Maurice Jones-Drew ranks each team's primary starting running back for the 2022 NFL season. A member of theBroncos' Ring of Fame, Gradishar is credited with over 2,000 tackles during his 10-year career. 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. D.A.'s Top-5 best running backs not in the HOF - Audacy More than deserving of a gold jacket, George holds many Titans/Oilers franchise records, including for career rushing yards (10,441). If his early years weren't languished in the football graveyard of St. Louis, he would no doubt be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Eagles Trade for Lions RB D'Andre Swift - NFL Tracker And the fact that the city was thisclose to a second consecutive Lombardi -- a debate that never ends well for Pete Carroll -- helps his case. FantPt. 1 / 60 While he would never come close to duplicating his success of 2002, Bennett still managed to carve out a 10-year career. 2021 stats:258 carries, 1,037 rushing yards, 4.0 yards per carry, 42 receptions on 52 targets, 294 receiving yards, 10 total TDs. Chubb is known for his chunk running and special burst that comes out of his powerful style. But an injury limited him to eight games in 2012, and a torn Achilles tendon sustained during the ensuing offseason prematurely ended his career. Dallas Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott has stated that his goal is to rush for 10,000 yards and collect a spot in the Hall of Fame. The league's leading receiver on two separate occasions, Holt was the Rams' No. He rushed for over 1,000 yards (while averaging 5 yards per carry) for theDolphinsin 2011. 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. MORE Top 50 Players in BYU Football History Nos. Andrews rushed for a career-high 1,567 yards in 1983 before his injury. He will be vital all-around in lifting Zach Wilson in Year 2, too. Dillon in this backfield, but that's also helped him stay fresh and kept him in an explosive groove in Matt LaFleur's zone rushing attack. TD. Knee problems may ultimately keep Gurley from going down as an all-time great. With that in mind, we decided to rank each running back that was selected in the first round between 2000-20. Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown (32) is pictured in Cleveland, circa 1960s. Predicting whether or not Derrick Henry will be traded by end of NFL Draft Pollard has been the ideal change-of-pace back to support Elliott with his flashy running and fluid receiving. But he was one of the most productive backs of his era. Some think he's faded and lost too many steps and believe his best is buried behind him. All HOFm Positions: QBRBWRTEGTCDTDEILBOLBDBKP, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Sunday, April 30, 2:31PM. Between 2001-03, Holmes was iconic, a Pro Bowler and All-Pro for three straight seasons. Of the three hall-of-fame-caliber players who are potentially on the trade block heading into Thursday nights draft, Henry is the one I feel the least certain about him being dealt. Do you have a sports website? Leaning more toward 2022 upside than past performance, here's Sporting News' ranking of the top 30 running backs in the NFL, starting with the reigning rushing champion and including a double dose from several teams: MORE NFL RANKINGS: QBs | WRs| Coaches | Defense. I expect for the Green Bay Packers to figure out a fair-enough trade package to get Aaron Rodgers out of their building. While healthy, Martin was a very good player. Thomas, a seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro, is at the top of that list. (AP Photo/Greg Trott), Davis' bid for the Pro Football Hall of Fame is hurt because his career ended so abruptly. Or write about sports? Taylor has been eligible for seven years now. Tasker's play set up the game's first touchdown. Listen below and follow the Pick Six podcast for a daily dose of everything you need to follow pro football. 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. 2: Eddie George -- He opened his career with five consecutive 1,000-yards campaigns, and then added two more over the course of his career. Elliott is polarizing in a different way at 27. Edwards-Helaire hasn't lived up to being a first-rounder in 2020 for multiple reasons. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. 