10. Earl Campbell Show
The 1978 Rookie of the Year and MVP, Oilers star Earl Campbell punished defenses in his short career, earning Offensive Player of the Year honors in three consecutive seasons. Campbell topped 1,300 yards and double-digit touchdowns in five of his first six seasons thanks to a vicious running style that saw him run directly into the teeth of defenses—frequently. (He set a record with 373 carries in one season.) Unfortunately, Campbell paid a price for that bruising mentality, putting up just five healthy seasons in the NFL. 9. LaDainian Tomlinson Today he’s a change-of-pace back for the Jets who’s grooming a successor and chipping in the occasional goal-line carry. But it wasn’t long ago that LT was the premiere running back in the game, scanning the field in his trademark visor and dissecting his opponents for nine straight double-digit touchdown seasons to open his career. He’s also the owner of one of the most dominant seasons in history, when he crushed the single-season record with 31 TDs and 186 total points in 2006. (Listen closely and you can still hear his fantasy owners bragging about it.) 8. Eric Dickerson It can be hard to take him seriously when you see that Jheri curl, but Dickerson scampered for 13,259 yards in his 11-year career, leading the league in rushing three times and becoming the first halfback to gain 1,000 yards in seven straight seasons. A thoroughbred in the open field—albeit one in goofy goggles—Dickerson still owns the single-season record of 2,105 rushing yards, set in 1984. And the three-time Pro Bowler also came up big in the post-season, with a record 248 rushing yards in one 1986 game against the Cowboys in which he broke off TD runs of 55 and 40 yards. 7. Gale Sayers The Kansas Comet put up giant numbers in an injury-shortened, 68-game career. Sayers started off with a bang, scoring 22 touchdowns in his rookie season and crossing the goal line six times in one December game, a record that still stands and a performance that none other than George Halas called “the greatest football exhibition I have ever seen.” Oh, and he’s also the best kickoff returner in NFL history with an unreal 30.56 yard average. 6. Marshall Faulk The most important cog of the Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf,” Faulk is, quite simply, the greatest receiving running back of all time. But although he averaged more than 63 catches per season in his NFL career, the seven-time Pro Bowler could also run, tallying seven 1,000-yard seasons. Remember, this is the player who took home the Offensive Player of the Year award in three straight seasons, most memorably in 1999 when he eclipsed 1,000 yards in both rushing and receiving. 5. O.J. Simpson We know it’s hard, but put his post-football, um, hijinks aside and you have a legendary back. Wasted as a kick returner and decoy for his first three seasons in the league, Bills head coach Lou Saban finally turned the Juice loose in 1972. O.J. made the most of it with an explosiveness that helped him shoot through the line of scrimmage and into the open field, where his USC track skills took over. Best remembered for notching 2,003 yards in a 14-game 1973 season, Simpson had an NFL best six 200-yard games in his career, most of them coming for awful teams. (He made the playoffs just once in his career.) 4. Emmitt Smith When you think of Emmitt Smith, it’s hard not to picture the over-the-hill back with gray in his goatee and a grinding desire to take over the rushing record. It finally happened on October 27, 2002 as a Cardinal, but the eight-time Pro Bowler was the heart and soul of a Cowboys team that won three Super Bowls, including in 1993 when Smith became the only player ever to win a rushing crown, MVP, Super Bowl and Super Bowl MVP in the same season. Yet, even though he’s the owner of a record 18,355 career rushing yards, your girlfriend probably still knows him best as a one-time Dancing With the Stars champ. 3. Walter Payton You may picture Payton as an elusive back with a killer stutter step, but remember, the nickname Sweetness came from his personality off the field. On the gridiron, Payton was a bruising runner—a perfect fit for a blue-collar team and city—who liked to mow over defenders, refused to run out of bounds and essentially invented the stiff arm. Payton, who missed just one game in his career and logged 300-plus carries 10 times, retired as the leading rusher in NFL history (much of it with no offensive line) and was named to both the NFL’s 1970’s and 1980’s All-Decade teams. 