Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #3: Lenny Moore

Lenny Moore

Teams

Baltimore Colts (1956-1967)

Playoffs

Appearances - 4 (1958,1959,1964,1965)

Conf Champ Games - 3 (1958,1959,1964)

Champ Games - 3 (1958,1959,1964)

Championships - 2 (1958,1959)

Awards and Honors

Rookie of the Year - 1956

Comeback Player of the Year - 1 (1964)

All-Pro First Team - 5 (1958,1959,1960,1961,1964)

Pro Bowl - 7 (1956,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1964)

Hall of Fame - 1975

All-Time Ranks

Total Touchdowns - #16

Yards per Rush - #18

Rushing Touchdowns - #50

Yards per Touch - #55

Yards per Reception - #79

Scrimmage Yards - #84

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#8-1956,1958, #9-1964, #10-1961)

Rushing Touchdowns (#1-1964, #3-1956, #6-1958, #7-1961, #9-1965)

Yards per Rush (#1-1956,1957,1958,1961, #7-1962, #8-1959)

Rushing Yards per Game (#9-1958, #10-1956,1961)

Receptions (#2-1959, #4-1958, #5-1957, #6-1960)

Receiving Yards (#2-1958, #3-1959,1960, #4-1957)

Receiving Touchdowns (#2-1957, #5-1958,1959,1960, #8-1961)

Yards per Reception (#2-1960, #6-1959, #7-1958, #9-1957)

Receiving Yards per Game (#2-1958, #3-1959,1960, #5-1957)

Total Touchdowns (#1-1957,1964, #2-1958,1961, #3-1960, #6-1956, #8-1959)

Scrimmage Yards (#1-1957, #2-1958, #3-1959,1960,1961, #8-1964)

Yards per Touch (#1-1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961, #5-1964, #7-1962, #9-1965)

After gaining 2497 yards and scoring 24 touchdowns in 3 seasons at Penn State, Lenny Moore was drafted by the Baltimore Colts with the #9 overall pick in the 1956 NFL Draft.

As a rookie, Moore led the league with 7.5 yards per carry on the season, which is still the 4th-best average of all time. He also averaged 7.7 yards per touch, also best in the league, and was named the Rookie of the Year.

In his second season, he led the league in both of those categories again, and in addition, he also had the most scrimmage yards in the league, with 1175, and 10 total touchdowns, also #1. It was the first of 3 straight seasons in which he would be among the top 5 in the league in receptions and receiving yards, despite being a running back. 

The next season was his best by far. He led the league again with 7.3 yards per carry and 11.6 yards per touch, scored 14 total touchdowns, and had 938 receiving yards and 1536 scrimmage yards, both career highs. He finished #3 in the MVP voting that season, then took the Colts to the championship game, where he had 124 total yards to lead Baltimore to a 23-17 win over the Giants.

He wasn't as efficient in 1959, but still gained 846 yards through the air, and was again the league leader in yards per touch while leading the Colts back to the championship game. In a rematch with the Giants, Moore had 134 yards and a touchdown as Baltimore repeated as champions 31-16.

He led the league in yards per touch in each of the next 2 years as well, making it 6 years in a row to start his career. he also led the league in yards per rush in 1961 for the 4th time, and it was the third time that he surpassed 7.0 yards per carry. 

During the 1962 preseason, he broke his kneecap when he was tackled on the metal spike that was used to anchor first base to the field during baseball season. He missed half of the season as a result, the first time he missed time in his career. When he returned in 1963, he was not used much, leading many to believe that he was done.

He bounced back in a big way in 1964, setting a new league record by becoming the first player ever to score 20 touchdowns in a season. He also set a record that still stands today by scoring a touchdown in 18 consecutive games, a mark that has been tied by LaDainian Tomlinson, but never broken. He was named Comeback Player of the Year and was runner-up for MVP. After that point, he never played near that level again. He played 3 more seasons, with diminishing returns, before retiring at the end of the 1967 season.

Moore is the only running back in history to average at least 7 yards per carry more than once, and he accomplished the feat 3 times. He is the only player with at least 40 touchdowns each rushing and receiving, and still holds the record for most consecutive games with a touchdown. He led the Colts to their first two titles, and is the only player among the top 100 all time in yards per rush and yards per reception. There is no doubt that he is one of the greatest to ever play the game.

Football Predictions: 29 Aug thru 2 Sep

Upset picks are in italics.

