TOP 5 NFL RUNNING BACKS OF ALL-TIME!!!!

Top 5 lists are always controversial but when it come's to specific positions in sports it really gets heated!  There have been so many great running backs in NFL history, how could you narrow it down to 5?  I posted the question on my facebook page and got a lot of good responses so now it's time to give mine.  But first a couple of intro notes.  I don't do "what if''s"!  None of us is Ms. Cleo and have no idea what they chain of events would have been if someone had a better line or a better qb or played in a different era.  Next, I am only 26 years old.  I have been a fanatic since I could walk but there is a difference between film and actually living in the era to watch a particular player play.  So I feel I am a little biased to the players that I had the opportunity to watch season after season.  With that said I will give you my Top 5 from 5 down to number one and let you know why.  Feel free to tell me in the comments why my list is or isn't accurate in your opinion.

5.  MARSHALL FAULK (YEA I SAID IT!)
RUSHING STATS

ATTEMPTS 2836 YARDS 12,279 AVERAGE 4.3 TD'S 100

RECEIVING STATS

CATCHES 767 YARDS 6,875 AVG 9.0 TD'S 36

Marshall Faulk is my number 5 all-time for a few reasons.  He had the stats, he changed the way defenses played his team completely, and he could do anything on offense beside throw the ball.  Did I mention that he was one of the most elusive players to ever play the game?  Faulk is looked at by many as a pass catching runner.  But the 5300 yards he compiled with the Colts before joining the "Greatest Show on Turf" in St. Louis proves different.  He could pass block, run between the tackles, run to the outside, catch passes from the backfield, and line up as a receiver and not miss a beat.  Faulk is a 3 time NFL Offensive MVP and 1 time NFL League MVP.  In 1999 Faulk ran and caught passes for over 1,000 yards each and the next season set the single season record for TD's with 26!  He also has a Super Bowl ring on his resume. 
CASE AGAINST FAULK
Though he was a great runner he never had amazing single season rushing yards stats with his best season coming in 2001 with 1,382 yards.  After rushing for 1,000 yards in 7 of his first 8 seasons, Faulk never reached that mark again in his last 4 years of play.

INTERESTING STAT
Marshall Faulk had more 1,000 yard seasons with the Colts than he did with the Rams (4 with the Colts and 3 with the Rams).

4.  EMMIT SMITH
RUSHING STATS

ATTEMPTS 4,409  YARDS 18,355 AVG 4.2  TD'S 164

RECEIVING STATS

CATCHES 515  YARDS 3,224 AVG 6.3  TD'S 11

Say what you want about Emmit but 18k is an amazing accomplishment!  Emmit was durable, tough, had great vision, and deceptive quickness.   We like to talk about how good his line was but being an Eagles fan I saw him make things happen as opposed to just being a product of the system.  Running guys over and making others miss his way to the most prolific career of any NFL back.   Emmit played 15 years and rushed for over 1,000 yards in 11 of them.  3 of the other 4 he was over 900 yards.  He led the league in rushing 4 times and in rushing touchdowns 3 times.  In 1993 he was the leagues rushing leader, NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP.  Not much to argue here.

CASE AGAINST EMMIT

Emmit is looked at as being a product of an excellent line.  We always like to say what would have been had Emmit had a bad line to run behind.  But like I said in the beginning I don't do what if's.  What I would say is I SAW many times where because of his line Emmit wasn't touched until the second and many times 3rd level of defense.  What that means to me is he didn't have the opportunity to wow me with the things he could have done had he had a less talented line.

INTERESTING FACT

Emmit lead the NFL in rushing in his 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th year in the league!!

3.  WALTER PAYTON

RUSHING STATS

ATTEMPTS 3,838   YARDS 16,726   AVG 4.4   TD'S 110

RECEIVING STATS

CATCHES  492   YARDS 4,538   AVG 9.2   TD'S 15

Sweetness could do it all!  The epitome of a complete back!  He could run around, through and past you.  He could catch the ball out of the backfield.  He could pass block with the best of them.  Payton was as sure as you could get out of a back.  In his 13 years of play he ran for over 1,000 yards in 10 of them!  The only times he didn't was as a rookie, in a season when he only played 9 games, and in his final season.  Payton was a 9 time Pro Bowler a 6 time All-Pro and retired with the most rushing yards in NFL history!  And he has a Super Bowl Ring from the 1985 season.  No wonder many consider him #1

CASE AGAINST PAYTON

It's very hard to find something that could be held against someone with this type of resume.  One thing is that Payton only lead the league in rushing 1 time in 1977 and in touchdowns 1 time in the same year.

INTERESTING STAT

Payton only had more than 10 td's in 5 of his 13 seasons!  Still was 2nd All-Time when he retired.


2.  JIM BROWN

RUSHING STATS

ATTEMPTS  2,359   YARDS  12,312   AVG  5.2   TD'S  106

RECEIVING STATS

CATCHES  262   YARDS  2499   AVG  9.5  TD'S  20


Most people who saw him play say he is the best PLAYER ever!  Now I wasn't alive when he played but when I get the chance to watch it's no question he was a man among boys.  He was bigger, faster, and stronger than everyone on the field.  There where only 2 of his 9 seasons that he didn't average over 100 yards per game!  His first 4 years there were only 12 game seasons and in his last 5 there were 14 game seasons.  So it's all the more impressive that Brown had 1500 yards and 17 TD'S in a 12 game season and 1800 yards in a 14 game season!  What could he have done with the 16 game seasons the game has today?  Brown was a 3 time AP NFL MVP, 9 time Pro Bowler and 8 time first team All-Pro.......In 9 years!  Need I say more?

CASE AGAINST BROWN

I didn't see him play so that might be the only reason he's not #1.  The other will be the 2 seasons he did not reach 1,000 yards and in each of those seasons he averaged less than 80 yards per game.

INTERESTING STAT

Jim Brown led the NFL in rushing 8 of his 9 years in the league including his rookie year!


1.  BARRY SANDERS

RUSHING STATS

ATTEMPTS  3,062    YARDS  15,269  AVG  5.0   TD'S 99

RECEIVING STATS

CATCHES  352   YARDS  2,921   AVG  8.3   TD'S 10

Barry was the best!  10 years in the league, 10 1,000 yard seasons, 10 Pro Bowls, 6 first team All-Pro's, and 4 time NFL leading rusher.  The only back in history to lead the league in carries for lost and yards in the same season.  He had amazing quickness and stop and go ability.  He made any and everybody look like they just played their first down in football when attempting to tackle him.  Barry was very durable.  The one year his season was shortened to 11 games........he still had 1,100 yards!  Barry didn't show any signs of slowing down and we all are left to wonder what he would have done had he not took an early exit.

INTERESTING STAT

Barry was great with ball security.  In 1994 he carried the ball 331 times for over 1800 yards with no fumbles.

CASE AGAINST BARRY

Barry had too many carries for loss.  We all know he made up for them but some times you have go get that sure straight ahead yardage to help your team.  He also never won a championship.


So that's my list!  Love it or hate it it's mine! lol!  So let me know what you think and what you would change and why.  COMMENT AWAY SPORTS FANS!!!!