His relentless work ethic -- both physically and in the film room -- allowed him to be one of the best of his era. In 2009, Johnson became the sixth member of the NFL's 2,000-yard club after rushing for a league-high 2,006 yards. Tasker's brilliance was on display during the opening minutes of Super Bowl XXVII. Eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2025, Lynch's impact was felt everywhere he went. 2020 stats: 134carries, 805 rushing yards, 6.0 yards per carry, 18 receptions on 24 targets, 120 receiving yards, 9 total TDs. Warner was selected to three Pro Bowls during the 1980s, and rushed for 1,449 yards with 13 touchdowns as a rookie. Brian Branch, S, Alabama. In fact, he was the first Cowboys player to be selected to the All-Pro list (1962). Ekeler had been under-appreciated for his unique receiving-forward role for Philip Rivers and Justin Herbert. He was a freak of nature coming out of Oklahoma and didn't disappoint at the pro level. After seven active seasons in Baltimore, Lewis played three more seasons in Cleveland, where he posted two more 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Najee Harriswas quite pleased upon being selected by the Steelers in this year's NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Pro Football Hall of Fame) . In his second-to-last game, Best rushed for a career-high 163 yards (on 12 carries) that included an 88-yard touchdown run. The five-time Pro Bowl running back was a scoring machine in the San Francisco 49ers' Super Bowl XXIX win, with three TDs and 108 scrimmage yards on 18 touches. And really, if Jackson was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame would anybody question it? (National Football League), Before there was Kurt Warner, Curt was a pretty fair running back for the Seattle Seahawks. In 2003, Lewis became the fifth member of the 2,000-yard rushing club while coming within 40 yards of breaking Eric Dickerson's single-season record. As a rookie, he started over future All-Pro Priest Holmes. While the Birds do need to effectively replace Miles Sanders in their backfield, Henry is pushing 30 and why didnt they re-sign a cheaper and younger running back in Sanders in the first place?! 10 running backs that barely missed the cut (in alphabetical order): Ottis Anderson Larry Csonka Corey Dillon Priest Holmes Bo Jackson Steven Jackson Fred Taylor Herschel Walker Ricky Watters. Johnson led the NFL in receptions and receiving yards on multiple occasions. Although this rumor sounds too strange to be made up, lets discuss if there is any validity to this. HOF-eligible for a decade-plus, George was named a semifinalist back in November for the first time. Still, I think they are more likely to draft Texas Bijan Robinson if the Atlanta Falcons pass on him. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Willis' play largely contributed to the 49ers' NFC title in 2012 as well as the franchise's three consecutive NFC title game appearances from 2011-13. Edwards-Helaire hasn't lived up to being a first-rounder in 2020 for multiple reasons. While he continuously battled through injury, McFadden still managed to amass 1,664 all-purpose yards for the Raiders in 2010. Muncie tied the single-season record with 19 touchdowns in 1981. Maurice Jones-Drew has one thought about the Cowboys' usage of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard in Zeke's return: Keep it even-steven! A Lisfranc injury in 2012 (his only season with thePackers) limited him to just five games in what would be his final season. Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown (32) is pictured in Cleveland, circa 1960s. Player Identification: Sweetness. Hayes won Defensive Player of the Year in 1980 while leading the NFL with 13 interceptions. But to hear greats like Barry Sanders tell it, Dupree might have been the best running back to come out of Oklahoma. Smith was on the verge of having a long, prolific career, but he chose to walk away to study medicine. Pitta piled up 2,901 receiving yards on 221 receptions in his four years with the Cougars. The upside is there to become a top-10 back. 2021 stats:249 carries, 1,159 rushing yards, 4.7 yards per carry, 34 receptions on 49 targets, 224 receiving yards, 6 total TDs. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Durability and conditioning are mild concerns as he might start to cede some key work to rookie Rachaad White. After nine seasons in St. Louis, Jackson signed with the Falcons, who were coming off of a 13-3 season and appearance in the NFC title game. A key member of theBroncos' 2013 AFC championship team, Moreno rushed for over 1,000 yards that season after missing half of the 2012 campaign with a torn ACL. While healthy, Martin was a very good player. 2021 stats: 180 carries, 812 rushing yards, 4.5 yards per carry, 69 receptions on 84 targets, 454 receiving yards, 10 total TDs. Bills (2004-06); Ravens (2007-10); Broncos (2011-12); Browns (2013). In 2011, the 30-year-old running back earned his second Pro Bowl selection while helping the Broncos advance to the divisional round of the playoffs. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli), Andrews went to four consecutive Pro Bowls for the Atlanta Falcons from 1980-83. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. He finished his career with nearly 5,000 all-purpose yards and 19 touchdowns. Pro Football Reference Hall of Fame Monitor, Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. 2021 stats:228 carries, 1,259 rushing yards, 5.5 yards per carry, 20 receptions on 25 targets, 174 receiving yards, 9 total TDs. Dobbins also saw his entire 2021 season wiped out by a torn ACL ahead of what felt like a potential big Year 2. Expect Penny to be threatened, however, for key touches by rookie Ken Walker. A three-time Super Bowl champion, Craig became the first player to score three touchdowns in a Super Bowl during the 49ers' win over the Dolphins in Super Bowl XVI. San Francisco 49ers (2005-2014), Indianapolis Colts (2015-17), Miami Dolphins (2018), Buffalo Bills (2019), New York Jets (2020). Thomas continued to have success with the Jets, where he posted three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons while earning his lone Pro Bowl selection in 2008. McCaffrey, now 26, had to be faded on this list given he's played only 10 games over the past two seasons following his transcendent 2019 production. His 143 total yards helped the Colts defeat the Bears in Super Bowl XLI. Plus, check out his updated ranking of the top 15 RBs right now. While he never became a full-time starter, Brown managed to put together a semi-productive seven-year career. Of course, this list will only look at those eligible for the Hall of Fame (so Shaun Alexander, who should get in, is not included). Can the Eagles improve their No. But he's not given enough credit for being a great receiver out of the backfield. He led the league in yards per rushing attempt and will start off leading what will be a much run-heavier attack without Russell Wilson. Given that the rankings focused primarily on overall career achievements, don't look too far into where current players rank on the following list -- they could very well end up on top once they call it a career. It might have been a blessing for him not to be misused in that mess of an Urban Meyer-Darrell Bevell offense. However, Roseman has a proven track record. After holding off Zack Moss for key touches, he will need to do the same again vs. rookie James Cook. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. 2021 stats:307 carries, 1,200 rushing yards, 3.9 yards per carry, 74 receptions on 94 targets,467 receiving yards, 10 total TDs. Taylor's transition to the NFL was seamless after the two leagues merged in 1970. I have five benchmarks that I use -- and I've written about them before -- to decide whether a running back is worthy of a gold jacket: Each of the players discussed below check a number (if not all) of these boxes and, in my opinion, deserve Hall of Fame recognition. During that span, Tasker helped the Bills become the first franchise to appear in four consecutive Super Bowls. Maurice Jones-Drew assesses the Hall of Fame candidacies of Ezekiel Elliott and Derrick Henry, two running backs who could pass him on the all-time rushing leaderboard in Week 16. He also helped lead the Seahawks to two NFC titles as well as a victory in Super Bowl XLVIII. McCaffrey is looking to bounce back after an injury sidelined him for all but three games in 2020. One of best players on the Bears' vaunted 46 defense, McMichael earned his first of two first-team All-Pro honors in 1985 while helping Chicago capture its only Lombardi Trophy. Cardinals (2000-02); Buccaneers (2003); Bears (2004-06); Jets (2007-09); Chiefs (2010-11). APRIL 29 ROSCHON TO BEARS The Cowboys want to take a running back somewhere in this Day 3 of the NFL Draft, but that guy won't be a favored Longhorn. Definitely, but trading for him could compromise the Birds future. Did he reach 10,000 rush yards in his career? Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Pro Football Reference Database. The only running back on this list, Craig played an integral role in the 49ers' success during the 1980s. Without McDaniels, Harris' role shouldn't change much in a run-heavy attack, even if Rhamondre Stevenson cuts more into the overall backfield work. NFL running back rankings 2022 1. All HOFm Positions: QB RB WR TE G T C DT DE ILB OLB DB K P RB HOFm Leaders Bold indicates HOF player See full explanation here Share & Export While injuries ultimately cut his career short, Perry did help the Bengals win their first AFC North title in 2005. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. This juicy rumor all began on Saturday when ex-NFL player and fellow CAA client Akbar Gbajabiamila reported that the Eagles were looking to trade for Henry. Five quarterbacks, five offensive linemen, four receivers, one tight end, and eight defensive players were selected before Harris, the first running back taken in the draft. Smith tallied eight 1,000-yard seasons and is one of 14 players with at least 1,000 career receptions. Teams:Browns (1978-93); Falcons (1994-96). George was one of the most physical backs ever. But if the 38-year-old doesn't play another snap in the NFL, he'll be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026. After rushing for 931 yards in 13 regular-season games as a rookie, Michel rushed for 336 yards and six touchdowns during the 2018 postseason. Expect Jones' receiving prowess to take on critical importance given the remixed wideout corps around Aaron Rodgers. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | 2021 stats: 203carries, 903 rushing yards, 4.4 yards per carry, 43 receptions on 53 targets, 316 receiving yards, 7 total TDs. In 1984, Matthews led the league with 126 tackles while also posting 12 sacks and three forced fumbles. Did rushing champion Josh Jacobs finish on top? To say Vrabel blew a gasket when Carthons predecessor Jon Robinson traded wide receiver A.J. But a serious knee injury derailed a potential Hall of Fame career. I agree to receive the "With The First Pick Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. Stevenson was touted as a power back out of Oklahoma but showed he could be complete as a rookie, to the point he may pick up injured James White's key receiving snaps in 2022 to split more of the work with Harris. Gradishar earned five more Pro Bowl selections (as well as another All-Pro nod) during his final six seasons with the Broncos. Harris has operated as a reliable power back for McDaniels and he will remain the early-down and red zone back of choice in New England behind some sturdy blocking, assuming he stays in New England. One of the league's best running backs during his heyday, Alexander . Five years later, as a member of the Cowboys, McFadden rushed for 1,089 yards despite only starting in 10 games. Marshall Faulk <br>1994-2005 Franco Harris Franco Harris<br>1972-1984 Frank Gifford Frank Gifford<br>1952-1960, 1962-64 Gale Sayers Gale Sayers<br>1965-1971 Hugh McElhenny Hugh McElhenny<br>1952-1964 Jim Brown Jim Brown<br>1957-1965 Jim Taylor Jim Taylor<br>1958-1967 Joe Perry Joe Perry<br>1948-1963 John Henry Johnson Cook has all the talent to be No. A year after the merge, Taylor led the NFL in receiving yards while earning All-Pro honors. Part of Audacy. NFL Draft Day 2: Best defensive players available. Perhaps he was overlooked, since he played games in Jacksonville. He is a good finisher in the red zone and can take any carry the distance. He also led the NFL in tackles on four different occasions. Owner of the greatest single rushing season in Penn State history, Johnson began his career as Priest Holmes' backup in Kansas City. That doesn't get you in the Hall of Fame. An integral member of the 2007 Patriots team that started 18-0, Maroney rushed for 122 yards in the Patriots' postseason wins over the Jaguars and Chargers. He also helped the Chiefs return to the Super Bowl for a second straight year. Jones shared a backfield for