Thursday

Howard at Rutgers - Scarlet Knights by 24.5

Western Carolina at (24) NC State - Wolf Pack by 28

North Carolina A&T at Wake Forest - Demon Deacons by 17.5

New Hampshire at UCF - Knights by 24.5

Jackson State at UL Monroe - Warhawks by 7.5

Lafayette at Buffalo - Bulls by 9

Fordham at Bowling Green - Falcons by 19.5

Central Connecticut at Central Michigan - Chippewas by 8

Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Arkansas - Razorbacks by 20

Duquesne at Toledo - Rockets by 23.5

Murray State at (11) Missouri - Tigers by 35.5

Lindenwood at (22) Kansas - Jayhawks by 30

North Carolina at Minnesota - Tar Heels by 4

North Dakota State at Colorado - Buffaloes by 21

Coastal Carolina at Jacksonville State - Gamecocks by 3.5

Alcorn State at UAB - Blazers by 11

SE Louisiana at Tulane - Green Wave by 23

Northwestern State at Tulsa - Golden Hurricane by 12

Southern Utah at (12) Utah - Utes by 27

Eastern Illinois at Illinois - Illini by 18.5

Sacramento State at San Jose State - Spartans by 22.5

Friday

Lehigh at Army - Black Knights by 16.5

Temple at (16) Oklahoma - Sooners by 35

FAU at Michigan State - Spartans by 6

Elon at Duke - Blue Devils by 29.5

Western Michigan at Wisconsin - Badgers by 18.5

TCU at Stanford - Horned Frogs by 10

Saturday

(14) Clemson vs. (1) Georgia - Bulldogs by 11

(8) Penn State at West Virginia - Nittany Lions by 8

Illinois State at (25) Iowa - Hawkeyes by 24.5

Virginia Tech at Vanderbilt - Hokies by 11

UConn at Maryland - Terrapins by 22

Austin Peay at Louisville - Cardinals by 30

Indiana State at Purdue - Boilermakers by 18.5

Kent State at Pittsburgh - Panthers by 21.5

Bucknell at Navy - Midshipmen by 13.5

Chattanooga at (15) Tennessee - Volunteers by 30.5

South Dakota State at (17) Oklahoma State - Cowboys by 26.5

Towson at Cincinnati - Bearcats by 15

Portland State at Washington State - Cougars by 25.5

Akron at (2) Ohio State - Buckeyes by 40.5

Colorado State at (4) Texas - Longhorns by 30.5

(19) Miami at Florida - Hurricanes by 1

FIU at Indiana - Hoosiers by 15.5

UTEP at Nebraska - Cornhuskers by 15.5

Eastern Michigan at UMass - Minutemen by 5.5

East Tennessee State at Appalachian State - Mountaineers by 24

North Dakota at Iowa State - Cyclones by 28

Ohio at Syracuse - Orange by 0.5

Kennesaw State at UTSA - Roadrunners by 24

Merrimack at Air Force - Falcons by 24.5

Miami (OH) at Northwestern - Wildcats by 1

Western Illinois at Northern Illinois - Huskies by 15

Boise State at Georgia Southern - Broncos by 7

Old Dominion at South Carolina - Gamecocks by 9.5

Stony Brook at Marshall - Thundering Herd by 14.5

UC Davis at California - Golden Bears by 22.5

North Texas at South Alabama - Jaguars by 13.5

Eastern Kentucky at Mississippi State - Bulldogs by 18.5

Campbell at Liberty - Flames by 29

Richmond at Virginia - Cavaliers by 20

Norfolk State at East Carolina - Pirates by 13

Idaho State at Oregon State - Beavers by 31.5

Western Kentucky at (5) Alabama - Crimson Tide by 20.5

Furman at (6) Ole Miss - Rebels by 33.5

UT Martin at (18) Kansas State - Wildcats by 37

Central Arkansas at Arkansas State - Red Wolves by 18

Bethune-Cookman at South Florida - Bulls by 15

Tarleton at Baylor - Bears by 14.5

UNLV at Houston - Rebels by 2.5

Tennessee Tech at Middle Tennessee - Blue Raiders by 15

Sam Houston at Rice - Owls by 9

Nevada at Troy - Trojans by 30.5

North Alabama at Memphis - Tigers by 26

Idaho at (3) Oregon - Ducks by 42

(7) Notre Dame at (20) Texas A&M - Irish by 6

Fresno State at (9) Michigan - Wolverines by 28.5

Alabama A&M at Auburn - Tigers by 24.5

UCLA at Hawaii - Bruins by 15.5

Abilene Christian at Texas Tech - Red Raiders by 27

Southern Miss at Kentucky - Wildcats by 18

Southern Illinois at BYU - Cougars by 19.5

Georgia State at Georgia Tech - Yellowjackets by 10

Houston Christian at SMU - Mustangs by 29

Grambling at Louisiana - Ragin Cajuns by 19

Nicholls at Louisiana Tech - Bulldogs by 10

Texas A&M-Commerce at San Diego State - Aztecs by 12.5

Robert Morris at Utah State - Aggies by 14.5

James Madison at Charlotte - Dukes by 18.5

Lamar at Texas State - Bobcats by 20

SE Missouri State at New Mexico State - Aggies by 19.5

New Mexico at (21) Arizona - Wildcats by 30

Weber State at Washington - Huskies by 37

Wyoming at Arizona State - Cowboys by 2

Sunday

(23) USC vs. (13) LSU - Tigers by 5.5

Monday

Boston College at (10) Florida State - Seminoles by 22.5

Results

NCAA: 2-2 (.500)

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #4: OJ Simpson

OJ Simpson

Teams

Buffalo Bills (1969-1977)

San Francisco 49ers (1978-1979)

Playoffs

Appearances - 1 (1974)

Conf Champ Games - 0

Super Bowls - 0

Championships - 0

Awards and Honors

Offensive Player of the Year - 1 (1973)

MVP - 1 (1973)

All-Pro First Team - 5 (1972,1973,1974,1975,1976)

Pro Bowl - 6 (1969,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976)

All-Time Ranks

Rushing Yards per Game - #11

Rushing Yards - #21

Yards per Rush - #24

Scrimmage Yards - #43

Rushing Touchdowns - #51

Total Touchdowns - #85

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#1-1972,1973,1975,1976, #3-1974, #6-1969)