2. Barry Sanders The elusive Barry Sanders was just 1,457 yards shy of Walter Payton’s rushing record when he hung up his cleats. If he hadn’t, there’s no way Emmitt Smith tops the record books. The owner of four rushing titles, Sanders was the first running back to notch five 1,500-yard seasons (four of them in a row) and even went two entire seasons (’91, ’94) without a fumble. Short and stocky, Sanders was custom-built for the artificial turf of the Silverdome, able to make quick cuts and turn losses into huge gains. Of course, some stayed losses. Sanders lost 1,114 yards in his career trying to turn small plays into home runs. 1. Jim Brown More of a fullback who played halfback, this eight-time All-Pro and three-time MVP never missed a game in his NFL career—though he did cut it short to go into acting. The enormous Brown could just as easily run over defenders as around them, with a scary combination of size and speed that helped him lead the league in rushing in all but one season of his career and rush for over 1,000 yards seven times (he fell short by four yards once)—in seasons that lasted just 12 or 14 games. Brown averaged more than one TD per game in his career, and averaged 5.2 yards per carry, the highest in NFL history. For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube! Larry Rankin is a sports analyst with an especially strong penchant for statistical breakdowns. One of the biggest joys of being a sports fan is arguing about stuff; whose team is best, who are the best players, where the coach screwed up in last week’s game, etc. Turn on any sports radio station or sports network, and before very long there’s bound to be a list of some nature and people engaged in healthy debate about it. One of the most hotly contested of these lists is the top 10 NFL running backs of all time. You’d be hard-pressed to find any avid football fan that doesn’t have an opinion on the matter, and you are unlikely to find any two people who would agree exactly on the order. So what I’ve tried to do is take opinion out of the equation, not because I think opinion isn’t important in such matters, but because I thought it might shed some light and perspective on the topic. The first thing I did was pick out 26 important statistical factors to gauge the ability of a running back. This statistical data aids in the quantitative analysis of a wide range of skills, such as longevity, durability, versatility, explosiveness, consistency, production, and much more. Then I took the top 18 rushers of all time, everyone finishing their career with 11,000 or more yards rushing, and ranked them from 1 to 18 in each statistical category. From all this information I derived a score. Like in golf, the lower the score the better. Though most of the statistics headings used will be recognized by football fans, a few are a little more obscure. Below is a key for all the statistical headings and symbols you will see throughout the article.
1. Walter PaytonScore: 117 “Sweetness” Walter Payton consistently ranks high in about every category one can imagine. With his lithe body and paradoxical hard-nosed running style, he captivated fans for well over a decade. At one point he owned about every rushing record known to man, but he has since been passed. His accomplishments still all rank high enough to put him 1st on a list of compiled data. Payton was also known for being a great person. When he died at 46, the NFL lost one of its greatest ambassadors and the world one of its greatest sports heroes. Payton Rushing Statistics
Payton Receiving Statistics
Payton Yards from Scrimmage Statistics
2. LaDainian TomlinsonScore: 122 Surprised? I sure was. Not only does Tomlinson rank high in about any category you can think of, he rules the touchdowns per season category. Averaging almost 15 TDs a season, only Jim Brown’s average at 14 a season is close. He is also in elite company as a receiver, which helped him to secure the 2nd spot on this list. Tomlinson was a great player. Though I would not have put him this high, the data bears what the data bears, and he certainly isn’t a bad pick for number 2. Tomlinson Rushing Statistics
Tomlinson Receiving Stats
Tomlinson Yards from Scrimmage Statistics
 Barry Sanders, was there ever anyone funner to watch? Greg2600, CC-BY-SA-2.0, via Wikimedia Commons 3. Barry SandersScore: 145 As surprising as LaDainian Tomlinson was to me at number 2, Barry Sanders at number 3 was not. Sanders ranks in the top 3 on almost everybody’s list of greatest running backs. Having played only 10 years, his over 1,500 yards a season average trumps anybody else’s, as does his over 1,800 total yards per season average. Not factored into our statistical data—Sanders’ epically beautiful running style. I was surprised by the numerical gap between Sanders and our first two backs on this list, but his career receiving stats, which are not bad, are still low enough to significantly impact his score. Sanders Rushing Statistics
Sanders Receiving Statistics
Sanders Yards from Scrimmage Statistics
4. Jim BrownScore: 153 Considered the best ever by many, Jim Brown comes in 4th on our list. A bruising fullback who often sought out defensive players to embarrass, Brown was at a level all to his own in the late '50s and early '60s. Though he only played 9 seasons, which hurts him in the longevity department, he never missed a start in 118 games, which makes for a durability score second to none. The NFL only played 12 games a season in the first 4 years of Brown’s career and only 14 for the rest, so Brown pretty much owns every per-game record for running backs. When I first came up with the idea to do this list, I really thought Jim Brown would top it because of his per-season and per-game accomplishments, but while this data helps his score in some regards, the lack of games hurts him in others. Brown Rushing Statistics
