Top 5 Running Backs All Time

[Nosferatu]

Same goes for Don Hutson then...

Nope, size of the players has nothing to do with covering a receiver.

 

[Across The Field]

That's not something a running back always has control over.

Beat me to it. Rushing TDs are incidental all too often. A few years ago, Legarrette Blount led the NFL in rushing TDs, and he'll never even approach the HOF. In 2013, the top 5 RBs in terms of rushing TDs included Stevan Ridley and Trent Richardson.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

There will probably never be a player more fun to watch than Barry but he had limitations and just wasn't a complete back IMO. Taken out often on short yardage and goal line situations, wasn't a very good receiver, didn't block, too many negative runs that hurt his team. I am not trying to knock Barry but if I needed a back for the most important game of my life, he's not in my top 5.

All fair points, most of which I agree with. Not many of the great RBs of that era were used in the passing game that much so I won't give Sanders a demerit for that, but he wasn't the greatest short yardage back and he did have a lot more negative runs than you'd want to remember.

For one game?...that would change my top 5...I might take put Emmitt in that grouping instead of Sanders.

 

[Clayton]

Jim Brown
Walter Payton
Barry Sanders
Emmitt Smith
Marshall Faulk

I'm good with that as a top 5. I think there is an argument for OJ because he probably had one of the best primes ever but overall I'd probably put him outside the top 5. Sanders was probably the most talented. Emmitt Smith, despite being surrounded by talent, was still the most important player on the most dominant team in his era. Faulk's ability to catch and run was the heart of the Greatest Show on Turf and is basically the mold for the modern RB. I think AP is close but he has some issues keeping him 2nd tier.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Nope, size of the players has nothing to do with covering a receiver.

Comparing him to Moss, Rice, Calvin, etc. is blasphemy

 

[ATL96Steeler]

He was consistent, his peak is lacking compared to the greats though. Only one year with double digits rushing TD's

I'm a big Frank Gore fan, but in terms of all time greats...his best attribute on the field has probably been his durability.

 

[Nosferatu]

Comparing him to Moss, Rice, Calvin, etc. is blasphemy

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Again, i'm not trying to knock Jim Brown but when you are as big as the defensive linemen thats a pretty big advantage, Leroy Kelly, came in after Jim retired and did pretty darn well with that team.


Imagine if someone with Adrian Peterson's speed and ability weighed 300 pounds.

The Chamberlin effect....when you're just so much bigger than your competition, it's harder to really appreciate the talent. JB was the same size as most LB and only slightly smaller than some DL...but fast and strong. One man wasn't bringing JB down by himself too often.

 

[Rock Strongo]

AP on these lists confuses me a bit.

7 years over 1,000 yards (1 of them being a 2k season). same as edgerin james. 7-8 good to great seasons. he led the league in rushing 3 times. emmit did it 4 times. so did barry sanders.

btw, any list without barry sanders is fraudulent.

 

[Nosferatu]

The Chamberlin effect....when you're just so much bigger than your competition, it's harder to really appreciate the talent. JB was the same size as most LB and only slightly smaller than some DL...but fast and strong. One man wasn't bringing JB down by himself too often.

Jim Brown played at 235, so did Alan Page... lolzzz

 

[Shanemansj13]

Beat me to it. Rushing TDs are incidental all too often. A few years ago, Legarrette Blount led the NFL in rushing TDs, and he'll never even approach the HOF. In 2013, the top 5 RBs in terms of rushing TDs included Stevan Ridley and Trent Richardson.

You are talking about a short stint though, we are talking career. He never could get into the endzone. Great backs find the endzone. Gore was the definition of consistent, that's great but doesn't put him anywhere near the top 10.

Put him up against other RB's of his time. His peak is severely lacking big time.

Top 10 in rushing yards in a season - four times (barely cracking it 3 times)
Top 5 - once.
Never led the league in rushing yards or TD's but he deserves a top 5 RB or even top 10 of all-time LOL. His peak is severely lacking. He wasn't the best RB in the league at any point in his career, in any season.