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). Najee Harriswas quite pleased upon being selected by the Steelers in this year's NFL Draft. Expect Penny to be threatened, however, for key touches by rookie Ken Walker. A score of 100 is around the average modern-era inductee. "The Assassin" was one of the hardest hitting safeties in league history. Who is the best NFL running back in history? - NBC Sports Bay Area That said, he has some freakish physical qualities for his big frame. Like McCaffrey, Barkley's early career boom has been derailed by injury woes, but he also never reached the same level of all-purpose dominance. Maurice Jones-Drew evaluated every running back who started a game during the 2022 NFL regular season to create a COMPLETE ranking, from 1 to 75. This whole thing feels odd. Sorry, but Frank Gore doesn't belong in the Pro Football Hall of Fame All rights reserved. Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson is a former First-Team All-American defensive back for the TCU Horned Frogs and is one of the top defensive prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. And following an unceremonious end of his tenure with the Chiefs, Johnson had largely forgettable stops in Cincinnati, Washington and Miami. 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. 1 receiver when St. Louis made a return trip to theSuper Bowlin 2001. 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. 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. Mixon had teased of a big season early in his career. 26-50 6. Hayes won Defensive Player of the Year in 1980 while leading the NFL with 13 interceptions. Injuries are the reason why Mathews was out of football at age 29. As Warren Sharp pointed out, Swift won't exactly have . The 2023 NFL Draft has arrived! However, Roseman has a proven track record. At 26, MIxon should maintain that momentum of production. The Titans came within 1 yard(!) Cliff Branch, who was posthumously enshrined on Saturday, had been eligible for 30 years before his family received that long-awaited phone call. Taylor's transition to the NFL was seamless after the two leagues merged in 1970. No. So, uh, can we put him in? Getty Images. The Steelers didn't waste time putting a lot on Harris as a first-round rookie workhorse and he showed off his versatility and durability right away. Maurice Jones-Drew spotlights three running backs with 50 or fewer carries this season who could significantly impact the stretch run. All-time Super Bowl QB rankings: Where do Matthew Stafford and Joe Burrow slot in? 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 | After rehabbing for the 2003 season, McGahee rushed for 1,128 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2004 while leading the Bills to the precipice of the postseason. It's safe to assume that the longtime Houston Texans standout will eventually be enshrined in Canton. That season, Stewart earned his first and only Pro Bowl selection while helping thePanthersreach the Super Bowl. Faulk's statistics weren't just gaudy numbers for a bad team. All Rights Reserved. Injuries in subsequent seasons, however, led to a drastic drop in Alexander's production. Since 1980, there have been 19 Modern-Era Running Backs honored by the Hall of Fame, with an average Legends Score of 41. Three years later, he helped the Saints win the franchise's only Super Bowl title. He bolstered his rsum after being traded to the Patriots in 2004, racking up a career-high 1,635 rush yards and 12 TDs in his first season in New England. While I have you: Put Coryell in the Hall of . While he continuously battled through injury, McFadden still managed to amass 1,664 all-purpose yards for the Raiders in 2010. Cincinnati Bengals (1997-2003), New England Patriots (2004-06). He still can produce well, but the Commanders seem to be committed to more of a situational committee approach to keep him fresh vs. putting more on him as a workhorse. Vrabel was furious! McNeil was the stud running back for the team who made quarterback Richard Todd look good. The Dolphins have a slew of Canton-worthy players who still haven't gotten the call. In 1984, Matthews led the league with 126 tackles while also posting 12 sacks and three forced fumbles. A Pro Bowler in 2002, a freak injury (he injured his foot while running on a treadmill) hindered Bennett's productivity for the remainder of his career. He was a six-time Pro Bowl selection. 