GOAT, RB CATEGORY

[Chef2]

The QB thread got me thinking about running backs, and how much they're used today. Of the 4 remaining playoff teams, only Seattle has a "Big-Name" running back.......

My top 10, FWIW.

1. Jim Brown
2. Barry Sanders
3. Walter Payton
4. Emmitt Smith
5. Gale Sayers
6. Eric Dickerson
7. Earl Campbell
8. Marshall Faulk
9. Thurman Thomas
10. Ladainian Tomlinson

 

[joe king]

I don't usually like ranking players or teams across different eras because the game has changed so much over the years, but I feel pretty confident in saying the answer to this one is Jim Brown and no one is even close.

 

[Guy_Incognito]

Why do you have a linebacker on your RB list?

 

[LongTimeListener]

Although I'm too young, I've heard enough people talk about Brown that I'm convinced we are really debating Nos. 2 through 10 here.

Personally I would put LT a lot higher and I'm not sure how to evaluate Emmitt by himself vs. having the dominant O-line of the times in front of him. Think a whole lot of guys could have done what he did at the peak if not for as long a time.

Also Peterson needs to be on there, certainly ahead of Thomas.

 

[joe king]

The QB thread got me thinking about running backs, and how much they're used today. Of the 4 remaining playoff teams, only Seattle has a "Big-Name" running back.......

My top 10, FWIW.

1. Jim Brown
2. Barry Sanders
3. Walter Payton
4. Emmitt Smith
5. Gale Sayers
6. Eric Dickerson
7. Earl Campbell
8. Marshall Faulk
9. Thurman Thomas
10. LT

Frank Gore is not a big-name running back?

 

[LongTimeListener]

Joe king, Frank Gore's typical season is about 1,200 rushing yards and a couple hundred receiving.

 

[Chef2]

The QB thread got me thinking about running backs, and how much they're used today. Of the 4 remaining playoff teams, only Seattle has a "Big-Name" running back.......

My top 10, FWIW.

1. Jim Brown
2. Barry Sanders
3. Walter Payton
4. Emmitt Smith
5. Gale Sayers
6. Eric Dickerson
7. Earl Campbell
8. Marshall Faulk
9. Thurman Thomas
10. LT

Frank Gore is not a big-name running back?

Not in my opinion.

 

[mustangj17]

Barry Sanders avoided contact. Give me a runningback who ran through contact. And why the hell isn't Adrian Peterson on your list?

 

[Chef2]

Barry Sanders avoided contact. Give me a runningback who ran through contact. And why the hell isn't Adrian Peterson on your list?

I think 8,9,10,11 are pretty much interchangeable.......my #11 would be Peterson.

 

[dreunc1542]

Chef usually makes such ****ty lists that I was pleasantly surprised that this one turned out to be just somewhat ****ty instead of completely ****ty.

 

[MisterCreosote]

Barry Sanders avoided contact. Give me a runningback who ran through contact. And why the hell isn't Adrian Peterson on your list?

He shouldn't be punished for self preservation.

He's still behind Payton, though.

 

[Versatile]

My standard in greatness discussions is, who would I rather have had for their entire career? So Gale Sayers and Earl Campbell fall well behind.

Adrian Peterson obviously needs to be on the list, and LaDanian Tomlinson should be higher. Otherwise, that list was somewhat reasonable, stunningly.

 

[Chef2]

Chef usually makes such ****ty lists that I was pleasantly surprised that this one turned out to be just somewhat ****ty instead of completely ****ty.

Enlighten me, O wise one.

Who would be your top 10 running backs of all time?

 

[Morris816]

AP definitely belongs in the top 10.

And given that so many teams are utilizing split backfields more frequently, is it worth asking whether the days of the dominant running back are ending, or do we simply need to rethink what makes a great RB as the game has evolved?

 

[MisterCreosote]

AP definitely belongs in the top 10.

And given that so many teams are utilizing split backfields more frequently, is it worth asking whether the days of the dominant running back are ending, or do we simply need to rethink what makes a great RB as the game has evolved?

I always thought of Faulk as the prototype running back going forward in today's game.

 

[Chef2]

My standard in greatness discussions is, who would I rather have had for their entire career? So Gale Sayers and Earl Campbell fall well behind.

Adrian Peterson obviously needs to be on the list, and LaDanian Tomlinson should be higher. Otherwise, that list was somewhat reasonable, stunningly.

I thought about adding in Christian Okoye, Joe Morris, and Curt Warner just for ****s and giggles.

 

[joe king]

Joe king, Frank Gore's typical season is about 1,200 rushing yards and a couple hundred receiving.

And how many guys have done that consistently over the past eight years or so?

BTW, those were Marshawn Lynch's numbers this season. And Adrian Peterson's.

 

[Chef2]

AP definitely belongs in the top 10.

And given that so many teams are utilizing split backfields more frequently, is it worth asking whether the days of the dominant running back are ending, or do we simply need to rethink what makes a great RB as the game has evolved?

I always thought of Faulk as the prototype running back going forward in today's game.

Fair point.

 

[Gator]

Before we anoint Peterson No. 11 ...

Curtis Martin very quietly put together a very, very good career. He was overshadowed by Smith and Sanders, but he was always fun to watch. He averaged 1,280 yards and eight touchdowns. Also caught an average of 44 passes a season for 302 yards. That's nearly 1,600 yards from scrimmage for 11 seasons.

Certainly honorable mention material. And I would take him over Thurman Thomas 10 times out of 10.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Joe king, Frank Gore's typical season is about 1,200 rushing yards and a couple hundred receiving.

And how many guys have done that consistently over the past eight years or so?

BTW, those were Marshawn Lynch's numbers this season. And Adrian Peterson's.

Gore has finished in the top five in rushing yards or yards from scrimmage one time, and that was seven years ago.

He is very consistent and the 49ers use him wisely to keep his legs alive for the playoffs. It is the prototype of the new system being discussed here. But he doesn't qualify as a "big name" by the measure Chef is using.