NFL power rankings: 32-team post-preseason breakdown ahead of Week 1

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 13: Quarterbacks Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons and Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles meet after their game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 13, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Falcons 24-15. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 13: Quarterbacks Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons and Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles meet after their game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 13, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Falcons 24-15. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – AUGUST 24: Running back Adrian Peterson #26 of the Washington Redskins looks on before playing the Denver Broncos during a preseason game at FedExField on August 24, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – AUGUST 24: Running back Adrian Peterson #26 of the Washington Redskins looks on before playing the Denver Broncos during a preseason game at FedExField on August 24, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Since our last NFL power rankings, the Washington Redskins lost promising rookie running back Derrius Guice to a season-ending ACL injury.

Heartbreaking, to put it lightly. He could have made Washington’s offense electric, and it would have been the perfect complement to veteran quarterback Alex Smith.

Instead, the Redskins elected to go out and find a replacement in aging veteran Adrian Peterson, who spent time with both the Saints and Cardinals last year. Peterson looked excellent enough in his preseason debut with Washington, and that’s a good sign. But can he shoulder the load over the course of a full 16-game slate at 33 years of age?

Probably not. At least not enough to lessen some of the offensive woes and worries the Redskins have entering 2018.

At least Washington’s offensive line is good enough to help this side of the ball along. And the Redskins defensive line might be one of the more underrated units in the NFL today.

Still, that injury to Guice hurts a lot.