The best running back that ever played in the NFL is:

[Honolulu Blue]

I'm sure most of you have heard of Jim Brown, even if you've never seen him play. He was also a great lacrosse player, and as an actor he was... a great lacrosse player.

But was he the best ever? You decide.

[albionmoonlight]

Walter Payton.

[korme]

Barry Sanders.

Jim Brown is up there but it's kind of the same argument as Wilt in the 50's or any white baseball player before the color barrier.

[SteveMax58]

This is a tough one but I can say with certainty I don't have Jim Brown at the top. While its not his fault, his physicality would not translate to modern NFL players very well. It isn't just the "workout" factor (which would of course apply to Brown as it would the players of his era).

Its that he really was one of the earliest & best examples of what size, coupled with incredible athleticism, meant for an NFL team. So while he was first to exploit this, if the country was trying to pump out athletic freaks for the NFL as they do today, I think you'd find plenty of guys back then that could have buried Brown for 2 yds and made his career shorter than it was. Unpopular view of a legend, I know, but thats the gist of what I think about him in an all-time/cross-era sort of way.

Having said all that, I think I might go with Marshall Faulk. He wasn't the first pass-catching RB but to me, he was hands down the best and most dangerous weapon on the field in his prime. Completely changed how you had to defend the offenses he was a part of.

[Dutch]

Barry Sanders

[revrew]

Barry Sanders was perhaps the most talented runner, but his consistent jitter-bug style, getting caught in the backfield (I believe he holds the record for most negative yardage runs in NFL history), means he was exciting, but I'm not convinced he was nearly the asset to his team's winning chances as his pure talent would suggest.

Walter Payton is a great choice for the do everything well, 4 yards every time he touches the ball, I'd rank him higher than Sanders if I were a coach looking to win.

But I'll still take Brown as #1 overall. He was Payton but more powerful. No, he wouldn't put up those same gaudy numbers against today's defenses, but give him a zone blocking scheme like Terrell Davis had in Denver, and he'd eclipse TD's numbers in a heartbeat. 2,000 yards would be easily in reach. Even in today's NFL, with the right line in front of him, (Emmet's line in Dallas? Oh, please) Brown would be a beast.

[BillJasper]

Originally Posted by korme

Jim Brown is up there but it's kind of the same argument as Wilt in the 50's or any white baseball player before the color barrier.

I'm not sure about Brown being able to dominate today the way he did in the 60's.

I'll go with Eric Dickerson.

[Dutch]

I made the choice of best...there is a great argument to say he wasn't nearly the most effective.

[Kodos]

Barry Sanders.

[ColtCrazy]

Barry Sanders. He still holds the best play I've ever seen live. I saw him run to the right, reverse field in traffic, run left, and then run 30 yards for touchdown. Just an amazing runner. You can't blame Sanders for not winning in the playoffs. Great teams figure out ways to shut a one dimensional team down. Detroit was always one dimensional with Barry.

Eric Dickerson would be up there for me as well as would Walter Payton. Both tremendous runners.

[MizzouRah]

Barry Sanders

[Galaril]

Barry Sanders and Earl Campbell and Jim Brown.

[EagleFan]

Barry Sanders.

[NobodyHere]

I think the answer is obvious

[muns]

I'd go with Payton as well

[CU Tiger]

Emmitt Smith.

I think we've had this argument before.

People will say Emmitt ran behind a great O-Line, and he did. But he also hit the hole Every. Single. Time. and made those OL great. Sanders bounced too much outside and made his OL look like bozos far too often. People forget that the last 5 years of Sanders career the Lions had the highest paid OL in football, a team of hired guns, and they never looked great. Why? because Sanders tried to hit homeruns everytime and refused to hit singles.

Jackson, Sanders, Brown all were better athletes than Smith. But Smith played hard, played hurt, didn't walk away from the game when it got tough, and was a pro's pro.

I'm a simple minded guy. The purpose of a RB is to rush for yards and TDs and no one in the history of the game has more of either. For me, if I am starting a Fantasy all time he is my first pick.

[EagleFan]

Emmitt only had more yards because Sanders walked away. The offense Emmitt was on had multiple options. The offense Sanders was on had Sanders. Defenses keyed on him and still couldn't stop him.

[CU Tiger]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Emmitt only had more yards because Sanders walked away. The offense Emmitt was on had multiple options. The offense Sanders was on had Sanders. Defenses keyed on him and still couldn't stop him.

And the fact that Sanders walked away makes him a quitter and less driven than Emmitt. Just like Brown. When I look at a football player, heart and toughness are pretty high on the character trait requirement. Basically the Sanders argument is "He cold have been the greatest if he didnt walk away and quit."....and I agree with that.


I'd also agree Bo would have been the greatest if he hadnt got hurt.

