per Carry, where Adrian Peterson posts 4.6 against Aaron Jones's 4.8 — a gap of just 4.3%. Aaron Jones can point to this as evidence that the overall comparison is closer than the final 3-3 tally suggests. In any debate, Yards Per Carry is the statistical ammunition for the Aaron Jones side.

Running back careers are defined by efficiency as much as volume. Yards per carry separates elite backs from good ones, while receiving ability from the backfield has become increasingly valuable in the modern NFL.

With categories split evenly, this comparison ultimately comes down to which statistics matter most to you. Adrian Peterson claims the tiebreaker through Rush Touchdowns advantage — a 126.4% edge — but reasonable people can, and do, argue both sides of this NFL debate.