Brown Receiving Statistics
Brown Yards from Scrimmage Statistics
5. Emmitt SmithScore: 159 Emmitt Smith, who played 15 seasons, owns all the marquee statistical categories: rushes, rushing yards, yards from scrimmage, and touchdowns. He was also profoundly tuff, playing many times with injuries that would have sidelined a lesser player, but he wasn’t flashy or explosive, and his statistics bear that out. Aspects like lifetime average per carry (4.2), yards rushing per season (1,223.7), best season rushing (1,773), receiving (414), and yards from scrimmage (2,148) all rank relatively low. Emmitt Smith was tougher than and could follow a block better than about any running back to ever play the game, and I expect that many of you have him as your all-time greatest running back, but on my personal list, I have him only one spot higher than he appears on this statistical list. The main reason for this is that he didn’t make me stand up and go “Wow!” as much as some other backs did. Smith Rushing Statistics
Smith Yards from Scrimmage Statistics
Smith Receiving Statistics
Marshall Faulk, the best receiving back of all time. Phil Konstatin, CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons 6. Marshall FaulkScore: 170 Marshall Faulk’s 12,279 career rushing yards ranks 10th all-time, a ho-hum number for the players analyzed on our list, but he is also the most dynamic running back to ever play the game. His almost 7,000 career receiving yards and 767 career receptions made Faulk a supremely dangerous player. He is one of only two players in NFL history (the other being Roger Craig) to rush for and receive for over 1,000 yards in the same season. His 2,429 yards from scrimmage in 1999 is second only to Chris Johnson's 2.509 yards from scrimmage in 2009 and is tops among all 18 players analyzed in this statistical ranking. Marshall Faulk is somewhat of a polarizing figure when it comes to ranking running backs. To some purists, it may be that you don’t put Faulk as high because being a running back is about running the ball. To others, the position of running back is measured by looking at everything a running back is asked to do, among those things, catching passes. Either camp would find it hard to keep Faulk out of their top 10, though. Faulk Rushing Statistics
Faulk Receiving Statistics
Faulk Yards from Scrimmage Statistics
7. Marcus AllenScore: 221 Marcus Allen played a long time, 16 years, and scored a lot of touchdowns, 145, and his over 12,000 career rushing yards and 5,000+ career receiving yards puts him in very elite company, but his yards per season and yards per game stats don’t fare nearly as well. When I think of Marcus Allen, I think about what could have been, which is a strange thing to think regarding a player with well over 17,000 career yards from scrimmage. It is believed that power struggles between Al Davis and Marcus Allen kept Allen off the field more than he should have been. If Allen had been allowed to start over 68% of the games he played during his career, there is no telling what he might have accomplished. Allen Rushing Statistics
Allen Receiving Statistics
Allen Yards from Scrimmage Statistics
8. Curtis MartinScore: 224 Take a running back not known for his flash, like Emmitt Smith, multiply that by 2 and you have Curtis Martin. Curtis Martin was the type of running back who got his lunchpail and went to the factory every day. His over 14,000 career rushing yards ranks 4th all-time, and Martin is a monument of athletic consistency. He didn’t score a ton of touchdowns, he didn’t catch a lot of passes, he rarely broke long runs, and he never had an epic number of yards in a single season, but he started over 94% of the games in his career, and if you simply had to have three or four yards, there have been few better. I would be surprised to see Martin at the top of anyone’s list, but he is definitely a top 10 guy. I think because he gained most of his yards so quietly, people forget about him more than they should. Martin Rushing Statistics
Martin Receiving Statistics
Martin Yards from Scrimmage Statistics
9. Eric DickersonScore: 254 Over the early portion of his career, Eric Dickerson was one of the most statistically phenomenal running backs to ever play the game. His 2,105 rushing yards in 1984 is still the single best season by any running back. Though his rushing stats would eventually taper off in later years, Dickerson still amassed over 13,000 rushing yards in his 11-year career. Much is made of Dickerson and his lack of passion for the game of football. Though I think there is some truth in these statements, I think it is way over-blown. I don’t think you combine for over 13,000 rushing yards with no passion for the game, and if he did, in some ways it makes his accomplishments all the more impressive. Dickerson Rushing Statistics
Dickerson Receiving Statistics
Dickerson Yards from Scrimmage Statistics
