"Vikings running back Adrian Peterson said he will play against the Saints on Sunday. As for why he'd actually want to play for a 2-11 team on a left ankle that he says is "85 percent," well, he has his reasons.

He said he loves the game. He said he wants to help his teammates. He said he has some personal statistical goals he wants to achieve, such as the 128 yards rushing he needs for a fifth consecutive 1,000-yard season and the 165 yards he needs to break Robert Smith's career franchise record.

But that's not the only reason Peterson wants to come back after missing the past three games because of a high left ankle sprain.

"It's very important, especially for my fantasy team owners," Peterson said with a smile. "They've been giving me a hard time."

Through the magic of Twitter, Peterson gets to interact with fans more than any of the all-time great Fantasy Football point producers who have come before him.

Asked what some of these, um, "owners" have tweeted, Peterson laughed.

"They'll say, `Will you please [play]. I'll send my wife down to visit you,'" Peterson said. "Sometimes, it's like, wow. Some of the things I read on there is crazy."

So how often does Peterson respond via Twitter?

"I respond to some of them," he said. "I kind of pick and choose who I respond to. Some things are better left alone.""