11:15 am ET. He made the Pro Bowl in 2011 after rushing for 1,091 yards and catching 50 passes for 455 yards. Dallas Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott has stated that his goal is to rush for 10,000 yards and collect a spot in the Hall of Fame. He also led the NFL in passing yards in consecutive seasons. The Pro Football Reference Hall of Fame Monitor (HOFm) is a metric designed to estimate a player's chances of making the Pro Football Hall of Fame using AV, Pro Bowls, All-Pros, championships, and various stat milestones. The 10,000-yard plateau is a good one to cross for that gold jacket. No. Patience would be an appropriate word to describe the 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction class. Singletary emerged as a reliable workhorse down the stretch to complement the high-volume passing game. 2021 stats: 162 carries, 593rushing yards, 3.7 yards per carry, 41 receptions on 57 targets, 263 receiving yards, 4 total TDs. But to hear greats like Barry Sanders tell it, Dupree might have been the best running back to come out of Oklahoma. McAllister's 6,096 rushing yards remains the Saints' career rushing record. Taylor was an extraordinary teammate who exemplified everything it meant to be a professional. A key member of the Panthers' 2003 Super Bowl team, Smith overcame a significant injury in 2004 to win Comeback Player of the Year after lading the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches in 2005. Anderson was a true stud in every sense of the word. For a list of other positions, click here. Second, he hasn't build on being a top-flight receiving back at LSU, which what he was expected to do in the Chiefs' pass-first offense. Lynch's greatest stretch was with the Seattle Seahawks. 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. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Pro Football Reference Database. 4: Fred Taylor -- He has more yards rushing yards than any eligible back not in the Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame RBs | Pro Football Hall of Fame - pfhof He has a good shot to break the trend and make it two team titles in a row with 1,000-plus yards to boot. 36 overall. Ironically, Dayne's best season was his last; he rushed for 773 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 4 yards per carry for the Texans. A 1,000-yard rusher for three different franchises, McGahee earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2007 as a member of the Ravens. Top 10 Defensive Backs Not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Even though, you know, the USFL was pro football. ET on ABC), and when looking at this year's finalists list, I noticed there wasn't a single running back up for induction. In the Super Bowl Era. Rams (2004-12); Falcons (2013-14); Patriots (2015). He's also one of eight players in league history with 10,000-plus career rush yards and 4,000-plus career receiving yards. Watters was a dual-threat playmaker who consistently produced. Gradishar earned five more Pro Bowl selections (as well as another All-Pro nod) during his final six seasons with the Broncos. By 2012, he earned Pro Bowl honors after rushing for 1,244 yards and averaging 6 yards per carry. In what would be his final NFL game, Jackson scored a touchdown in New England's 20-18 loss to Denver in the 2015 AFC Championship Game. Teams:Panthers (2001-13); Ravens (2014-16). The only running back on this list, Craig played an integral role in the 49ers' success during the 1980s. And he absolutely quantifies the whole "you can't tell the story of the NFL without this player" requirement. Although Elliott is still the lead in the Cowboys' eyes, it's become more of a 1-2 punch with the latter helping the former stay effective with less mid-career wear. Plus, just how far did Pollard climb in MJD's RB rankings after his big Week 11 outing? 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. Ultimately, Green's inconsistency (he averaged just 3.7 yards per carry for his career) and off-field issues led to him being out of the NFL after just four seasons. (Not So) New-Age Running Backs - Pro Football Hall of Fame Matthews retired with 69.5 career sacks, 27 forced fumbles and 14 fumble recoveries. When Barry Sanders arrived in Detroit, then-coach Wayne Fontes wanted him to wear No. In 1965, Taylor spurned the NFL (he was drafted by theEagleswith the 203rd pick in theNFL draft) to play for the AFL'sKansas City Chiefs. A five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro, Sharp led the league in receptions three different times. His 53-yard touchdown catch during the previous year's Super Bowl helped theColtswin the franchise's first Super Bowl following their move from Baltimore to Indianapolis. Of the 31 runners to have done it, 16 are in the Hall and two more are locks (Adrian Peterson and Frank Gore). Dupree did give it a go with the Los Angeles Rams, but he just couldn't make it happen. 1 receiver when the Colts made it back to the Super Bowl in 2009. No. He's still a talented all-around back but his strength might be as a part-time version of Chubb. Jackson is 18th on the NFL's career rushing list, just ahead of Hall of Fame running backs John Riggins and O.J. Craig was a four-time Pro Bowler, and a three-time champion. NFL running back rankings 2022 1. Tasker's brilliance was on display during the opening minutes of Super Bowl XXVII. 