Top 10 Running Backs in the NFL (as voted by ESPN.com writers)

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killer_ewok

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May 3, 2011 9:56 PM
1. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans
2. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
3. M. Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars
3. Arian Foster, Houston Texans
5. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs
6. Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons
7. Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams
8. Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens
9. R. Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers
10. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers
10. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles
10. Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/22193/power-rankings-top-10-nfl-running-backs
May 3, 2011 9:56pm
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Hb31187

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May 3, 2011 9:57 PM
I think Arian Foster is a 1 or 2 year wonder
May 3, 2011 9:57pm
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Commander of Awesome

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May 3, 2011 9:58 PM
Slow day at ESPN huh?
May 3, 2011 9:58pm
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Commander of Awesome

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May 3, 2011 9:59 PM
also thats 12 by my count, nice pussy cop out BSPN, lets just name the top 12 fantasy backs so we dont piss anyone off, lolfail.
May 3, 2011 9:59pm
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like_that

1st Team All-PWN

26,625 posts
May 3, 2011 10:00 PM
This list can change completely from year to year. Check in 3 years from now, and at least half of those players won't be on the list.
May 3, 2011 10:00pm
killer_ewok's avatar

killer_ewok

iRep

11,379 posts
May 3, 2011 10:26 PM
I think Ray Rice should be higher on this list.
May 3, 2011 10:26pm
hasbeen's avatar

hasbeen

Excuse me, Flo?

6,504 posts
May 3, 2011 10:44 PM
killer_ewok;758865 wrote:I think Ray Rice should be higher on this list.

Agreed. He plays a complete game.
May 3, 2011 10:44pm
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sleeper

Legend

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May 3, 2011 11:31 PM
Peyton Hillis.
May 3, 2011 11:31pm
coyotes22's avatar

coyotes22

Go Tigers

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May 4, 2011 5:25 AM
sleeper;758943 wrote:Peyton Hillis.

Im in no way a Browns fan, but thought for sure he would be on this list.
May 4, 2011 5:25am
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Commander of Awesome

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May 4, 2011 8:29 AM
coyotes22;759132 wrote:Im in no way a Browns fan, but thought for sure he would be on this list.

He wore down by the end of the season, and really only has one year of production. I dont have an issue with him not making top 10.
May 4, 2011 8:29am
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coyotes22

Go Tigers

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May 4, 2011 8:31 AM
Commander of Awesome;759201 wrote:He wore down by the end of the season, and really only has one year of production. I dont have an issue with him not making top 10.

Wonder how many Fantasy drafts he goes number one in, this year?
May 4, 2011 8:31am
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Raw Dawgin' it

Just Ain't Care

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May 4, 2011 8:33 AM
coyotes22;759207 wrote:Wonder how many Fantasy drafts he goes number one in, this year?

zero
May 4, 2011 8:33am
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Commander of Awesome

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May 4, 2011 8:35 AM
Raw Dawgin' it;759209 wrote:zero

They have fantasy drafts in Cleveland, some homer will pick him #1.
May 4, 2011 8:35am
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BR1986FB

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May 4, 2011 9:00 AM
Commander of Awesome;759201 wrote:He wore down by the end of the season, and really only has one year of production. I dont have an issue with him not making top 10.

Maybe not the "wore down" part but the same can be said about Arian Foster (one year of production).
May 4, 2011 9:00am
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royal_k

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May 4, 2011 9:53 AM
Hillis was the sole offence last year, excluding Ben Watson. So you could say he was a top ten back. Team's geared up to stop him the latter part of the season. He was also the ONLY back that was a threat. Hopefully this year Hardesty is healthy. If he is, you won't see the loss in production towards the end of the season. Plus you throw in a better passing game and he will be fine.
May 4, 2011 9:53am
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BR1986FB

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May 4, 2011 9:57 AM
Hillis' production in the rushing game will drop off if Hardesty is healthy. I think his receiving yards will improve with the WCO.
May 4, 2011 9:57am
royal_k's avatar

royal_k

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May 4, 2011 10:00 AM
His carries will drop, but his YPC won't like they did last year. Plus I forgot to mention he wasn't exactly 100% at last part of the season. And that goes with the amount of load he had to carry all year.
May 4, 2011 10:00am
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BR1986FB

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May 4, 2011 10:06 AM
royal_k;759271 wrote:His carries will drop, but his YPC won't like they did last year.

Agreed. If Hardesty is healthy I don't see Hillis rushing for 1000 yards though. Prior to Hardesty's injury, he was penciled in as their starter. Hillis came out of nowhere.
May 4, 2011 10:06am
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georgemc80

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May 4, 2011 10:52 AM
Arian Foster is no fluke. The way that offense is designed he can be productive for up to 5 more years. With the emergence of Tate, that gives Foster less carries and less punishment. Pass on him again in fantasy drafts and lose to those who have him.
May 4, 2011 10:52am
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royal_k

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May 4, 2011 11:09 AM
georgemc80;759342 wrote:Arian Foster is no fluke. The way that offense is designed he can be productive for up to 5 more years. With the emergence of Tate, that gives Foster less carries and less punishment. Pass on him again in fantasy drafts and lose to those who have him.

I had him last year, and will pick him again if he's there.
May 4, 2011 11:09am
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justincredible

Nick Mangold

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May 4, 2011 11:44 AM
HOW IS DANNY WOODHEAD NOT ON THIS LIST?
May 4, 2011 11:44am
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BR1986FB

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May 4, 2011 11:46 AM
justincredible;759442 wrote:HOW IS DANNY WOODHEAD NOT ON THIS LIST?

I'm still wondering how he didn't win the Madden cover vote.
May 4, 2011 11:46am
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Commander of Awesome

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May 4, 2011 11:53 AM
justincredible;759442 wrote:HOW IS DANNY WOODHEAD NOT ON THIS LIST?

SMear campaign against the little guys. (lol watch Cry4Fail give me an infraction for name calling).
May 4, 2011 11:53am
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Heretic

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May 4, 2011 1:59 PM
like_that;758779 wrote:This list can change completely from year to year. Check in 3 years from now, and at least half of those players won't be on the list.

Very true. Running back might be the hardest position to figure out because some guys last 10-12 years at a high level, but so many have a couple very good years and fall off the face of the earth abruptly. A few years ago, Willie Parker likely would have ranked somewhere on this list. I had to look on Wikipedia to find that he's now signed with something called the Virginia Destroyers after he couldn't make Washington's roster last year.
May 4, 2011 1:59pm
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BR1986FB

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May 4, 2011 2:05 PM
Heretic;759596 wrote:Very true. Running back might be the hardest position to figure out because some guys last 10-12 years at a high level, but so many have a couple very good years and fall off the face of the earth abruptly. A few years ago, Willie Parker likely would have ranked somewhere on this list. I had to look on Wikipedia to find that he's now signed with something called the Virginia Destroyers after he couldn't make Washington's roster last year.

Funny you'd mention Parker. He was bitching on PFT today about how 'Washington wasn't about football....it was about partying." Also said he'd "really like to hook up with his boys back in Pittsburgh."
May 4, 2011 2:05pm