Who do you think are the top 10 backs in the NFL? 1.) Shaun Alexander- Won rushing title this year, missed it by a single yard (or a bad call) last year, broke the TD record, and all around was amazing. Hands down the most dominent RB last couple of years. 2.) LaDanian Tomlinson- Some people can argue that LT should be #1- and they can make a good arguement becuase of all the things LT can do. Can break away and take it to the house any given play. Can line up as a wide out and be great. Great speed and strength. And that gets him this spot. But the difference is that LT can do these things. Alexander is doing them. LT hasn't broken 1500 or been a top 5 rusher since his 2003 season. Can't rightly put him #1. 3.) Edgerrin James- Work horse. Granted he was blessed with an amazing pass attack for relief, but that also takes away from him being the focus. He is a proven every down back and year after year he can deliver and carry a team. He will get his shot to be the center of a team in AZ. 4.) Larry Johnson- Don't be surprised to see him as #2 or even #1 next year. He got 1750 (#3 overall) yards in NINE starts. Yes he's blessed with the best OL in the league, but all backs have their blessings and curses. Avg 5.2 yards a carry the most from any of the 1000 yard rushers. 20 TD! TWENTY! That's more than what LT had with 16 starts. This kid is going places. He had one stellar year, but that's the problem. It's just one. Consistency is important, especially if you are to be in the top 3. 5.) Tiki Barber- Everyone says he's underrated. Well if everyone knows it then he must not be. 1860 is a hell of an amount to rush for. Solved his fumbling problem. Not much of a TD machine though. 5.2 rush avg is supurb. He does carry that offense. 6.) Clinton Portis- 3/4 season he's rushed for 1500 yards. That IMO, would put him in the top 5. However his rush avg has seriously dropped since he left denver (from 5.5 to 3.8,now 4.2). However someone had to be left out of the top 5, and I chose CP. He, however, has yet to establish himself as the push of the team like that other top 5 have. The first thread you think about nuetralizing on the Skins is Moss. 7.) Rudi Johnson- The other back to have a top 5 WR (in yards) last year along with CP. Has proven he can carry the load and can carry it to the house. But like CP he falls he is not the guy that leads the carraige. With two 1450+ seasons, he clearly is a big factor of the Bengals offense. 8.) Warrick Dunn- It hurts me to put Dunn here. But with 1400+ yards last year and 5.1 avg he is a top 10 back. Believe it or not, he (like Rudi) is the real horse that pulls the team, not Vick. What's the defense everyone uses when up agaisnt the Falcons? "Force the pass", in other words "Stop the run", in other words "Stop Dunn". 9.) Carnell Williams- ROY, shoes in the HOF, most rushing yards in 3 starts than any other back in history. All while behind one of the most porous lines in the league. Was thrown into the scene his rookie year, with no time to learn, and he matured beautifully. Still young, and still has much to prove. 10.) Willis McGahee- His top ten rushing numbers (yards) puts him in my top 10. Has put up 2 1000 yard seasons. Reason why he's barely on here is only 5 TDs and a measly 3.8 avg. He will need to show up big next year and prove he can carry this team on his shoulders. Reason why he's up here: I belive he can. He can carry this team, he'll have to. Curtis Martin is tough to place. How do you weigh in what he has done with what he can still do, and how much do you put on last season? Single bad year? Start of the downfall? IS he washed up or not? He did win the rushing title just 2 seasons ago. :martin: Edit: I put in reasons.
just off the top of my head, I think westbrook, r.williams, d.davis, s.jackson,r.brown are all better than Dunn. I think Martin could have another 1000yd season if he stays healthy
Tomlinson is definitely #1, and probably Alexander #2. After that, you can rank them a whole bunch of ways.
i concur. Dont want to take anything away from Alexander, but LT's o-line is nowhere near Alexanders.
1. Ladanian Tomlinson 2. Shaun Alexander 3. Larry Johnson 4. Priest Holmes 5. Edgerrin James 6. Tiki Barber 7. Rudi Johnson 8. Thomas Jones 9. Stephen Jackson 10. Dominick Davis 11. Cadillac Williams 12. Warrick Dunn 13. Reuben Droughns 14. Julius Jones 15. Ricky Williams thats hopw I would rank them, Curtis, Fred and Jamal could bounce back int his season
1) LT 2) S.Alexander 3) LJ 4)Tiki Barber 5)Edge James 6)C.Portis 7)Rudi Johnson 8)C.Dillon 9)W.Dunn 10)W.McGahee Thats my top 10 and i'm sticking to it.
1. L.T 2. Alexander 3. Barber 4. L. Johnson 5. James 6. R. Johnson 7. Dillon 8. Dunn 9. Portis 10. Cadillac honerable mention: c. mart, d. mccallister, p. holmes ( woul dhave made it barring any injury last year...they can still rebound back)
No offense, I know you dont care. But there is no possible way Dunn is better than Portis. Look at their careers and compare them. Not to mention Clinton is a team leader and is just a great all-around back who takes blitzing linebackers off their feet. Warrick Dunn runs in a system similiar to Denvers. Wheres Duece Mcallister by the way everybody? I swear that guy is one of the most underrated players to every play in the NFL.
I wouldnt place McGahee in the top 10. He has never had a season where he got over 4 yrds a carry. Mc Gahee might have a crappy line but it got worse this yr.... trust me he isnt top 10 he is ESPN/fantasy player hype.
1. LadanianTomlinson 2. Shaun Alexander 3. The Edge 4. Tiki Barber 5. Larry Johnson 6. Clinton Portis 7. Rudi Johnson 8. The Cadillac 9. Willis McGahee 10. Thomas Jones
1. LaDainian Tomlinson 2. Shaun Alexander 3. Tiki Barber 4. Clinton Portis 5. Edgerrin James 6. Larry Johnson 7. Reuben Droughns 8. Steven Jackson 9. Rudi Johnson 10. Ronnie Brown
hes on my list as HM...only cuz he was injured...ill give the you Dunn/Portis comment...i should have switched it..its late and im getting tired..must have slipped past me
Pound for pound/overall I really like Clinton Portis. The man does absolutely everything you want out of an RB and more. But from a pure talent/rushing standpoint, I think it would have to be either LJ or LT at the top spot, and maybe the top 2 spots. But if I had to build a team, I think in a lot of ways Portis is the best back in the league and the RB I'd rather have. Shaun Alexander and Tiki Barber are weird, you always get the feeling they're not quite as good as they've shown, but it's hard to really say that about someone's performance. Edge is also someone that's always underrated. This is why RBs aren't worth as much these days, there are so many good ones to choose from, and in the end your QB wins you games.
Lets be realistic, I dont think Curtis has EVER been a top five back at any time in his career, he has been the MOST consistent over his career, however he has never been a gambreaker. Even if he has another 1000 yard season you dont put him on that list.
Exactly! I have had that stance for years and I have been in some Firey Debates on here because of it. Good to see someone who agrees.
I would like to see what Ladainian Tomlinson would have done to last year's Texas Longhorns team..... :lol:
1. L.T 2. L. Johnson 3. Alexander 4. Barber 5. James 6. R. Johnson 7.Portis 8. Cadillac 9. R.Bush 10A. T.Jones 10B. McGahee