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. Vikings (2001-05); Chiefs (2006-07); Buccaneers (2007-08); Chargers (2008-09); Raiders (2010). After holding off Zack Moss for key touches, he will need to do the same again vs. rookie James Cook. 10 Best Running Backs in Arizona Cardinals History When you look at the 30 running backs with 10,000 or more rushing yards, Gore doesn't even stand out among the nonmembers of the Hall of Fame. Who knows, honestly? 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 had seven seasonsof 1,000 yards on the ground, including 1,572 in 2003. Jackson joins program that produced Hall of Fame running backs Frank Gifford, O.J. With some help from Michael Thomas and others to take pressure off him in the passing game again, he should see some familiar favorable running lanes. D'Andre Swift Trade: Social Media Reactions Pour In After Eagles Land And while an injury in 2007 contributed to his 2009 release, McAllister was added to the Saints' roster prior to the team's Super Bowl win over the Colts. That season, Perry caught 51 passes, the most by a Bengals running back since James Brooks in 1986. He topped 1,500 yards back in 2000, when he finished third in the MVP vote. First, he's missed 10 games in his first two seasons. Jim Brown is a superb choice to start a list of top running backs of all time. He helped the Eagles reach the postseasons three times, but had to wait until Year 11 to win his first ring, when he reunited with Andy Reid in Kansas City. Lynch made his first Pro Bowl in Buffalo, but his "Beast Mode" persona was born in Seattle. Without McDaniels, Harris' role shouldn't change much in a run-heavy attack, even if Rhamondre Stevenson cuts more into the overall backfield work. Join our linker program. 1 on this list and he should be headed to his biggest all-around season yet with his expanded role in a Kevin O'Connell offensive scheme tailored to his rushing and receiving strengths. Johnson had just 70 carries during the 2016 and '17 seasons before announcing his retirement in 2018. In 2002, he was named the AFC's Offensive Player of the Year, and finished fourth in the MVP vote. Hayes helped the Raiders win their second Super Bowl that season. A big, physical back at 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, Jackson ripped off eight straight 1,000-yard seasons from 2005-12. (National Football League), Foreman was a perfect runner for those frigid days at the Met in Minneapolis. A true workhorse who carried the ball 403 times in 2000 for the Tennessee Titans. 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. Being available allowed Watters to put up these kind of numbers year over year, and he should be rewarded for it. Pro Football RB Hall of Fame Monitor He hit the 1,000-yard mark again for theLionsin 2013. Philadelphia may like to run the ball, but the Eagles are never willing to pay a premium at this position. . A 2009 Pro Bowler, Williams led the league in rushing touchdowns in 2008 and in 2015. Its college, but its also Ohio State. Little (1967-75) was. While he was never a full-time starter, Duckett helped the Falcons clinch two playoff berths over that span that included a run to the NFC title game in 2004. 225), a three-star recruit who is rated the 42nd-best athlete in the nation in the . Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry could be traded to the Philadelphia Eagles by the first night of the 2023 NFL Draft. Perhaps he was overlooked, since he played games in Jacksonville. He's not sneaking up on anyone anymore as one of the league's most efficient backs with his quickness in the passing game and compact power in the running game. Tre's uncle is legendary Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson. A bruising 218-pound runner, Ameche is best known for his game-winning one-yard run in the famous 1958 NFL Championship Game. A two-time Pro Bowler, McMichael had 92.5 career sacks for Chicago, second in franchise history. Along with Ricky Williams, Brown has the distinction of being part of the NFL's charter "Wild Cat" offense. 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. He averaged better than 4.5 yards per carry during his peak years. He won Offensive Player of the Year as a rookie in 1996, and then made four straight Pro Bowls. He was a smooth fit in the system with his quick running and did fine as a receiver when needed there. If you want to recognize him for being a guy who hung around longer than most big backs, fine. 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.