Rushing Touchdowns (#1-1973,1975, #7-1976)

Yards per Rush (#1-1975, #2-1973,1976)

Rushing Yards per Game (#1-1973,1975,1976, #2-1972, #4-1969, #5-1974, #6-1977, #7-1970)

Receiving Touchdowns (#9-1975)

Total Touchdowns (#1-1975, #5-1973)

Scrimmage Yards (#1-1973,1975,1976, #3-1972, #5-1969,1974)

Yards per Touch (#2-1973,1975, #6-1976)

After finishing as Heisman runner-up as a junior, then winning the award as a senior at USC after gaining 1709 rushing yards and scoring 22 touchdowns, OJ Simpson was drafted by the Buffalo Bills with the #1 overall pick in the 1969 NFL Draft.

Simpson's career in the NFL got off to a slow start. He didn't reach 750 rushing yards in any of his first 3 seasons, but after a coaching change in 1972, the offense was changed to feature him as the star, and he responded with a massive 5-year run, which started in 1972, when Simpson led the league in rushing with 1251 yards, finishing as the runner-up for Offensive Player of the Year. 

His best season came in 1973, when he became the first player ever to reach 2000 rushing yards, gaining 2003 on the season. He also led the league with 12 touchdowns and 2073 scrimmage yards, and his 143.1 yards per game is still the record for any player in history. He gained a career-high 6.0 yards per carry on the season, and won both the Offensive Player of the Year and MVP awards after the season, despite his team not even reaching the playoffs.

A knee injury slowed him a bit in 1974, limiting him to 1125 yards, but that was also the season when he played in the only playoff game of his career, gaining 86 total yards and scoring a touchdown in a loss to Pittsburgh in the divisional round.

He was back at full strength in 1975, leading the league again with 1817 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, the best of his career. He also gained 2243 scrimmage yards and scored 23 touchdowns, both of which were records at the time. He finished that season as runner-up for the MVP and the Offensive Player of the Year awards.

He led the league in rushing one last time in 1976, with 1503 yards, and his 1762 scrimmage yards were also a league-best. That year, on Thanksgiving, he set a new league record with 273 rushing yards against Detroit, which stood for years but has fallen several times since.

After injuries forced him to miss half of the 1977 season, Simpson was traded to San Francisco before the 1978 season, which is where he had grown up. The injuries followed him to the west coast, and he retired after 2 seasons as a 49er. At the time of his retirement, he was #2 on the all-time rushing list.

Though he is more famous today for things that he did decades later, at his peak Simpson was by far the best running back in football. Nobody has come close to matching his record for yards per game from 1973, which is still 10 yards per game better than any other player ever. He led the league in rushing yards 4 times and scrimmage yards 3 times, and held numerous records during his career, and there is no doubt that he was one of the greatest running backs of all time.

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #5: Marshall Faulk

Marshall Faulk

Teams

Indianapolis Colts (1994-1998)

Saint Louis Rams (1999-2005)

Playoffs

Appearances - 7 (1995,1996,1999,2000,2001,2003,2004)

Conf Champ Games - 3 (1995,1999,2001)

Super Bowls - 2 (1999,2001)

Championships - 1 (1999)

Awards and Honors

Offensive Rookie of the Year - 1994

Offensive Player of the Year - 3 (1999,2000,2001)

MVP - 1 (2000)

All-Pro First Team - 3 (1999,2000,2001)

All-Pro Second Team - 3 (1994,1995,1998)

Pro Bowl - 7 (1994,1995,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002)

Hall of Fame - 2011

All-Time Ranks

Scrimmage Yards - #5

Total Touchdowns - #7

Rushing Touchdowns - #8

Rushing Yards - #12

Receptions - #41

Rushing Yards per Game - #44

Yards per Rush - #86

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#5-1994,1999,2001, #6-1998, #8-2000)

Rushing Touchdowns (#1-2000, #2-2001, #3-1994, #4-1995, #9-2003)

Yards per Rush (#1-1999,2000,2001, #7-1994)

Rushing Yards per Game (#1-2001, #4-2000, #5-1994, #6-1999, #9-1998)

Receptions (#3-1998, #8-1999)

Receiving Touchdowns (#5-2001)

Total Touchdowns (#1-2000,2001, #4-1994, #7-1995,1999, #10-2003)

Scrimmage Yards (#1-1998,1999, #2-2000,2001, #4-1994, #8-1997)

Yards per Touch (#3-1999, #5-1998, #9-2000, #10-2001)

Marshall Faulk rushed for 386 yards and 7 touchdowns in his second college game at San Diego State, then went on to finish #2 for the Heisman as a sophomore and #4 as a junior before leaving school a year early to enter the 1994 NFL Draft, where he was taken #2 overall by the Indianapolis Colts.

Faulk opened his career by winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award after rushing for 1282 yards and 11 touchdowns, then followed that up with 1078 yards and another 11 touchdowns in his second season. He led the Colts to the AFC Championship Game that year, but he missed the game with a toe injury, and the team fell short of the Super Bowl by a game.

The toe injury lingered through the next season, and Faulk was limited to only 587 yards on 3 yards per carry, a terrible year by any standard, but he raised that back up to 1054 in 1997, then 1319 in 1998. That season, he also had 908 receiving yards, which put him at 2227 from scrimmage for the season, good enough to lead the league.