And if my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle.

They both COULD have been the greatest but neither are. In my judgement.

[BillJasper]

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

And the fact that Sanders walked away makes him a quitter and less driven than Emmitt. Just like Brown. When I look at a football player, heart and toughness are pretty high on the character trait requirement. Basically the Sanders argument is "He cold have been the greatest if he didnt walk away and quit."....and I agree with that.

I think higher of someone that walks away when they had their fill than someone that hangs around for a paycheck. YMMV.

[CU Tiger]

Originally Posted by BillJasper

I think higher of someone that walks away when they had their fill than someone that hangs around for a paycheck. YMMV.

Did he walk away because he had his fill, or did he pout and take his ball and go home. Id say the latter... YMMV.

[BillJasper]

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

Did he walk away because he had his fill, or did he pout and take his ball and go home. Id say the latter... YMMV.

We'll never know.

But I do know that Emmitt Smith stuck around for four subpar years to get the record and collect a paycheck. Not sure drive had anything to do with his decisions at that point...

[stevew]

On current rosters Marshawn is must see TV. Leveon Bell might go down as the 2.0 version of Marshall Faulk. And I can easily see Jeremy Hill challenging 2K yards a few times in his career as he's a savage beast.

[JAG]

Originally Posted by BillJasper

We'll never know.

But I do know that Emmitt Smith stuck around for four subpar years to get the record and collect a paycheck. Not sure drive had anything to do with his decisions at that point...

By stuck around for four subpar years, you mean after 3500 career rushing attempts (not including playoffs), in his age 32-35 seasons, he only managed to get 900-1000 rushing yards per year (another 100-200 receiving) except one year when he got injured (the only major injury of his career, in his age 34 season).

[weegeebored]

Payton. Strong as hell. No one else better at getting yards when needed. He played on some god-awful Bears teams with absolutely no passing game. It was known as the Fred Astaire offense -- 1..2..3..kick. I'm always torn between hating/liking Ditka -- got me a Super Bowl in my lifetime but doesn't give Payton the ball four straight times on the goal line. The Fridge? Really? 46-10 and Payton doesn't get a TD. Disgraceful.

Most exciting runner I saw was Sanders, though. Bo was something special as well.

[jbergey22]

Adrian Peterson

[dubb93]

Barry Sanders is the most talented RB I have seen play in my lifetime.

I had a personal run in with Marshall Faulk as a child that makes me think much less of him so my opinion of him is biased. When the Colts came home from the January 1996 playoff win over the Chiefs there was a big rally at the airport for them. I was there and Faulk was the only player on the team who refused to acknowledge the fans or sign autographs. 10 year old me handed him a football card and he dropped it on the ground.

[BillJasper]

Originally Posted by dubb93

I had a personal run in with Marshall Faulk as a child that makes me think much less of him so my opinion of him is biased. When the Colts came home from the January 1996 playoff win over the Chiefs there was a big rally at the airport for them. I was there and Faulk was the only player on the team who refused to acknowledge the fans or sign autographs. 10 year old me handed him a football card and he dropped it on the ground.

He comes across as a douche as an NFL Network analyst.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by dubb93

Barry Sanders is the most talented RB I have seen play in my lifetime.

I had a personal run in with Marshall Faulk as a child that makes me think much less of him so my opinion of him is biased. When the Colts came home from the January 1996 playoff win over the Chiefs there was a big rally at the airport for them. I was there and Faulk was the only player on the team who refused to acknowledge the fans or sign autographs. 10 year old me handed him a football card and he dropped it on the ground.

This was basically the reason I would choose AD over Brown or Payton. IMO AD is the most talented RB to ever play the game. IMO Sanders is #2 most talented. AD has the top end speed and power no other RB in NFL history has had. This was a tough question because a great case can be made for so many and you can go a lot of different directions with this question. AD had butterfingers in his earlier years and well last year killed his legacy so plenty can be argued against him.

[JAG]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

This was basically the reason I would choose AD over Brown or Payton. IMO AD is the most talented RB to ever play the game. IMO Sanders is #2 most talented. AD has the top end speed and power no other RB in NFL history has had. This was a tough question because a great case can be made for so many and you can go a lot of different directions with this question. AD had butterfingers in his earlier years and well last year killed his legacy so plenty can be argued against him.

I remember watching AD's rookie year wondering if this was how Jim Brown's contemporaries viewed him.

[heybrad]

Bo!

Although I loved watching Eric Dickerson growing up.

[ColtCrazy]

Originally Posted by dubb93

Barry Sanders is the most talented RB I have seen play in my lifetime.