 

[Nosferatu]

AP on these lists confuses me a bit.

7 years over 1,000 yards (1 of them being a 2k season). same as edgerin james. 7-8 good to great seasons. he led the league in rushing 3 times. emmit did it 4 times. so did barry sanders.

btw, any list without barry sanders is fraudulent.

OR... was a list put together by someone who isn't mesmerized by flashy trinkets

 

[Rock Strongo]

There will probably never be a player more fun to watch than Barry but he had limitations and just wasn't a complete back IMO. Taken out often on short yardage and goal line situations, wasn't a very good receiver, didn't block, too many negative runs that hurt his team. I am not trying to knock Barry but if I needed a back for the most important game of my life, he's not in my top 5.

so you dont list sanders because he wasnt a "complete back" buy you list AP?

 

[micallen]

It's hard to even list a top 5. Gets easier to list a top 10.

Jim Brown
Walter Payton
Barry Sanders
Emmitt Smith
OJ Simpson
Marshall Faulk
Gale Sayers
Eric Dickerson
LaDainian Tomlinson
Earl Campbell

 

[Shanemansj13]

I'm a big Frank Gore fan, but in terms of all time greats...his best attribute on the field has probably been his durability.

Add blocking too. Pretty damn good blocker and beast. Makes you think why he didn't score more TD's for such a physical runner/goal line type back. He was overrated imo

 

[Nosferatu]

so you dont list sanders because he wasnt a "complete back" buy you list AP?

Yes, was AD taken out in short yardage situations? did AD have a bunch of negative runs that hurt his team? AD wasn't a good blocker but he wasn't invisible like Barry. Anything else?

 

[Rock Strongo]

OR... was a list put together by someone who isn't mesmerized by flashy trinkets

he averaged 5 yards every carry. yeah, he has the most negative runs in the nfl, but that wasnt his fault.
he retired in his prime, at 30, after a 1500 yard season. barry couild also catch the ball (you called him a not complete back). 352 catches over 10 years (35.2 a season). peterson has 289 over 12 and counting. thats about 22-24 a year.

so you call one guy complete (AP) and another guy, incomplete, when one caught about a pass more per game in his career.

both guys couldnt block (or werent required to), and AP had stone hands coming out of college. its why he was a 2 down back mostly.

 

[megalodon30]

Marion Motley
Jamaal Charles
Jim Brown
Mercury Morris
Barry Sanders

Just went highest YPC. Get me as many yards as you can when I give you the ball.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Add blocking too. Pretty damn good blocker and beast. Makes you think why he didn't score more TD's for such a physical runner/goal line type back. He was overrated imo

He lasted too long to be overrated imo, but I never considered him the best RB in any one season...he just kept playing the numbers added up...Emmitt like.

 

[Rock Strongo]

Yes, was AD taken out in short yardage situations? did AD have a bunch of negative runs that hurt his team? AD wasn't a good blocker but he wasn't invisible like Barry. Anything else?

see my last post

i dont think you watched sanders play?

 

[Across The Field]

You are talking about a short stint though, we are talking career. He never could get into the endzone. Great backs find the endzone. Gore was the definition of consistent, that's great but doesn't put him anywhere near the top 10.

Put him up against other RB's of his time. His peak is severely lacking big time.

Top 10 in rushing yards in a season - four times (barely cracking it 3 times)
Top 5 - once.
Never led the league in rushing yards or TD's but he deserves a top 5 RB or even top 10 of all-time LOL. His peak is severely lacking. He wasn't the best RB in the league at any point in his career, in any season.

He wasn't flashy, but an underrated value in a RB is availability. He was an ironman at a position that very, very few are, especially nowadays. He's also, without question, one of the best RBs all-time in pass protection, but that doesn't show up in the stat sheets.

 

[Nosferatu]

see my last post

i dont think you watched sanders play?

I don't think you watched anyone who wasn't playing the Pats.