The Colts decided to move on from Faulk after that season, trading him to the Saint Louis Rams, where he had a huge and immediate impact. He set a new NFL record with 2429 scrimmage yards, still the #2 total of all time, while leading the league with 5.5 yards per carry. He also became the second player ever to have 1000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season, and he set the record for most receiving yards by a running back in a season as well. 

He was named the Offensive Player of the Year for those accomplishments, but he also saw huge team success that year. The Rams went all the way to the Super Bowl behind Faulk and Kurt Warner, and though he had only 17 rushing yards in that game, he had 90 yards receiving, and the Rams beat the Titans 23-16.

He remained amazing in 2000. He led the league again in yards per carry, and had 18 rushing touchdowns, also best in the league. He also broke the league record for total touchdowns in a season, with 26, which is now #4 on the all-time list. He also broke the 2000-yard mark on scrimmage yards for the third year in a row, and was given the Offensive Player of the Year and MVP awards for the season.

There was no dropoff in 2001. He led the league in yards per carry for the third year in a row, and total touchdowns for the second straight year, and became the first player ever to record 2000 scrimmage yards in 4 straight seasons. He won the Offensive Player of the Year award for the 3rd straight season, and guided the Rams back to the Super Bowl after missing it the previous season. He had 130 total yards in that game, but the Rams lost to Tom Brady and the Patriots 20-17.

He was still effective the next season, gaining nearly 1500 scrimmage yards, but age had finally started to catch up to him. After gaining only 818 rushing yards in 2003, he began splitting carries with Steven Jackson in 2004, officially becoming a backup to him in 2005. After missing the entire 2006 season with a knee injury, Faulk officially retired in 2007.

From 1998 to 2001, Faulk had one of the greatest 4-year runs in history. He had over 2000 scrimmage yards in all 4 seasons, the only player ever to do that in 4 straight years, leading the league twice each in scrimmage yards and total touchdowns. He won an MVP and 3 OPOY awards, and led his team to 2 Super Bowls and a championship, cementing himself as one of the greatest of all time.

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #6: Marion Motley

Marion Motley

Teams

Cleveland Browns (1946-1953)

Pittsburgh Steelers (1955)

Playoffs

Appearances - 8 (1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953)

Conf Champ Games - 8 (1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953)

Champ Games - 8 (1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953)

Championships - 5 (1946,1947,1948,1949,1950)

Awards and Honors

All-Pro First Team - 2 (1948,1950)

All-Pro Second Team - 2 (1946,1947)

Pro Bowl - 1 (1950)

Hall of Fame - 1968

All-Time Ranks

Yards per Rush - #4

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#1-1948,1950, #3-1947,1949, #4-1946, #6-1952)

Rushing Touchdowns (#1-1949, #4-1947, #5-1946, #10-1948)

Yards per Rush (#1-1950, #2-1948, #4-1947, #5-1949,1952)

Rushing Yards per Game (#1-1948, #2-1950, #3-1947,1949, #4-1946, #7-1952)

Total Touchdowns (#3-1949, #4-1947, #9-1946)

Scrimmage Yards (#4-1946,1948, #5-1949,1950, #7-1947)

Yards per Touch (#4-1948, #7-1947, #8-1949, #9-1952)

During his senior season at Nevada, Marion Motley injured his knee, which ended his career early and forced him to drop out of school. He joined the Navy for two years, then before he had the chance to return to college, he received a contract offer from the Cleveland Browns of the new AAFC, who made him the first black player to ever appear in a pro football game, seven months before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball.

As a rookie, Motley rushed for 601 yards and 5 touchdowns on an incredible 8.2 yards per carry, but did not qualify for the league lead in that category before he had only 73 carries on the season. It was still enough to get him onto the All-Pro Second Team, and he carried the Browns to the league championship, gaining 98 yards and scoring a touchdown in a 14-9 win over the Yankees.

In his second season, he upped his production to 889 yards and 8 touchdowns, got another appearance on the All-Pro Second Team, and led the Browns to a championship rematch with the Yankees, which they won again, this time 14-3 behind 109 yards from Motley.

He led the league in rushing yards for the first time in his third season, gaining 964 on the ground, with an average of 6.1 yards per carry. That earned him a spot on the All-Pro First Team for the first time, and he also finished with 1156 scrimmage yards, the best of his career. He led the Browns to a 14-0 regular season, which they capped off with a blowout win over the Bills in the championship game, 49-7, behind 133 yards and 3 touchdowns from Motley.

He led the league in rushing touchdowns in his 4th season, despite missing a few games due to injury for the first time in his career. That season ended the same way as the previous 3, with Cleveland winning a league championship, and Motley performing well in the title game, with 75 yards and a touchdown. The AAFC folded after that season, and the Browns were absorbed into the NFL.

In his first season in the NFL, Motley led the league with 810 rushing yards and 5.8 yards per carry, and was named to the All-Pro First Team once again, showing that the change in leagues didn't affect his production. They reached the championship game again, this time beating the Rams 30-28, though Motley only contributed 9 yards on the ground in the victory.

He hurt his knee in training camp in 1951, but still powered through the season, though it definitely slowed him down. He had the worst season of his career to that point, gaining only 273 yards. He was slightly healthier in 1952, and led the Browns to the championship game for the 7th straight year, but they lost to Detroit in that one, despite his 95 yards.