10. Edgerrin JamesScore: 264 With over 12,000 career rushing yards and 15,000 yards from scrimmage, James was an effective runner and receiver. He just beats out Tony Dorsett for the 10th spot on our statistical list. Edgerrin James becomes eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2015. Regardless of whether or not you believe he is a top 10 running back of all time, the fact that he would rank so highly on a statistical top 10 list of running backs certainly bolsters his campaign for a 1st year of eligibility 1st ballot Hall of Fame honor. James Rushing Statistics
James Receiving Statistics
James Yards from Scrimmage Statistics
Other Greats Who Didn't Make the Cut:11. Tony Dorsett (Score: 274) Dorsett had a terrific career and no doubt is on many people’s top 10 list. He was an explosive running back with above average receiving skills. His 12,739 career rushing yards ranks 8th all time, and his 16,293 yards from scrimmage ranks 9th. 12. Thurman Thomas (Score: 299) Thomas was a dynamic back, finishing with just over 12,000 career rushing yards and well over 3,000 yards receiving. Several poor seasons towards the end of his career hurt many of his consistency and durability scores. 13. O.J. Simpson (Score: 316) Simpson’s career started slow and ended in non-spectacular fashion, but in the middle he had some truly fine seasons, none better than his 2,003 yard rushing effort in the 14 game season of 1973. 14. Jerome Bettis (Score: 327) Bettis’ 13,662 career rushing yards ranks 6th all time, but his career receiving statistics are so thoroughly anemic that he misses the top 10 by a significant amount. 15. Franco Harris (Score: 333) Probably the second greatest fullback ever, Harris' 12,120 career rushing yards is truly impressive. As a fullback, he didn't get all the carries and averaged less than 950 rushing yards a season. This compounded with the fact the Steelers didn't throw much to their running backs (Immaculate Reception excluded) keeps Harris out of this statistics-based top 10 list. 16. Corey Dillon (Score: 335) Dillon had a phenomenal, yet short career. In only 10 seasons he rushed for over 11,000 yards, but he wasn’t effective catching the ball out of the backfield and didn’t do well in the yards from scrimmage category. 17. John Riggins (Score: 336) Riggins played a long time, 14 years, rushed for a lot of yards, 11,352, and scored a lot of touchdowns, 116, but he averaged less than 4 yards a carry, never rushed for 1,400 yards in a single season, and rarely caught the ball. 18. Fred Taylor (Score: 357) Taylor’s 11,695 career rushing yards is a formidable mark, but he was an inconsistent back, missing or not starting in many games during his 13-year career. His 73.6% games played and 65.9% games started is last amongst all 18 running backs analyzed. He was also not a particularly dynamic player and didn’t get in the end zone as much as many on our list. All things considered, if Taylor had stayed healthy, he could have put up some truly phenomenal numbers. My Personal Top 10 Running Backs ListAs I mentioned before, it is interesting to break things down statistically, but at the end of the day, opinion matters. Below is my personal opinion list. I look forward to seeing your lists and commentary as well.
Current PlayersThere are several current players who seem to be having top-10 caliber careers, most notably, Adrian Peterson, who is on pace to shatter many records. I didn't include any current backs because there are none who yet meet the 11,000 career rushing yards criteria put forth for this list, and I am leery of including backs who still appear to have a lot of career left, because so many things can happen. That being said, if you are fond of prognostication, feel free to include such candidates in your own lists. In addition, there are a number of backs who had outstanding careers and finished with less than 11,000 career rushing yards. I just felt the 11,000-yard cutoff was appropriate for a statistics-based list. For example, Earl Campbell was a force of nature during his short career and amassed just over 9,000 career rushing yards. He almost made my personal list simply because there was such a "Wow!" factor in watching him play. Larry Rankin (author) from Oklahoma on November 07, 2017: Suhail: I'm proud of this article. It does need updated. There are a few backs who have retired since I wrote it that would qualify for statistical analysis. Just can't find the time these days. I'm so glad you enjoy it. Larry Rankin (author) from Oklahoma on November 07, 2017: Markyce: Forte is amazing. I'm afraid he'll fall short of HOF because the committees don't give all-around backs the respect they should and he hasn't been on many good teams. He's probably a top 50 back of all time statistically. For the purposes of this article, I don't place backs officially until they are retired. Thanks so much for dropping by. Suhail Zubaid aka Clark Kent from Mississauga, ON on November 05, 2017: Dropped by again to refresh my memories and to go through the list again. One of the best ever statistical analysis. Regards, Suhail Markyce on November 02, 2017: Where does Matt forte land on your list. He has had a quiet HOF caliber career. He may not have the 11000 rushing yards. I understand that he is not top 10. But his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield for such a long time, should put him close. Larry