most of his career; he spent three seasons playing alongside Marion Barber and two years with DeMarco Murray. (AP Photo/Al Golub), You think of the great "Air Coryell" offenses in the late 1970s and early 1980s, you often forget Muncie was a huge part of the ground attack. He can be an older Dillon to Williams' younger Jones. But, a bronze Canton bust is far from a certainty, so let's look at the best backs not in the Hall. Between 2001-03, Holmes was iconic, a Pro Bowler and All-Pro for three straight seasons. The four-time Pro Bowler even finished third in the MVP vote for his 2000 campaign, when he rushed for 1,509 yards and 14 scores. Tasker's play set up the game's first touchdown. So, uh, can we put him in? Stewart put up impressive career numbers despite sharing a backfield for the majority of his career. Hayes is a member of the NFL's All-1980s Team. Willis packed a lot into a relatively short career. The 6-fo-6 Greenwood also had a penchant for batting down passes; he did that on three occasions during the Steelers' Super Bowl IX win over the Vikings. A key member of the Bengals' 1981 AFC championship team, Riley returned a league-high three interceptions for touchdowns during his final two seasons. But again, his USFL career takes away from his Pro Football Hall of Fame credentials. Left and right arrows move across top level links and expand / close menus in sub levels. A neck injury flattened the rest of his career, and he remained quiet and elusive about his health and future. Three years later, he helped the Saints win the franchise's only Super Bowl title. Not one. Championship Rings: 1. 106. Matthews retired with 69.5 career sacks, 27 forced fumbles and 14 fumble recoveries. HIs major foot injury cost him nine games and the Titans need to be wary about overworking him. But eight significant injuries -- the last one placing him on injured reserve in 2019 -- resulted in Martin playing in his last regular season game at just 29 years old. In 2002, he was named the AFC's Offensive Player of the Year, and finished fourth in the MVP vote. He has enjoyed a career resurgence with theBuccaneers, as Tampa Bay went 7-0 with Fournette in its starting lineup during the 2020 season. Who has the best hands? Nobody could stop him on the football field. Williams retired with 10,202 all-purpose yards and 70 total touchdowns. . A 1,000-yard rusher for three different franchises, McGahee earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2007 as a member of the Ravens. Getty Images. Plus, how far did Josh Jacobs climb in MJD's top 15 RB rankings after a huge performance last week? An incredibly consistent player throughout his career, Riley picked off at least four passes nine different times, tallying a career-high nine interceptions in 1976. . Will the Cowboys or Packers tandem earn the No. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Plus, see which team now has TWO players in MJD's top 15 RB rankings. Cliff Branch, who was posthumously enshrined on Saturday, had been eligible for 30 years before his family received that long-awaited phone call. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Jaguars (2017-19); Buccaneers (2020-Present). the future hall-of-fame bell-cow back could be dealt to the . Jones was only the third Lions rookie for rush for over 1,000 yards after gaining 1,133 yards in 2011. And while the running back position may no longer be king of the hill, several teams this century have benefited by selecting a running back in the first round. Listen below and follow the Pick Six podcast for a daily dose of everything you need to follow pro football. Anderson was a true stud in every sense of the word. Harris was one of just two running backs taken in the first round, with Clemson's Travis Etienne-- taken by the Jaguars with the 25th pick -- being the other. You have to wonder if his prickly personality is what is keeping him out of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A key member of the "Hogs," Jacoby helped Washington win each of its three Super Bowl titles. With Chicago also turning to a Green Bay-like rushing attack for more explosiveness, Montgomery's precarious lead role will be challenged by second-year man Khalil Herbert. 