By 1953, it was clear that he wouldn't get back to full health, and he rushed for only 161 yards all year. He didn't play in the team's championship appearance that year, the third year in a row in which they lost, all coinciding his Motley's unhealthy seasons. He retired before the 1954 season, but briefly unretired in 1955 to play linebacker for Pittsburgh in 6 games before leaving the game for good.

In all 8 seasons in which Motley played for the Browns, they played in the championship game, and in all 5 seasons in which he was healthy, they won the championship. He led the league in rushing twice, and he has the highest career yards per carry of any running back in history, despite being retired for 70 years. He was truly one of the best to ever play the game.

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #7: Terrell Davis

Terrell Davis

Teams

Denver Broncos (1995-2001)

Playoffs

Appearances - 4 (1996,1997,1998,2000)

Conf Champ Games - 2 (1997,1998)

Super Bowls - 2 (1997,1998)

Championships - 2 (1997,1998)

Awards and Honors

MVP - 1 (1998)

Offensive Player of the Year - 2 (1996,1998)

All-Pro First Team - 3 (1996,1997,1998)

Super Bowl MVP - 1 (1997)

Pro Bowl - 3 (1996,1997,1998)

Hall of Fame - 2017

All-Time Ranks

Rushing Yards per Game - #3

Yards per Rush - #35

Rushing Touchdowns - #54

Rushing Yards - #58

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#1-1998, #2-1996,1997, #9-1995)

Rushing Touchdowns (#1-1997,1998, #3-1996)

Yards per Rush (#1-1998, #4-1995, #5-1996, #6-1997)

Rushing Yards per Game (#1-1998, #2-1996,1997, #6-1995)

Total Touchdowns (#1-1998, #2-1997, #3-1996)

Scrimmage Yards (#2-1996,1997,1998)

Yards per Touch (#6-1998)

After one season at Long Beach State and 3 at Georgia, in which he picked up a total of 1919 rushing yards, Terrell Davis was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 6th round of the 1995 NFL Draft.

Though he was not expected to make the team, Davis impressed everyone in the preseason enough that he was named the team's starting running back at the beginning of his rookie season. He rushed for 1117 yards as a rookie, becoming the lowest-drafted player ever to reach 1000 yards as a rookie.

In Davis' second season, he rushed for 1538 yards and 13 touchdowns, while helping guide Denver to the best record in the league. He finished #2 in the league in rushing yards and scrimmage yards, where his total was 1848, and was named the Offensive Player of the Year.

In 1997, Davis was even better. He rushed for team records of 1750 yards and 15 touchdowns, the latter of which led the league, and finished as runner-up to Barry Sanders for Offensive Player of the Year, after Sanders rushed for over 2000 yards that season. Davis again finished #2 in both rushing yards and scrimmage yards on the season, this time ending up with 2037 scrimmage yards.

The 1997 postseason was an historic one for Davis. He rushed for over 100 yards in each of Denver's 4 playoff games, only the second player ever to do so, and he scored eight touchdowns in the postseason, a record that still stands. In the Super Bowl, he rushed for 157 and 3 touchdowns, the most touchdowns ever for a player in the Super Bowl, and he did that even after sitting out an entire quarter with a migraine. His momentous performance earned him the Super Bowl MVP award.

He followed up that amazing performance with a season that is nearly unmatched. He became the 4th player ever to rush for 2000 yards in a season, finishing with 2008, and he also led the league with 21 rushing touchdowns and 5.1 yards per carry. For the third year in a row, he was #2 in scrimmage yards, picking up a total of 2225. His great season earned him both the Offensive Player of the Year and league MVP awards.

Davis had another great postseason, which propelled the Broncos to another Super Bowl appearance. This time they faced the Atlanta Falcons, beating them 34-19, as Davis amassed 152 total yards in the victory. John Elway was named that game's MVP, but Davis definitely had a large role in the win.

After his dominant season, Davis was never the same again. He tore his ACL early in 1999, causing him to miss 12 games, then a lower leg injury cost him 11 games in 2000, and double knee surgery cost him half of 2001. He attempted to come back again in 2002, but wasn't at full health and chose to retire before the season.

Davis had a very short career, even for a running back. He only played in 7 seasons, and only 4 that were injury-free. When healthy, he was the best running back in the league. He won a rushing title, led the league in touchdowns twice, won the Offensive Player of the Year twice, plus an MVP and a Super Bowl MVP, in addition to being a member of the very exclusive 2000-yard club. Davis was undoubtedly one of the greatest to ever play the game.

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #8: Jamaal Charles

Jamaal Charles

Teams

Kansas City Chiefs (2008-2016)

Denver Broncos (2017)

Jacksonville Jaguars (2018)

Playoffs

Appearances - 4 (2010,2013,2015,2016)

Conf Champ Games - 0

Super Bowls - 0

Championships - 0

Awards and Honors

All-Pro First Team - 2 (2010,2013)

All-Pro Second Team - 1 (2012)

Pro Bowl - 4 (2010,2012,2013,2014)

All-Time Ranks

Yards per Rush - #5

Rushing Yards - #59

Rushing Yards per Game - #69

Yards per Touch - #82

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#2-2010, #3-2013, #4-2012)

Rushing Touchdowns (#1-2013, #3-2014)

Yards per Rush (#1-2009, #2-2010, #5-2012, #6-2013, #7-2014)

Rushing Yards per Game (#3-2010,2013, #4-2012)

Total Touchdowns (#1-2013, #3-2014)

Scrimmage Yards (#2-2010,2013, #5-2012)

Yards per Touch (#5-2010, #8-2009, #9-2013)

As a junior at Texas, Jamaal Charles rushed for 1619 yards and 18 touchdowns, then left school a year early to enter the 2008 NFL Draft, where he was picked in the 3rd round by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Charles spent his rookie season as a backup to Larry Johnson, but after Johnson's suspension in 2009, Charles became the team's starter, and he used that opportunity to rush for 1120 yards and 7 touchdowns, and he led the league with 5.9 yards per carry.