Rankin (author) from Oklahoma on July 20, 2015: Biz Whiz: thanks for dropping by. There has been no duel threat (receiving/rushing) the likes of Faulk before or since. He certainly is worthy of the top 10. He graded out 6th on my statistical and personal preference poll. TheBizWhiz on July 20, 2015: Also, if you had asked someone to create this list in 2001, I think Faulk would have been close to number one. I knew guys that would get in fights to draft him for Fantasy Football! TheBizWhiz on July 20, 2015: Sam, Great point. TD had some monster seasons, but had bad luck with that injury. Bo Jackson is another "What if?". Larry Rankin (author) from Oklahoma on July 20, 2015: Sam: the nature of this list, because it uses a statistical formula, doesn't account for greats like Sayers, Davis, and Campbell. That isn't to diminish their accomplishments. They were amazing while they were healthy. Sam Montana from Colorado on July 20, 2015: Great article. Gale Sayers didn't make the list because of injuries, which reminds me of my favorite running back, Terrill Davis. One of the few running backs that rushed for over 2,000 yards in a season but had his career cut short because of injury. Larry Rankin (author) from Oklahoma on June 30, 2015: Suhail: glad you enjoyed the ranking. Thanks so much for dropping by. Suhail Zubaid aka Clark Kent from Mississauga, ON on June 30, 2015: This is a great list. When I started watching NFL in 1984, Walter Payton was the guy that I liked immensely even though being a Giants fan it was oxymoron to love a guy from Bears. And yes, I was also surprised at LaDainian Tomlinson occupying that high a rank as #2 on the basis of statistics alone. You brought some great memories back for me. Thank you for that. Regards, Larry Rankin (author) from Oklahoma on June 23, 2015: The Big Whiz: thanks for the positive response. The article actually needs to be updated. There have been a couple of RBs to meet my criteria since I wrote it. TheBizWhiz on June 23, 2015: This is a very interesting Hub. I have never seen RB's stats analyzed like that! Great job. You did your research on this one. My friend broke Walter Payton's rushing record; high school record that is! lol Larry Rankin (author) from Oklahoma on May 26, 2015: Missing Link: there are lots of reasons why Brown is a favorite. In this particular statistical list he doesn't come out on top, but there are many who have him first. Great comments. Larry Rankin (author) from Oklahoma on May 26, 2015: Paul: those old time players did a bit of everything. That is just one of the many reasons why old time players are ill represented in a purely statistical list. Wonderful points. Missing Link from Oregon on May 25, 2015: My favorite is Jim Brown. Have you ever watched old tape of some of his runs? He would be surrounded and held by 4 people or so but would somehow break out of it and many of his other runs were sick too. I don't disagree with your list I guess---just sharing a thought or two. The Browns won several titles (at least one) with him prior to the Superbowls. I have Jim Brown's rookie card from 1958. Thanks! Paul Richard Kuehn from Udorn City, Thailand on May 25, 2015: I applaud you for doing a great job in coming up with this list based on statistics. However, I think a back's value to a team in winning championships is also very important. Yes, Emit Thomas of the Cowboys should be on the list because he helped the Cowboys win Super Bowls. Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung of the Packers were two of the best backs in the value they gave to Green Bay. Hornung was also a kicker and great at the half back option pass due to his quarterbacking experience at Notre Dame. Voted up as interesting and sharing with HP followers. Larry Rankin (author) from Oklahoma on April 10, 2015: They've had a lot of exciting and innovative teams, but yeah, I can see how for a fan it might be even more disappointing to like a team that obviously has talent and underachieves than a team that just isn't very good. Thanks for stopping by again, Sharp Points. Sharp Points from Big Bear Lake, California on April 10, 2015: You know I believe that maybe he is not mentioned with them because the other legendary players teams were more successful than LT's Chargers? I mean as a lifelong Chargers fan, I am not positive that this is true, but it feels like we are one of if not the most consistently disappointed fan base? They aren't one of those teams that falls between terrible and mediocre every year, but they aren't a powerhouse team such as New England either. No no no no noooo. Instead, every year they do well, then mess up a few games, then make a come back, just to miss the playoffs by one game. Even worse is the other half of the time they make the playoffs, win a game and get the fans hyped up yet again, just to be disappointed. Look at me venting on your comments section, my bad! This is but the sad reality of life as a Chargers fan. Larry Rankin (author) from Oklahoma on April 10, 2015: TR: thanks for the feedback. Barring another social misstep or injury, Peterson should reach my set criteria to be ranked by next season. Murray still has a good ways