6:28 pm ET, Matthews was inducted into the Browns' Ring of Honor, Ranking teams likely to land Williams in 2024 NFL Draft, Prisco's 2023 NFL Draft grades for all 32 teams, Exploring Titans' options at wide receiver, Cowboys' 'ship has not sailed' on bringing back Zeke, Best post-draft fits for top-remaining NFL free agents, The 20 greatest NFL players not in the Hall of Fame, Prisco's draft grades for all 32 teams: Eagles ace it, Best, worst, most interesting pick for all, Winners, losers from the draft: Crafty Colts, Undrafted free agent tracker: Team-by-team list of signings, 10 veteran moves that should happen post-2023 draft, Report: Bucs star Barrett's daughter, 2, drowns in pool, NFL schedule release target date, plus 5 things we know, Steelers' draft haul one the team hadn't seen in 38 years. The Browns will lean on Chubb a lot again until Deshaun Watson can boost them at QB. 2021 stats: 151 carries, 541 rushing yards, 4.1 yards per carry, 62 receptions on 78 targets, 452 receiving yards, 7 total TDs. (AP Photo/Beth Keiser). Taylor is hurt by his lack of Pro Bowl nods, as he only notched one over the course of his career. That said, he has some freakish physical qualities for his big frame. A 2009 Pro Bowler, Williams led the league in rushing touchdowns in 2008 and in 2015. Conner landed with the right team to return to reliable production after some fading seasons in Pittsburgh. He spent the final two season of his career shuffling between teams before returning to Clemson, where he was recently promoted to running backs coach. Penny, who had been an injury-riddled disappointing first-rounder in 2018, exploded down the stretch as the sudden featured workhorse, shaking off plenty of past injury issues. It was worth it as the . With seven seasons of 1,000 yards rushing, Watters sits 24th all-time in yards on the ground. He had seven seasons with at least 1,100 rushing yards. He was elusiveenough to make defenders miss, but could lower the boom at the goal line as well. Atlanta's first draft pick, Nobis played on just two winning teams during his 11-year tenure with the Falcons. "The Assassin" was one of the hardest hitting safeties in league history. 225), a three-star recruit who is rated the 42nd-best athlete in the nation in the . Since 1995, 11 running backs have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. The production and potential says to meet those outcomes somewhere in the middle, with lean toward the positive. A throwback power back, Fournette helped lead theJaguarsto the brink of the Super Bowl as a rookie. How good was Lewis? (Seriously, Google it.) The lastSteelersrunning back taken in the first round before Najee Harris, Mendenhall won a Super Bowl as a rookie despite spending most of the season on injured reserve. With that in mind, we decided to rank each running back that was selected in the first round between 2000-20. The Falcons won just 10 games during Jackson's two seasons in Atlanta, however, thus leading to Jackson signing with the Patriots with the hope of winning a championship. A powerful running back, the 6-foot, 254-pound Duckett spend his first three NFL seasons as part of a talented Falcons backfield that featured Michael Vick and fellow running back Warrick Dunn. A three-time Pro Bowler, Elliott averaged 1,668 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns per season during his first five years in Dallas. First, he's missed 10 games in his first two seasons. Maurice Jones-Drew spotlights three teams who will be looking for a new primary RB in 2023. That season, Stewart earned his first and only Pro Bowl selection while helping thePanthersreach the Super Bowl. A member of the NFL's All-2000s Team, Lewis is 25th all time on the NFL's career rushing list. All HOFm Positions: QBRBWRTEGTCDTDEILBOLBDBKP, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Sunday, April 30, 2:31PM. If you want to recognize him for being a guy who hung around longer than most big backs, fine. In 2005, Ward won Super Bowl MVP honors while helping lead Pittsburgh to its fifth Super Bowl victory. He's still special as a complete receiving-leaning back when healthy and that's why he remains in the top 10, but the lingering injury issues can't be ignored in relation to those now ranked ahead of him. Multiple concussions resulted in Best appearing in just 22 NFL games. Ranking teams likely to land Williams in 2024 NFL Draft, Prisco's 2023 NFL Draft grades for all 32 teams, Exploring Titans' options at wide