He had his best overall season in 2010, when he rushed for 1467 yards on an amazing 6.4 yards per carry, and he was the runner-up in rushing yards and scrimmage yards that season, with 1935 yards from scrimmage on the season, which earned him a spot on the All-Pro First Team.

He was unable to build on his success in 2011, because he tore his ACL in the second game of the season, but he came back strong in 2012, rushing for 1509 yards, a career-high, and he even gained 5.3 yards per carry, which is rare after returning from a major knee injury.

He regained his status as the best running back in football in 2013, gaining 1287 rushing yards while leading the league with 12 rushing touchdowns and 19 total touchdowns. He also set a career high that year with 1980 scrimmage yards, including 693 through the air, also the best of his career.

He was a little down, but still very good, in 2014. He rushed for 1033 yards, his 5th time surpassing 1000 in a season, and he scored 14 total touchdowns, the second year in a row with more than 10. Unfortunately, it would be his last healthy, effective season.

Early in the 2015 season, Charles tore his ACL again, ending his season after 5 games. His recovery took longer than expected, and when he returned in 2016, he wasn't the same player, and he ended up reinjuring the knee, requiring another surgery and ending another season after only 5 games. The Chiefs released him after that season.

He signed with Denver for the 2017 season, serving as a backup, and gained only 296 yards on the ground that year. He signed with Jacksonville during the 2018 season, but was released after 2 games and only 7 rushing yards. He retired from the NFL following that season.

Though he never led the league in rushing yards, Charles is the all-time leader in yards per carry among players with at least 1000 rushes in their career. He led the league in yards per carry once, and finished among the top 7 five times, and gained at least 5 yards per carry in each of his first 8 seasons. Knee injuries kept him from climbing higher on the yardage leaderboard, but he was definitely one of the greatest to play the game.

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #9: Emmitt Smith

Emmitt Smith

Teams

Dallas Cowboys (1990-2002)

Arizona Cardinals (2003-2004)

Playoffs

Appearances - 8 (1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1998,1999)

Conf Champ Games - 4 (1992,1993,1994,1995)

Super Bowls - 3 (1992,1993,1995)

Championships - 3 (1992,1993,1995)

Awards and Honors

Offensive Rookie of the Year - 1990

MVP - 1 (1993)

Super Bowl MVP - 1 (1993)

All-Pro First Team - 4 (1992,1993,1994,1995)

All-Pro Second Team - 1 (1991)

Pro Bowl - 8 (1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1998,1999)

Hall of Fame - 2010

All-Time Ranks

Rushing Yards - #1

Rushing Touchdowns - #1

Total Touchdowns - #2

Scrimmage Yards - #2

Rushing Yards per Game - #15

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#1-1991,1992,1993,1995, #3-1994, #4-1999, #5-1998, #8-1996, #10-1990)

Rushing Touchdowns (#1-1992,1994,1995, #2-1991, #3-1993, #4-1998,1999, #5-1990,1996, #10-2000)

Yards per Rush (#1-1993, #4-1995, #6-1992, #9-1994,1999, #10-1991)

Rushing Yards per Game (#1-1992,1993,1995, #2-1991,1994, #4-1999, #8-1996,1998)

Total Touchdowns (#1-1992,1994,1995, #3-1991,1996,1999, #5-1998, #6-1993, #9-1990)

Scrimmage Yards (#1-1993,1995, #2-1992, #3-1991,1994, #9-1996, #10-1998)

Yards per Touch (#10-1993)

As a junior at Florida, Emmitt Smith rushed for 1599 yards and 14 touchdowns and finished 7th in voting for the Heisman, then decided to skip his senior season to enter the 1990 NFL Draft, where he was taken #17 overall by the Dallas Cowboys.

Smith rushed for 937 yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie, which was good enough to earn him Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, and it would be the last time for over a decade that he would fail to reach 1000 yards, starting with his first rushing title in 1991, when he finished with 1563 yards.

1992 is when he really took off. He led the league with 1713 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns, and he led the Cowboys to the Super Bowl, where he had 108 yards and a touchdown in a blowout 52-17 win over Buffalo. That year he became the first rushing leader in history to win a Super Bowl in the same season.

He held out for the first 2 games of the 1993 season, but after the Cowboys lost both games, they gave in to his contract demands, and he responded with the best season of his career. He led the league in rushing for the third year in a row, with 1486 yards, while also leading in yards per carry for the only time in his career, with 5.3, by far the best of his career. He was also the leader in scrimmage yards for the first time.

