NFLs top 5 RBs?

[Point Blank]

This isnt fantasy football. Too many unproven players and one dimentional guys littering these lists.

My top 5:

1. LaDainian Tomlinson - He's earned the right to have more than one "bad" year before you clowns start ranking rookies & one year wonders ahead of him. He ran for 1100 yards, caught 52 balls, and scored 12 TD's. He's thrown TD passes 4 of the last 6 seasons. He only put the ball on the ground 1 time. Still cuts on a dime, legendary vision. He's still the best, but won't be for much longer.

2. Steven Jackson - The best size/speed combo in the game. His 9.5 yards per catch led all starting RB's. Hits holes with authority, and is the most dangerous RB in the league in space. Injuries are his only issue.

3. Adrian Peterson - He fumbled 9 times. NINE. And he only caught 21 passes for a paltry 125 yards. With that said, he's a TD threat every time he touches the ball. Nobody has his breakaway ability, but he has to stop putting the ball on the ground, and he's a non factor on third down. No shame in being #3.

4. Brian Westbrook - High football IQ, and dangerous receiver. Underated runner who Andy Reid always protected a bit too much IMO. Aging, but rises up in the big spot, and simply makes plays.

5. Marion Barber/Maurice Jones Drew - I can't decide. Barber is the hardest runner in the league. No fear. Catches the ball well out of the backfield, and can convert 3rd & short. He fumbles alot. MJD is another guy who excels out of the backfield, so he can play every down. Good instincts, faster than he looks. Finds the end zone.

My take on other guys:

Michael Turner - He only caught 6 passes. Another monster year and he easily replaces someone on the list.

Steve Slaton - Rookies don't make my list, you have to have a track record. But he's the best of the rookie bunch. A slasher who can catch the ball.

Matt Forte - 3.9 yards per carry. Good hands, but you cant average less than 4 yards per carry, and be a rookie, and be one of the 5 best RB's in the game. Be serious.

Clinton Portis - Very good player. I take no issue with anyone having him in their top 5.

Frank Gore/Marshawn Lynch/Ronnie Brown - See above. Gore fumbles alot, Lynch does it all, a very good player. Brown is underated, his numbers are hurt by his system.

Darren McFadden - Just needs to stay healthy. The total package. 9.8 yards per catch, maybe the fastest RB in pads in the league.

Brandon Jacobs - Big bruiser, but still averaged 5.0 per carry. I suspect he would wear down if he wasnt splitting carries 3 ways.

That's why we have Norwood.

 

[Boss AZ]

This isnt fantasy football. Too many unproven players and one dimentional guys littering these lists.

My top 5:

1. LaDainian Tomlinson - He's earned the right to have more than one "bad" year before you clowns start ranking rookies & one year wonders ahead of him. He ran for 1100 yards, caught 52 balls, and scored 12 TD's. He's thrown TD passes 4 of the last 6 seasons. He only put the ball on the ground 1 time. Still cuts on a dime, legendary vision. He's still the best, but won't be for much longer.

2. Steven Jackson - The best size/speed combo in the game. His 9.5 yards per catch led all starting RB's. Hits holes with authority, and is the most dangerous RB in the league in space. Injuries are his only issue.

3. Adrian Peterson - He fumbled 9 times. NINE. And he only caught 21 passes for a paltry 125 yards. With that said, he's a TD threat every time he touches the ball. Nobody has his breakaway ability, but he has to stop putting the ball on the ground, and he's a non factor on third down. No shame in being #3.

4. Brian Westbrook - High football IQ, and dangerous receiver. Underated runner who Andy Reid always protected a bit too much IMO. Aging, but rises up in the big spot, and simply makes plays.

5. Marion Barber/Maurice Jones Drew - I can't decide. Barber is the hardest runner in the league. No fear. Catches the ball well out of the backfield, and can convert 3rd & short. He fumbles alot. MJD is another guy who excels out of the backfield, so he can play every down. Good instincts, faster than he looks. Finds the end zone.

My take on other guys:

Michael Turner - He only caught 6 passes. Another monster year and he easily replaces someone on the list.

Steve Slaton - Rookies don't make my list, you have to have a track record. But he's the best of the rookie bunch. A slasher who can catch the ball.

Matt Forte - 3.9 yards per carry. Good hands, but you cant average less than 4 yards per carry, and be a rookie, and be one of the 5 best RB's in the game. Be serious.

Clinton Portis - Very good player. I take no issue with anyone having him in their top 5.

Frank Gore/Marshawn Lynch/Ronnie Brown - See above. Gore fumbles alot, Lynch does it all, a very good player. Brown is underated, his numbers are hurt by his system.