to go, but if he stays healthy, he'll be ranked one of these days, too, TR Bergstrom from Oregon on April 10, 2015: My favorite were Barry Sanders, Emmit Smith and, Marcus Allen. I think we could see Demarco Murray and, Adrian Peterson on this list before it's all said and, done. Larry Rankin (author) from Oklahoma on April 09, 2015: Sharp Points: I think he's the most significant Charger ever. Fauts and Winslow are the only other big names that come to my mind. I was still surprised Tomlinson graded out so high on my scale. He isn't usually mentioned in the same breath as Payton, Brown, and Sanders. Maybe he should be? Sharp Points from Big Bear Lake, California on April 09, 2015: Well written and informative article! Two thumbs up! Oh and as far as me being surprised by LT being #2? Not at all! He's the reason I love watching football today. One of the greatest Chargers of all time, if not the greatest. Larry Rankin (author) from Oklahoma on April 03, 2015: Adrian Peterson was a shoe in before all his behavioral downfalls. Now I'm not sure if he'll ever get his forward momentum back. Frank Gore and Matt Forte might find themselves on the list by the time they retire if they stay healthy. Thanks for the comments, Robert. Robert Beyer from Seattle, Washington on April 03, 2015: Larry, The last two players on your list surprised me. Its not that they weren't great, but I didn't know they were that good. Seeing their stats surprised me. Is there any current players that look like they are working their way into your list? Larry Rankin (author) from Oklahoma on March 17, 2015: Earl Campbell almost makes my personnel top 10. As far as my statistical list, he doesn't make it because injuries cut his career short, lowering his career output. But as far as one of the greatest to ever play, at his best, he certainly was that. Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on March 17, 2015: You really are a statistician! I was interesting in reading where you would have placed Earl Campbell and why. My hubby watches pro football and I only catch some of it occasionally. Larry Rankin (author) from Oklahoma on February 24, 2015: The premise for this article was to include players who exceeded a certain statistical level. Allen exceeded them, so he made the analysis. He made my personnel list, barely, because he did play 16 years and he does have a Super Bowl MVP. In addition, no telling what he may have done had he stayed on Al Davis's good side. That being said, I see what you're saying. I might've picked a more consistent back for number 10. If I went with plan B, I probably would have had Earl Campbell at 10. Thanks for the feedback. Troy Taylor from Anywhere on February 24, 2015: I wouldn't have included Marcus Allen in this conversation. Statistical he had two or three great seasons rushing and the rest of the time, he was used primarily used as a goal line back to dive over the pile W Ellis from Chicago, Illinois on August 04, 2014: Larry, I guess my point is that ideally, running the ball is to bring a source of stable, consistent yards and time of possession to an offense. We need to sustain drives with it. Of course, we've seen a continued improvement in the short passing game in football, so this is somewhat taking the place of running. Running the ball has become somewhat of a lost art. I'm going to move into the "could-ofs" realm here, but I think it's fair to say that on a better team, better coached, with a better quarterback, and more consistent blocking, Barry would have A) not retired as early, B), not have lost as many yards, and C), we would probably not be having this debate, as there wouldn't be a lot of records standing. For those who deride Barry for not hitting the hole, they obviously haven't watched enough tape, or seen enough games. True, he would dance around, and lose yards on plays where Smith, Allen, and Payton may get 1-3 yards, but then again, you can't blame the back if the first contact often occurs when he is handed the ball, when the other team is able to consistently stack the box, hold their gaps, and perhaps even have the luxury of assigning a spy to Barry. In that case, a good offense should dice that defense up with the passing game, and for those who watched, the Lions just plain couldn't. Why? Because the Lions line, even in their good years, was not the Cowboys O-line of the '90's. Their coaching wasn't nearly as good, and their QB play wasn't very good. Anybody who remembers Scott Mitchell knows that he wasn't exactly the greatest, and he had the best numbers QB-wise for the Lions during that period. We obviously can't go back, but it's hard for me to discount the difference between who Emmitt played for, and who Barry and Walter played for. Not taking anything away from Emmitt. I thought Emmitt was a great, very versatile back that made a huge difference for his team. He was also the undoubted beneficiary of playing for one of the greatest football teams of all time. On balance, I think for that type of back that Emmitt was, I personally thought Marcus Allen and Walter Payton were better. To address some of the common things said about Barry. "He was a quitter." All professional athletes are quitters at some point, even Brett Favre. 