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

Pro Sports 24 replies 894 views
killer_ewok's avatar
killer_ewok
Posts: 11,379
May 3, 2011 9:56pm
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
Hb31187's avatar
Hb31187
Posts: 8,534
May 3, 2011 9:57pm
I think Arian Foster is a 1 or 2 year wonder
Commander of Awesome's avatar
Commander of Awesome
Posts: 23,151
May 3, 2011 9:58pm
Slow day at ESPN huh?
Commander of Awesome's avatar
Commander of Awesome
Posts: 23,151
May 3, 2011 9:59pm
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.
like_that's avatar
like_that
Posts: 26,625
May 3, 2011 10:00pm
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.
killer_ewok's avatar
killer_ewok
Posts: 11,379
May 3, 2011 10:26pm
I think Ray Rice should be higher on this list.
hasbeen's avatar
hasbeen
Posts: 6,504
May 3, 2011 10:44pm
killer_ewok;758865 wrote:I think Ray Rice should be higher on this list.

Agreed. He plays a complete game.
sleeper's avatar
sleeper
Posts: 27,879
May 3, 2011 11:31pm
Peyton Hillis.
coyotes22's avatar
coyotes22
Posts: 11,298
May 4, 2011 5:25am
sleeper;758943 wrote:Peyton Hillis.

Im in no way a Browns fan, but thought for sure he would be on this list.
Commander of Awesome's avatar
Commander of Awesome
Posts: 23,151
May 4, 2011 8:29am
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.
coyotes22's avatar
coyotes22
Posts: 11,298
May 4, 2011 8:31am
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?
Raw Dawgin' it's avatar
Raw Dawgin' it
Posts: 11,466
May 4, 2011 8:33am
coyotes22;759207 wrote:Wonder how many Fantasy drafts he goes number one in, this year?

zero
Commander of Awesome's avatar
Commander of Awesome
Posts: 23,151
May 4, 2011 8:35am
Raw Dawgin' it;759209 wrote:zero

They have fantasy drafts in Cleveland, some homer will pick him #1.
B
BR1986FB
Posts: 24,104
May 4, 2011 9:00am
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).
royal_k's avatar
royal_k
Posts: 4,423
May 4, 2011 9:53am
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.
B
BR1986FB
Posts: 24,104
May 4, 2011 9:57am
Hillis' production in the rushing game will drop off if Hardesty is healthy. I think his receiving yards will improve with the WCO.
royal_k's avatar
royal_k
Posts: 4,423
May 4, 2011 10:00am
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.
B
BR1986FB
Posts: 24,104
May 4, 2011 10:06am
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.
G
georgemc80
Posts: 983
May 4, 2011 10:52am
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.
royal_k's avatar
royal_k
Posts: 4,423
May 4, 2011 11:09am
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.
justincredible's avatar
justincredible
Posts: 32,056
May 4, 2011 11:44am
HOW IS DANNY WOODHEAD NOT ON THIS LIST?
B
BR1986FB
Posts: 24,104
May 4, 2011 11:46am
justincredible;759442 wrote:HOW IS DANNY WOODHEAD NOT ON THIS LIST?

I'm still wondering how he didn't win the Madden cover vote.
Commander of Awesome's avatar
Commander of Awesome
Posts: 23,151
May 4, 2011 11:53am
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).
Heretic's avatar
Heretic
Posts: 18,820
May 4, 2011 1:59pm
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.
B
BR1986FB
Posts: 24,104
May 4, 2011 2:05pm
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."