I had a personal run in with Marshall Faulk as a child that makes me think much less of him so my opinion of him is biased. When the Colts came home from the January 1996 playoff win over the Chiefs there was a big rally at the airport for them. I was there and Faulk was the only player on the team who refused to acknowledge the fans or sign autographs. 10 year old me handed him a football card and he dropped it on the ground.

He did that to a 7 year old when NFL Network was at a Colts' game in the old dome. Just a jerk. The dad ended up calling him out on it and Faulk got all pissy. Huge jerk. Frankly, he was overrated with the Colts. Their great 95 playoff was without him (he was injured).

[cartman]

I'd put Earl Campbell above Peterson on the speed and power scale.

[BYU 14]

Hard to pick between Payton, Brown, Sanders and Sayers (Who when healthy was #1 IMO)

But I have to go with Sweetness. Power, elusiveness and like Sanders, did much of it behind a less than stellar line during big chunks of his career.

Again though, if Sayers had more durability and had been able to string together a solid 10-12 year injury free career it is him. The most exciting runner I have ever seen at his best.

[Honolulu Blue]

Originally Posted by korme

Barry Sanders.

Originally Posted by Dutch

Barry Sanders

Originally Posted by Kodos

Barry Sanders.

Originally Posted by ColtCrazy

Barry Sanders.

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Barry Sanders.

Awww, you guys.

As a Lions fan, I loved having him on my team. You never knew when he was going to break a big one; you only knew it was a matter of time. He was humble and soft-spoken and never did one of those overwrought end zone celebrations. I think he's been a bigger influence on my life than I care to admit.

He was spectacular, one of the most spectacular runners of all time - along with Bo, Gayle, and others.

Sorry for the interlude. Carry on.

[Kodos]

Sanders was smart enough to leave the game before he ever suffered a major injury like a torn ACL. So many guys stay around and get their bodies torn up.

[Coffee Warlord]

Payton > Sanders.

[Antmeister]

Barry Sanders is the most amazing running backs I have ever seen. Power, quickness, and elusiveness that I have yet to see anyone else duplicate. To illustrate his greatness, any time there is a good elusive, powerful and/or quick college running back with any combination, they are consistently compared to Barry Sanders. How many times have we heard a supposed college running back is the next "Barry Sanders" and they always fall short in the pros?

[revrew]

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

Sanders bounced too much outside and made his OL look like bozos far too often. ... Sanders tried to hit homeruns everytime and refused to hit singles.

This is why despite all his talent, I argue Sanders can go no higher than #3 on the list. I'll let someone else argue where Emmitt belongs, but Sanders' track record (and I believe NFL records) for tackles behind the line and negative yardage mean he will never rise above Payton or Brown. He simply hurt his team too often.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by revrew

This is why despite all his talent, I argue Sanders can go no higher than #3 on the list. I'll let someone else argue where Emmitt belongs, but Sanders' track record (and I believe NFL records) for tackles behind the line and negative yardage mean he will never rise above Payton or Brown. He simply hurt his team too often.

You mean like this?

Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings - September 11th, 1994 | Pro-Football-Reference.com


CU Tiger pretty much nailed it. The Tin Cup approach. Sometimes you just have to take par.

[Edward64]

Wow, this one is tough because I know there were some great ones before my time and I can't quite equate them to the ones I've seen play.

I think my top 3 are Eric Dickerson, Barry Sanders and AP.

[Julio Riddols]

Imagine if Sanders was behind a line like Dallas had this past season.

[Dutch]

The 360 Barry makes this dude do is one of my favorite RB memories....along with this Earl Campbell run where he blows up a grown ass LB.

[EagleFan]

They had some poor quality jerseys back then.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by revrew

This is why despite all his talent, I argue Sanders can go no higher than #3 on the list. I'll let someone else argue where Emmitt belongs, but Sanders' track record (and I believe NFL records) for tackles behind the line and negative yardage mean he will never rise above Payton or Brown. He simply hurt his team too often.

This is the argument I've made every time this comes up. Barry Sanders was one of the best running backs in NFL history and probably the most exciting player I've watched in my lifetime. He's not the best running back in NFL history and if I were building a team there's probably 6-7 running backs I'd take over him. There's no way in hell I'm building a team around the player that led the league in rushes for a loss every year of his career.

His style carried the Lions to wins sometimes, but he could also almost single-handedly lose a game. Disciplined defenses could give him fits. I'd take Emmitt, Payton, Jim Brown over him without a doubt. I'd probably take Thurman Thomas, OJ, a couple others over him as well.

As I said, the most exciting player I've ever seen. I hope I get to see another Barry Sanders at some point in my life. Overrated as far as value goes IMO.

[Julio Riddols]

Just give me Corey Dillon with a team around him worthy of his talent. I honestly think he is a lock for the HoF with almost any other team other than the 90's/Early 2000's Bengals.

[jbergey22]

[EagleFan]