10 years was enough for Barry. Throughout his career, high school, College, and into the pros, Barry wanted to win, and didn't really care about stats and accolades. At the end, I think it's possible that he really wanted a trade, as he didn't see a winning future with the Lions, but he says that wasn't it--who knows? I only blame him for the way he quit...I don't blame him for quitting. The Lions have had 1 postseason win in the last half century. That's not his fault. "He was a dome-queen whose stats were padded by playing indoors." BS. Soldier Field is one of the crappiest fields in modern football history. And he torched us in Chicago, and he torched Tampa Bay, and he torched both Green Bay and San Fran too. History is replete with games played outdoors, on grass, in games that mattered, where he excelled. "He choked in Green Bay; he couldn't win the big one." The Lions have been unable to win the big one. If one guy turns around a franchise, it isn't a running back. It's a coach, or a quarterback, often both. Walter didn't win because he got better, Walter won because they put a team around him. Same with Emmitt, same with Marcus. AP recently has reminded us that one great RB alone will not get a team past the first round. It's more than for highlight films for why people remember Barry Sanders, although it's hard not to love a little guy who made people look consistently silly, and never taunt them while doing it. His talent is unmatched in the history of the game, he was the only one to run like that because he was the only one that COULD run like that. Larry Rankin (author) from Oklahoma on August 04, 2014: W Ellis: Wonderful insight. Barry could gain you fifty, but he could just as easily lose you 5. It's hard to say what he would have done with a grind it out offense, or if he would have been a good fit. There simply isn't any evidence because he never played professionally for that sort of team. He wasn't an awful blocker, as some think. If you watch the videos, he chopped the lineman coming through at the knees fairly effectively. He certainly wasn't imposing at that capacity, but he did a fair job. W Ellis from Chicago, Illinois on August 02, 2014: I love the statistical analysis used here, it seems to work well. Great job on this! My sentimental favorite is Barry. Bar none. This coming from a guy who lives in Chicago, and grew up worshiping Payton. Barry finally won me over on one play... where he spun over two defenders on the right side and went in to score on my beloved Bears. When that play happened, I stood up...and was speechless. Barry made more of those types of plays than anyone. He was the most gifted runner to ever play the game. Sure, he didn't look to run people over, but if you that kind of ability, why would you? I think he might be the most agile athlete of over 200 lbs that I've ever seen play any sport. He also didn't put the ball on the ground a lot, something that gets overlooked. All that said, if you're going to build an offense around a guy, it might be better to build one around guys like Payton, Smith, Allen, Tomlinson, Faulk, Craig...guys who were more versatile catching and blocking (Barry was an underrated receiver, but not a great blocker), and could convert that third and three with a little more regularity. Running the ball is very much about control, keeping the other team's offense off the field, killing the clock, punching it in from the 2 yard line, etc. That wins you football games. So if I'm building a team, I can simply take Payton at HB, and Barry can be my return man. Problem solved. The famous argument is, how would Barry have done with Emmitt's Cowboys? Honestly, it's hard to imagine, but I think Emmitt was perfect for the Cowboys-- and was a much of a piece of their success as any player. Barry was Barry and did what he did on (for the most part) pretty bad teams. Like it or not, what Barry did against 8-9 in the box is what made him a legend. Larry Rankin (author) from Oklahoma on July 21, 2014: Thanks for the comment, Walter Payton is my second favorite back of all time, but Barry Sanders will always be my all-time favorite. Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on July 21, 2014: That was a fun list that brought back some memories. Sweetness really wa sweet, wasn't he? :) Larry Rankin (author) from Oklahoma on June 08, 2014: I agree completely. I wanted to include fumbles and fumbles lost, but I got conflicting statistics before 1991 from various statistical sources, which led me to conclude it wasn't an officially kept statistic before 1991. I could be wrong, but I decided to air on the side of caution and leave them out. If I had access to statistics I knew to at least be highly accurate, I would have included them. I'm sure every team kept this stat, at least for their own records, but I can't compare stats when I only have them on some of the players. Thanks for the comments. Johnny Schmuck on June 07, 2014: I think ball control should have played a part in your analysis. If you're fumbling a lot you're killing your team. No disrespect to Dorsett or Franco (among others on your