Best NFL Running Back ever

Dr. Giganto

Sports Moderator

i was looking at some stats, and I was wondering who you guys think is the best ever. Here are my candidates:

Jim Brown:

9 seasons played
12,312 Rushing Yards (A record when he retired)
Led NFL in rushing 8 of 9 seasons
All-NFL 8 times
NFL MVP in 1958 and 1965
Rookie of the Year 1957
126 TDs
Career 5.2 Yards per Carry

Walter Payton:

13 seasons played
16,726 Rushing Yards (A record when he retired)
9 Pro Bowl appearances
1 Super Bowl ring
125 TDs
275 Yards in one game (A record at the time)
NFL MVP in 1977 and 1985
1,852 Rushing Yards in 1977 (A record at the time)
492 Receptions for 4538 Yards

Eric Dickerson:

11 seasons played
2,105 Rushing Yards in 1984 (a record)
12 100-yard rushing games in 1984 (a record at the time)
1,800 or more rushing yards three of first four seasons
13,259 career rushing yards
6 Pro Bowls
Led NFL in rushing 4 times
1,808 rushing yards, 18 TDs as a rookie (both records)
248 rushing yards in a playoff game (a record)
96 TDs
First back ever to record seven consecutive 1000-yard seasons

OJ Simpson:

11 seasons played
11,236 rushing yards
76 TDs
2003 yards in 14 games in 1973 (a record at the time)
NFL Player of the Year in 1972, 1973, and 1975
6 Pro Bowls
Led NFL in rushing 4 times

Emmitt Smith:

Currently playing in his 15th season
17,536 rushing yards (a record)
168 TDs
3 Super Bowl rings
8 Pro Bowls
Super Bowl XXVIII MVP
NFL MVP 1993
1990 Rookie of the Year
11 straight 1000 yard seasons (a record)

Barry Sanders:

Played 10 seasons
15,269 rushing yards
1000 or more rushing yards all 10 seasons
Pro Bowl all 10 seasons
NFL MVP 1997
Led NFL in rushing 4 times
14 straight 100-yard games in 1997 (a record)
2,053 rushing yards in 1997
4 consecutive seasons of 1500 rushing yards or more, 5 years overall (both records)
109 TDS
5.0 Yards per Carry

Randy Orton

WC's Resident Alchoholic

i would say emmit smith

IRALB

Hah, didn't prove that last year.

Jim Brown.

Simon

Founder/Admin

I am torn on this one.

First off. All these guys are awesome running back and should all be in the hall of fame (even the murderer), but you asked for the BEST ever. Hmmmmmm.

I am going to have to go with Barry Sanders. I remember a ways back, I did a thing on why he should be considered the best ever. The simple fact that the Detroit Lions were so horrible all those years and gave him absolutely NO support in his time there. Imagine if he was on the Dallas Dynasty.

pick: Barry Sanders.

Honorable Mention to Eric Dickerson: He was nasty in his hey day.

Bukowski

As a Cowboys fan I have to go with Emmitt, he is the only Super Bowl MVP. He has the most touchdowns, and most Super Bowl victories out of the 6. Barry Sanders would be a close second though.

DMW

The only one of those that I would say for sure is NOT the best is Emmitt Smith. I think there are a lot of running backs that could have put up his kinds of numbers when playing with that offensive line for all those years. I don't know much about the older teams, so it's hard to have much of an opinion about the older guys, but Barry Sanders proved he was one of the best pure runners ever when playing with those horrible Detroit teams.

I'd say either Sanders, Payton or or Jim Brown. I can't really call any one of them better than the others though.

Simon

Founder/Admin

With that theory, Tom Brady is already one of the best QB's ever. Two Superbowl Titles and two Superbowl MVP's.

Bukowski

Not really no... Since he hasn't put up the kind of numbers at QB that Emmitt has put up at RB, along with the Super Bowl stats.

Freak

In my mind this debate isn't even in question... I choose Jim Brown. His statistics speak for themselves, and when you consider he played 12-14 game seasons, it's even more impressive. There was absolutely no stopping that man.

My favourite back to watch, like most others, is Barry. However, I could never label him the greatest ever, simply because he lacked in areas where some of these other guys really shined -- ie. pass-catching, pass-blocking and on the goal-line. Emmitt Smith was never flashy, and I admit was definitely a partial byproduct of his offensive line and offense, but he was an absolute nasty pass-blocker.

Give it another seven or eight years, I wouldn't be surprised to see LaDainian Tomlinson making these lists.

Dr. Giganto

Sports Moderator

I agree with Freak. What really stands out to me is Jim Brown's career 5.2 Yards per Carry. Most of the other guys on the list were in the 4.4-4.6 range. Plus the fact that only once did he not lead the NFL in rushing.

Like Freak, Barry was my favorite to watch. He was just incredible. no other way to describe it.

One thing all these guys have in common: durability. Emmitt has been healthy pretty much his entire career (last year excepted). Payton missed one game his rookie year, and didnt mis any more until the end of his final season. Barry was healthy pretty much his entire career. Amazing when you consider how tough it is to play running back. You get tackled 20-25 times a game, plus going head on with linebackers in pass protection. Its really a testament to their toughness that they stayed healthy for so long