Chris Johnson or Adrian Peterson for 2,500 rushing yards?

Chris Johnson has been outspoken in his quest to rush for 2,500 yards this season - this after cracking the 2,000-yard barrier last year. But could it be Adrian Peterson who gets there first? 

The Vikings' running back leads the NFC with 392 rushing yards - second overall to Houston's Arian Foster (406). Meanwhile, Johnson has 301 yards through his first three games.

Peterson told KFAN's Dan Barreiro in Minneapolis that he feels the 2,500-yard milestone is within reach.

"I always set the bar high for myself," he said. "Things that other people might look at and say, ‘He’s crazy for thinking that,’ or, ‘There’s no way he can accomplish that,’ it doesn’t look that way to me. … That’s the vision I have, the mentality I have, and I know it will come.”

Peterson said any rivalry with Johnson is more on Johnson's end.

"That’s something that I’ve noticed," Peterson said, when asked whether Johnson is more vocal. "I’m quiet, but I’m effective. I’m definitely going to get the job done. I don’t really ever say too much, I just go out there and show what I can do.”

Asked if this is the best he's felt so far in his NFL career, Peterson replied, "Yeah, I must say it is. That was my focus going into the season … what can I do to get better? What are the things that I need to work on? I did that in the offseason and really attacked it hard and … I wanted to work things out.”

Peterson has taken advantage of the Vikings' ineffective passing game by being the go-to guy on offense. It's a role he relishes.

"I made a promise to myself that … I’m going to make sure I prepare myself to carry a team if I need to," he said. "That’s the mindset I want every player to have. Not that they don’t, but that’s the mindset that I have. I told Favre at the end of the season, ‘Come back. I’m telling you, I’m going to be here. I’m going to do what’s necessary to be productive and help this offense.’ That’s what I did and it’s showing.”