Darren McFadden - Just needs to stay healthy. The total package. 9.8 yards per catch, maybe the fastest RB in pads in the league.

Brandon Jacobs - Big bruiser, but still averaged 5.0 per carry. I suspect he would wear down if he wasnt splitting carries 3 ways.

Even though you are miserable, at least your list isn't a complete joke.

 

[Blick]

Larry is a great runner, but he still hasn't played a whole season whether it's injuries or coaching disputes or whatever. 16 games he'll be right up there tho

:joker:

He's played a whole season before.

 

[dboy_dc]

Look at what felix consistently done the nasty to every team he touch the ball against....

Please Dallas Homer dez nuts... and I'm not no damn teenager ma dude.

 

[Woy]

This isnt fantasy football. Too many unproven players and one dimentional guys littering these lists.

My top 5:

1. LaDainian Tomlinson - He's earned the right to have more than one "bad" year before you clowns start ranking rookies & one year wonders ahead of him. He ran for 1100 yards, caught 52 balls, and scored 12 TD's. He's thrown TD passes 4 of the last 6 seasons. He only put the ball on the ground 1 time. Still cuts on a dime, legendary vision. He's still the best, but won't be for much longer.

2. Steven Jackson - The best size/speed combo in the game. His 9.5 yards per catch led all starting RB's. Hits holes with authority, and is the most dangerous RB in the league in space. Injuries are his only issue.

3. Adrian Peterson - He fumbled 9 times. NINE. And he only caught 21 passes for a paltry 125 yards. With that said, he's a TD threat every time he touches the ball. Nobody has his breakaway ability, but he has to stop putting the ball on the ground, and he's a non factor on third down. No shame in being #3.

4. Brian Westbrook - High football IQ, and dangerous receiver. Underated runner who Andy Reid always protected a bit too much IMO. Aging, but rises up in the big spot, and simply makes plays.

5. Marion Barber/Maurice Jones Drew - I can't decide. Barber is the hardest runner in the league. No fear. Catches the ball well out of the backfield, and can convert 3rd & short. He fumbles alot. MJD is another guy who excels out of the backfield, so he can play every down. Good instincts, faster than he looks. Finds the end zone.

My take on other guys:

Michael Turner - He only caught 6 passes. Another monster year and he easily replaces someone on the list.

Steve Slaton - Rookies don't make my list, you have to have a track record. But he's the best of the rookie bunch. A slasher who can catch the ball.

Matt Forte - 3.9 yards per carry. Good hands, but you cant average less than 4 yards per carry, and be a rookie, and be one of the 5 best RB's in the game. Be serious.

Clinton Portis - Very good player. I take no issue with anyone having him in their top 5.

Frank Gore/Marshawn Lynch/Ronnie Brown - See above. Gore fumbles alot, Lynch does it all, a very good player. Brown is underated, his numbers are hurt by his system.

Darren McFadden - Just needs to stay healthy. The total package. 9.8 yards per catch, maybe the fastest RB in pads in the league.

Brandon Jacobs - Big bruiser, but still averaged 5.0 per carry. I suspect he would wear down if he wasnt splitting carries 3 ways.

Darren McFadden on that list and no Chris Johnson?

:jonesy:

Give me a fucking break.

 

[Boss AZ]

Darren McFadden on that list and no Chris Johnson?

:jonesy:

Give me a fucking break.

Probably only thing i disagree with. Not having Chris Johnson doesn't bother me, but McFadden?

 

[Woy]

Probably only thing i disagree with. Not having Chris Johnson doesn't bother me, but McFadden?

Eh, I say if he includes the other two rookie backs in Slaton and Forte, then Johnson should get be in there too. Those three could be 1a, 1b, and 1c or whatever. Not actually the number one runningback, but you get my point.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Darren McFadden on that list and no Chris Johnson?

:jonesy:

Give me a fucking break.

You can join dave in the "I cant read" club.

I ranked 5 (6) guys.

The rest were just random comments on other guys, in no particular order.

 

[Blick]

W2BTD, I would like to read your comments on Larry Johnson, and how he is a better RB than your boy Steven Jackson. Please go ahead.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

W2BTD, I would like to read your comments on Larry Johnson, and how he is a better RB than your boy Steven Jackson. Please go ahead.

Larry Johnson - Johnson quietly had a good year, following an inevitable bad year in 2007, following a 400+ carry 2006. Historically, RB's rarely bounce back from that type of workload (see Jamal Anderson), but Johnson anveraged 4.5 yards per carry last season and ran well....when he played. And that's the issue with Johnson. He's only played 20 games the last two seasons, and only started 16 games one time.