list), but goodness they put the ball on the ground a lot while a back like Curtis Martin hardly fumbled at all. Larry Rankin (author) from Oklahoma on April 27, 2014: As a runner, Czonka may be the third best fullback to ever play the game, but he wasn't much of a receiver and his statistical output isn't quite that of many of the others on the list. Earl Campbell was a monster in the backfield, and is one of my all-time favorites to watch highlights of, too bad his career ended so soon due to injury. malcolm on April 25, 2014: I found the article to be interesting but I think they left out one great running back and that was larry Czonka, he was not very fast but he was very strong, Franco Harris was my all time favorite, and I thought that Walter Payton was great also. Jim Brown by the tapes that I saw was very impressive on how he would carry several players on his back before he would be taken to the ground, Earl Campbell had that quality but the smoothest running back was Eric Dickerson he moved so effortlessly as a running back. Larry Rankin (author) from Oklahoma on April 15, 2014: KevinTrusty: Like I mentioned, the formula I came up with to judge the all-time backs was developed before I crunched the numbers, to provide an unbiased result. Sanders is my favorite back, but if somebody had to win besides him, I'm sure glad Payton came out on top. Larry Rankin (author) from Oklahoma on April 15, 2014: Kevinjackson47: Gore has had a very nice career. It will be interesting to see where he finishes. Thanks for the comment. Kevin Trusty from Joliet, IL on April 15, 2014: Being a Chicagoan I didn't have to read past #1 lol. Walter was the best I've ever seen (all bias aside.) Everyone on this list is amazing but there has never been anyone quite like Sweetness before, or since. Kevin Jackson from North Carolina on April 14, 2014: Barry sanders has to be the greatest of all time! He ran behind the worse o-line and his QB was Scott Mitchell. Frank gore is one of my favorites and is the #1 RB in SF history. Gore played most of his career behind a lack luster o-line and still was able to produce and make the pro bowl. Larry Rankin (author) from Oklahoma on April 08, 2014: Mosaicman: Thanks for the comment and I'll be sure to check your articles out. I can see someone putting Simpson at anywhere between 8-10, but I have a hard time seeing him all the way up at 4. Many don't know that when he broke the 2,000 yd mark it was in a 14 game season, and it is certainly the greatest rushing performance ever in a season, but the overall body of work isn't quite as impressive to me as many other players. Adrian Peterson is a fabulous RB, and projections put him ahead of about everybody before he is done, but I worry about his longevity because of his running style. Larry Rankin (author) from Oklahoma on April 08, 2014: Alphadogg16: First off, on my personal opinion list Earl Campbell would be 11 or 12, probably 12 after Dorsett. The main list in the article is stats generated, and it's hard for a guy like Campbell, with a short-ish career, to fair well on it. Second, Gale Sayers was a truly epic player, but he had so few years due to injury. It's hard for me to put him high, personally, because part of being a great all-time back is staying healthy, and 5 semi-healthy seasons in the league isn't a big enough sample. For the time he was healthy, might Sayers have been the best that ever was? Yes. But the other players on the list are in the same neighborhood, but they did it for 9, 10 or even more years. In response to Brown and Payton, Brown is the top guy on many people's list, but don't sale Payton short. In my opinion, he played against better talent than Brown. Larry Rankin (author) from Oklahoma on April 08, 2014: I've had the opportunity to watch a lot of great RBs in my life, but it was funner watching Sanders than any of them for me personally. CJ Kelly from the PNW on April 08, 2014: Very well written. Great topic. When debating great players in the NFL, I usually don't rely solely on the stats. To me, Thurman Thomas was a better back than Edgerrin James. I would actually put Dorsett and Harris ahead of Dickerson and Martin despite the numbers. Maybe it's because they played on winning teams. Not sure. But going with my gut on this one. Voted up. Keep up the good work. mosaicman from Tampa Bay, Fl on April 08, 2014: For the most part, my personal list would look very similar. I agree with the top 3. I would put OJ Simpson at #4 and move Emmitt to #5. I think when it is all said an done, Adrian Peterson will definitely be on the top 10. The question is how close to number 1 can he get? Excellent Hub. Check out my hubs when you get a chance. Kevin W from Texas on April 08, 2014: Very nice list Larry Rankin, I've been a Bears fan for 35 years, so of course Sweetness has always been one of my favorites, but I think Jim Brown was the best ever, hands down. Gale Sayers couldn't make your list?? Earl Cambell? Paul Edmondson from Burlingame, CA on April 08, 2014: Interesting analysis. I go with Barry Sanders as the best I've seen. |
Who is the best running back in the nfl history
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