receiver, Cowboys' 'ship has not sailed' on bringing back Zeke, Best post-draft fits for top-remaining NFL free agents, Ranking each RB taken in Round 1 since 2000, Prisco's draft grades for all 32 teams: Eagles ace it, Best, worst, most interesting pick for all, Winners, losers from the draft: Crafty Colts, Undrafted free agent tracker: Team-by-team list of signings, 10 veteran moves that should happen post-2023 draft, Report: Bucs star Barrett's daughter, 2, drowns in pool, NFL schedule release target date, plus 5 things we know, Steelers' draft haul one the team hadn't seen in 38 years. Beyond being dynamos in the rushing attack, the most talented players at the position are also key contributors as receivers and pass blockers. He won Offensive Player of the Year as a rookie in 1996, and then made four straight Pro Bowls. That's the big question, but the Rams have confidence that he can deliver effective lead rushing production with the right dash of receiving pop. No. Little (1967-75) was. More than deserving of a gold jacket, George holds many Titans/Oilers franchise records, including for career rushing yards (10,441). A Pro Bowler each season from 2003-05, Alexander won league MVP in 2005 after leading the league in rushing yards (1,880) and rushing touchdowns (27). 2021 stats: 225 carries, 849 rushing yards, 3.8 yards per carry, 42 receptions on 51 targets, 301 receiving yards, 7 total TDs, Vinnie Iyer is an NFL writer at The Sporting News. He also led the NFL in touchdown receptions on two separate occasions. Buffalo Bills (2007-2010), Seattle Seahawks (2010-15, 2019), Oakland Raiders (2017-18). He ran for a career-high 1,047 yards and 10 touchdowns that included a franchise-record 228 yards against the Rams. Johnson had just 70 carries during the 2016 and '17 seasons before announcing his retirement in 2018. A score of 100 is around the average modern-era inductee. A second-round pick by Cincinnati in 1997, Dillon was one of the few bright spots for a Bengals team that managed just 34 wins during his seven seasons with the franchise. He does a little of everything well and gives them what's needed in the rushing and receiving game. 1: Priest Holmes -- Perhaps the most mysterious back of all-time, he burst upon the scene with three of the most productive seasons ever, and then disappeared, just as quickly. Of the 31 runners to have done it, 16 are in the Hall and two more are locks (Adrian Peterson and Frank Gore). Williams remains in a timeshare with the still effective Melvin Gordon, but there's no doubt he will be the preferred dynamic lead in the new offense with his budding all-around explosiveness. 9. Douglas and Co. used a second-round pick to acquire Hall in 2022 and even traded up two spots to get the draft class's top-ranked running back prospect at No. With theCowboyspunting from their own 16-yard line, Tasker was lined up against linebacker Robert Jones, a rookie who filled in for an injured starter. Thomas, who finished his career with the Chiefs, is 26th all time on the league's career rushing list. But he's already done more than enough to land himself among the game's immortal. 2021 stats: 206 carries, 911 rushing yards, 4.4 yards per carry, 70 receptions on 94 targets, 647 receiving yards, 20 total TDs. In 1992, Brett Favre's first season as the Packers' starting quarterback, Sharpe led the NFL in receptions (108), yards (1,461) and touchdowns (13). One of the NFL's most versatile backs, McCaffrey earned All-Pro honors in 2019 after becoming the third player in league history to tally 1,000 yards rushing and receiving. PART OF AUDACY SPORTS. 5: Ricky Watters -- In his first five years in the NFL, he garnered Pro Bowl nods every season. Barkley hasn't had much support from blocking and the passing game, but he's still looked limited and worn at times. Tre's uncle is legendary Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson. Many deserving players have been passed over because they played for a small market team; other players were overshadowed by more celebrated teammates. He'll have to wait his turn, but should get a gold jacket one day. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. 2021 stats: 188 carries, 870 rushing yards, 4.6 yards per carry, 40 receptions on 50 targets, 228receiving yards, 8 total TDs.

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