Best 5 RBs of the 1990s

[Iggloo]

Faulk yards per attempt in the 90's:
4.1
3.7
3.0
4.0
4.1
5.5


Yeah, that's a fair statement

I never said he sucked in the 90s, but his best stats clearly were 1999-2001 with the "Greatest Show on Turf" when he averaged 5+ a carry and had huge yardage and TDs running and receiving. He had 26 TDs combined in 2000 and 21 in 2001. Huge numbers he never had in the 1990s. His highest in the 1990s was 14 combined TDs.

Marshall Faulk NFL Football Statistics | Pro-Football-Reference.com

 

[UK Cowboy]

Smith
Sanders
Faulk
Thomas
Davis

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I scanned through to see the support for T. Davis.

My list was

Bettis, Sanders, Smith, Faulk, Martin

Terrell was a helluva RB, clearly a more explosive player than JB, but the sample was just too short imo which is why he's struggling to get into the HOF...has nothing to do with his talent.

 

[BUD]

1. Sanders
2. Thomas
3. Faulk
4. Davis
5. Smith

 

[Schmoopy1000]

YES SIR...and I reserve the term "great" more often than not

Faulk was a great runningback, as was Curtis Martin. I just don't put them ahead of what emmitt was as a player.
I think both Martin & Faulk woulda kept the Dallas offense rolling as Emmitt did....I remain very unsure Barry woulda. As great as Barry was with a football under his arm, not sure Dallas wins as Dallas won had Barry been there instead of emmitt or faulk/martin....just an opinion

I agree. I am not sure Barry would have benefitted from the Cowboys line. Now the Denver Broncos line. Holy Shit would Barry do damage.

 

[TBBishop]

I got Sanders, Faulk, Davis, George and Thomas. Where is the Nigerian Nightmare and what the fuck is Mike Alstott's dumb ass doing on here?

 

[Rockinkuwait]

I scanned through to see the support for T. Davis.

My list was

Bettis, Sanders, Smith, Faulk, Martin

Terrell was a helluva RB, clearly a more explosive player than JB, but the sample was just too short imo which is why he's struggling to get into the HOF...has nothing to do with his talent.

Yeah TD is tough. Could easily call that the most dominant stretch by any RB over a 3 year period. The yards, the TD's, the post-season success, all of it was elite. But that's about it.

For me, 90's

Emmitt and Barry are the cream of the crop. Thurman Thomas would be next for me, then Jerome Bettis. Then I would say Ricky Watters.. (wouldn't mind Faulk, TD, Hampton, Terry Allen even.. Different levels of top play and amounts of play in that decade...)

Sure you can say Ricky wasn't as good as Faulk for his career, but for just the 90's that's basically his entire career.

 

[The Oldtimer]

Emmitt Smith was by far (and it's not even close) the best RB in the 90's. He did it all and he did it with heart and determination. He wasn't a quitter, he hit the holes instead of running around in circles for two yard gains or losses and he got it done. It wasn't the O-Line that made him look good but Smith made the O-Line look good.

Marshall Faulk shouldn't even be in the poll.

Great comment coming from a Cowboy fan.

 

[handicappers]

Great comment coming from a Cowboy fan.

Doesn't make it less true. Emmitt Smith was the best RB in the 90's....period.

 

[Rockinkuwait]

Doesn't make it less true. Emmitt Smith was the best RB in the 90's....period.

But Faulk you have to agree does belong on the list right? 5th in total yards, 7th in TD's in the 90's among backs, An offensive rookie of the year, set the all time mark for yards gained by a back, an offensive player of the year in that decade.. You can argue top 5 he doesn't belong, no issue there..

but if you are going to say he doesn't belong on the list... Fine, name me the player you put in his place.

 

[Davis_Mike]

-Sanders
-Smith
-Faulk
-Thomas
-Bettis

Davis only did it for a hand full of seasons. The rest of these guys did it for the better part of a decade.

 

[handicappers]

But Faulk you have to agree does belong on the list right? 5th in total yards, 7th in TD's in the 90's among backs, An offensive rookie of the year, set the all time mark for yards gained by a back, an offensive player of the year in that decade.. You can argue top 5 he doesn't belong, no issue there..

but if you are going to say he doesn't belong on the list... Fine, name me the player you put in his place.

Maybe I was thinking of Kevin Faulk.

 

[broncosmitty]

Thanks for the 5 votes, but I only need one.

 

[Rockinkuwait]

Maybe I was thinking of Kevin Faulk.

lol... ok good one.. Yeah he's not going up there...

 

[The Oldtimer]

Doesn't make it less true. Emmitt Smith was the best RB in the 90's....period.

Opinions are always welcome on Sportshoopla.

 

[Wamu]

Emmitt Smith was the best RB in the 90's....period.

No he wasn't, Sanders was.

Sanders: 99.8 ypg on the ground (118.9 total)
Smith: 81.2 ypg on the ground (95.5 total)

 

[Battlelyon]

Sanders had an elite talent, Smith greatly benefited from a great offensive line. If Smith and Sanders switched teams, do people really think Smith would of had just as many yards?

 

[handicappers]

Hell yeah Smith would have got his numbers on any team. The o-line benefited form Smith's running style.

Smith (3) > Sanders (0)

 

[Wamu]

Hell yeah Smith would have got his numbers on any team. The o-line benefited form Smith's running style.

Smith (3) > Sanders (0)

 

[Across The Field]

Sanders
Smith
Faulk
George
Thomas