At the end of the day, you have a talented guy with a long injury history (dating back to Penn St), who somehow always seems to bounce back. Off the field issues and disputes with coaches have also led to missed time.

Johnson still runs hard, but is a lock to miss at least a month's worth of games, and is no longer a threat out of the backfield (he was once deceptively effective as a pass catcher). He's a fringe top 10 RB at this point, who will show the occassional burst of greatness from his two year period of dominance in the middle of the decade.

And no, he's not as good as Jackson.



How's that?

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

While I'll be the first to agree that AD needs to quit fumbling, I think you are putting a little too much emphasis on reception numbers. AD ran for more yards than LT or Steven Jackson's had in total yards. He also averaged more YPC than both of them with a ton more carries. While I would prefer Peterson got more play on 3rd down, the Vikes have the luxury of being able to use Chester Taylor on 3rd down in order to give AD a rest, he could play and catch the ball on 3rd down if he needed to. The position is called "running" back, and nobody runs the ball better.

I have no issue with anyone who thinks AP is the best back in football.

I have always prefered backs who can play every down, and I absolutely detest fumbles. Personal preference.

I understand the Chester Taylor point. They have someone better to fill the role, and that's not AP's fault.

 

[Blick]

Larry Johnson - Johnson quietly had a good year, following an inevitable bad year in 2007, following a 400+ carry 2006. Historically, RB's rarely bounce back from that type of workload (see Jamal Anderson), but Johnson anveraged 4.5 yards per carry last season and ran well....when he played. And that's the issue with Johnson. He's only played 20 games the last two seasons, and only started 16 games one time.

Your boy Steven Jackson has only played in 24 games in the last 2 seasons, and only started 16 games once himself. Plus, Larry played enough in 2005 to be considered a starter. He had 336 carries, only 10 shy of Jackson's career high. I wouldn't penalize LJ because Dick Vermeil had a man crush on Priest Holmes and gave him the starts in '05, even though LJ was by far the more talented back.

At the end of the day, you have a talented guy with a long injury history (dating back to Penn St), who somehow always seems to bounce back. Off the field issues and disputes with coaches have also led to missed time.

What long injury history?

Johnson still runs hard, but is a lock to miss at least a month's worth of games, and is no longer a threat out of the backfield (he was once deceptively effective as a pass catcher). He's a fringe top 10 RB at this point, who will show the occassional burst of greatness from his two year period of dominance in the middle of the decade.

Because?

And no, he's not as good as Jackson.

The numbers say different. I thought it was interesting.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Your boy Steven Jackson has only played in 24 games in the last 2 seasons, and only started 16 games once himself.

Did you read my Jackson summary? I noted that he's always injured. What's your point?

What long injury history?

Do you even know anything about LJ?

He has a history of knee problems dating back to Penn St. He's also had ankle issues, problems with coaches, and problems spitting on women.

All of which lead to missed games. Every year. It's a virtual lock.

The numbers say different. I thought it was interesting.

No, they don't.

LJ had two monster seasons, and has done nothing of note otherwise.

Jackson has rushed for over 1,000 yards four straight seasons, despite only starting 11 games each of the past two seasons. He also has a 90 catch season, and has the 5th highest single seaon total in yards from scrimmage in NFL history (2006).

They have similar career numbers arcoss the board, and neither can manage to stay on the field. The difference, is Jackson is far more consistant and reliable, with no off field garbage, and is far more versitile because he's much, much better out of the backfield as a recieving threat.

In short, Johnson is a guy who had two big years, but Jackson has been a top player at his position for the last four.

Not only do I think Jackson is a better player, I think it's a slam dunk. And i'm not even that big of a Jackson fan.

 

[.RoCkEtS1]

1. L.T
2. Adrian Peterson
3. Brian Westbrook
4. Steven Jackson
5. Michael Turner

 

[Big C-Dub]

LT was just as good as he always was in the games he was healthy last year, he'll be back just watch...

 

[dave]

LT was just as good as he always was in the games he was healthy last year, he'll be back just watch...

That's usually not the case when RBs hit their 30s.

I like LT too, but history tells us that runningbacks never bounce back in their 30s ... ever.

 

[Fox1994]

My list:

1. Adrian Peterson the Greater
2. Maurice Jones-Drew "the Human Cannonball"
3. Frank Gore
4. Clinton Portis
5. LaDainian Tomlinson

That five spot was difficult. I wasn't sure if I wanted LDT high on the list, but I couldn't live with myself if he wasn't on there at all.