He was named the MVP that season, and he wasn't done yet. He took the Cowboys back to the Super Bowl for a rematch with Buffalo, and this time he had 132 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 30-13 victory, and was named the game's MVP. He is the only player ever to win MVP, Super Bowl MVP, and the rushing title in the same season.

He failed to win the rushing title in 1994, breaking his streak at 3, and the Cowboys fell a game short of the Super Bowl, losing to the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. He had another great season in 1995, leading the league with career highs of 1773 rushing yards and 2148 scrimmage yards, and setting a new record for rushing touchdowns in a season with 25.

He helped get Dallas back to the Super Bowl after a year's absence, and though he only had 49 rushing yards in the win, he scored 2 touchdowns, and the Cowboys won 27-17, giving him his 3rd championship in 4 years.

After that legendary run to start his career, Smith settled into a role as a good running back who rarely missed games and piled up stats. After 5 straight seasons over 1400 yards, he never reached that mark again, but had 6 more seasons of 1000 yards in a row, and in 1998 he broke Marcus Allen's record for most career touchdowns and Tony Dorsett's franchise rushing yard record.

In 2001, he became the first player ever to reach 1000 yards eleven times, and in 2002, he broke Walter Payton's career rushing yard record, a mark that he still holds today. After 13 seasons with Dallas, he was released, and he signed with the Arizona Cardinals for 2 years.

Smith broke his shoulder blade early in his first season with Arizona, ending a disappointing season early. He returned to play in 2004, and gained 937 yards, but was not resigned by the team, and decided to retire from the game at age 35.

Smith is the all-time leader in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, and is #2 in all-time scrimmage yards, behind Jerry Rice. He won an MVP and a Super Bowl MVP in the same season, and used to hold the record for most touchdowns in a season. What holds him back a little is the fact that he is not near the top 100 in yards per carry, and only had one season where he gained more than 5 yards per rush, but even with that one small deficiency in his game, there is no doubt that he is one of the greatest of all time.

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #10: Joe Perry

Joe Perry

Teams

San Francisco 49ers (1948-1960,1963)

Baltimore Colts (1961-1962)

Playoffs

Appearances - 2 (1949,1957)

Conf Champ Games - 1 (1949)

Champ Games - 1 (1949)

Championships - 0

Awards and Honors

MVP - 1 (1954)

All-Pro First Team - 2 (1953,1954)

All-Pro Second Team - 1 (1949)

Pro Bowl - 3 (1952,1953,1954)

Hall of Fame - 1969

All-Time Ranks

Yards per Rush - #10

Rushing Touchdowns - #32

Rushing Yards - #34

Total Touchdowns - #59

Scrimmage Yards - #72

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#1-1949,1953,1954, #3-1952,1958, #5-1950,1951,1955, #9-1961, #10-1948)

Rushing Touchdowns (#1-1948,1949,1953, #2-1952, #3-1954, #8-1950)

Yards per Rush (#1-1949, #2-1954, #3-1952,1958, #4-1953,1957, #5-1950, #7-1951, #8-1955, #10-1956)

Rushing Yards per Game (#1-1949,1953,1954, #3-1952,1958, #5-1951,1955, #7-1950, #8-1961, #9-1957)

Total Touchdowns (#1-1953, #2-1949, #4-1948, #8-1952,1954)

Scrimmage Yards (#1-1953,1954, #3-1949, #6-1958, #8-1951)

Yards per Touch (#3-1949, #5-1958, #9-1954)

Joe Perry played one year at Compton Junior College, scoring 22 touchdowns during the season, then left school to join the Navy during World War II, remaining enlisted for 4 years. After leaving the military, he signed as a free agent with the San Francisco 49ers, becoming the first African-American player in the team's history.

As a rookie, Perry led the AAFC in rushing touchdowns, then repeated the feat in 1949, while also leading the league in rushing yards and yards per carry, with an amazing 6.8 per rush on the season. After that season, the AAFC folded, and the 49ers joined the NFL.

Perry was good in his first few NFL seasons, finishing in the top 5 in rushing yards each season, then in 1953 he led the league with 1018 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, and his 1209 scrimmage yards was also best in the NFL. He finished #3 in MVP voting that year, and made the All-Pro First Team for the first time.

He was even better in 1954, posting his best season as a pro. He led the league again with 1049 rushing yards, becoming the first player ever to exceed 1000 in consecutive seasons, and also had the most scrimmage yards again, with 1252. He gained 6.1 yards per carry on the season, and was named the league MVP, despite his team not making the playoffs.

His yardage decreased over the next few seasons, but in 1957, he was finally able to see the NFL playoffs, but the 49ers lost to the Lions, and Perry never saw a playoff win in his career. In 1958, he became the NFL's all-time rushing leader, passing Steve Van Buren. 

His usage declined in 1959, then was practically nonexistent in 1960, and he was traded after that season to the Baltimore Colts. He led the Colts in rushing that year with 675 yards, but was not the player he once was, and after a second season with Baltimore, he was traded back to the 49ers, where he played one final season.

He was the all-time leader in rushing yards when he retired, though Jim Brown broke his record the next season, and he led the league in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns 3 times each. He is #10 in league history in yards per carry, and was named the MVP while on a team that missed the playoffs. Though most of his records were broken long ago, he was the best running back of his time, and one of the best of all time.

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #11: Walter Payton

Walter Payton

Teams

Chicago Bears (1975-1987)

Playoffs

Appearances - 6 (1977,1979,1984,1985,1986,1987)

Conf Champ Games - 2 (1984,1985)

Super Bowls - 1 (1985)

Championships - 1 (1985)

Awards and Honors

MVP - 1 (1977)

Offensive Player of the Year - 1 (1977)

All-Pro First Team - 5 (1976,1977,1980,1984,1985)

All-Pro Second Team - 3 (1978,1979,1986)

Pro Bowl - 9 (1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1983,1984,1985,1986)

Hall of Fame - 1993

All-Time Ranks

Rushing Yards - #2

Scrimmage Yards - #3

Rushing Touchdowns - #5

Rushing Yards per Game - #5

Total Touchdowns - #12

Yards per Rush - #64

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#1-1977, #2-1976,1978,1979,1980,1984, #3-1985, #4-1983, #5-1986, #8-1981, #10-1982)

Rushing Touchdowns (#1-1977, #2-1976,1979, #3-1978, #7-1984, #8-1985, #10-1986)

Yards per Rush (#1-1977, #7-1980, #8-1985, #10-1976,1984)

Rushing Yards per Game (#1-1977, #2-1976,1978,1979,1980,1984, #3-1985, #5-1986, #6-1983, #8-1981)

Total Touchdowns (#1-1977, #2-1979, #3-1976, #5-1978, #9-1985,1986, #10-1984)

Scrimmage Yards (#1-1977,1978, #2-1979, #3-1980,1983,1984,1985, #4-1976, #5-1986, #9-1981,1982)

Yards per Touch (#4-1977)

After rushing for 1029 yards and 19 touchdowns during his senior season at Jackson State, Walter Payton was drafted by the Chicago Bears with the #4 overall pick in the 1975 NFL Draft.

Payton rushed for only 679 yards as a rookie, but that would be one of the few seasons where he wasn't one of the best backs in the league. He gained 1390 yards on the ground in 1976 and scored 13 touchdowns, earning a spot on the All-Pro First Team in just his second season, but that was just a preview for what would happen the next year.

In 1977, Payton left no doubt that he was the best running back in the NFL. He led the league in carries (339), rushing yards (1852), rushing touchdowns (14), yards per carry (5.5), yards per game (132.3), scrimmage yards (2121), and total touchdowns (16). He broke OJ Simpson's record for most yards in a game, with 275, and that record stood for 23 years. He was easily named both the Offensive Player of the Year and the league MVP after one of the best seasons by any player in history.

He never got close to that level again, but he remained a very good running back for a long time after. He led the league in scrimmage yards again in 1978, gaining 1875, but had only 1395 rushing. He gained 1610 yards in 1979, the third time that he finished as runner-up in rushing yards.

He continued to pick up a lot of rushing yards on bad teams, but the Bears finally turned around in 1984. Payton rushed for 1684 yards that year, the second-highest total of his career, and the Bears reached the NFC Championship Game for the first time in his career. He also passed Jim Brown for #1 in all-time rushing yards that year, a mark he held until 2002.

The next season, the Bears were historically great. Payton was very good as well, rushing for 1551 yards and 9 touchdowns, and the team lost only once all season. They went all the way to the Super Bowl, not giving up a single point in the NFC playoffs, then beat the Patriots 46-10 in the Super Bowl, with Payton rushing for 61 yards in the win.

He played 2 more seasons with the Bears before retiring after the 1987 season, and when he left, he was the all-time leader in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, both of which have been surpassed now. Though he only led the league in rushing yards once, he was runner-up 5 times, and he never missed time due to injury in his career. He was definitely one of the greatest running backs of all time.

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #12: Adrian Peterson

Adrian Peterson

Teams

Minnesota Vikings (2007-2016)

New Orleans Saints (2017)

Arizona Cardinals (2017)

Washington Redskins (2018-2019)

Detroit Lions (2020)

Tennessee Titans (2021)

Seattle Seahawks (2021)

Playoffs

Appearances - 4 (2008,2009,2012,2015)

Conf Champ Games - 1 (2009)

Super Bowls - 0

Championships - 0

Awards and Honors

Offensive Rookie of the Year - 2007

Offensive Player of the Year - 1 (2012)

MVP - 1 (2012)

All-Pro First Team - 4 (2008,2009,2012,2015)

All-Pro Second Team - 3 (2007,2010,2013)

Pro Bowl - 7 (2007,2008,2009,2010,2012,2013,2015)

All-Time Ranks

Rushing Touchdowns - #4

Rushing Yards - #5

Total Touchdowns - #10

Scrimmage Yards - #11

Rushing Yards per Game - #16

Yards per Rush - #35

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#1-2008,2012,2015, #2-2007, #5-2009,2013, #6-2010, #8-2018)

Rushing Touchdowns (#1-2009,2015, #2-2007, #3-2011,2012, #4-2010,2013, #8-2008)

Yards per Rush (#2-2007,2012, #5-2008, #10-2010)

Rushing Yards per Game (#1-2007,2008,2012,2015, #2-2013, #5-2010, #6-2009, #8-2011)

Total Touchdowns (#1-2009, #3-2010,2012, #6-2007, #7-2011, #10-2015)

Scrimmage Yards (#1-2008,2012, #3-2009,2015, #4-2007, #8-2010)

Yards per Touch (#8-2007)

As a freshman at Oklahoma, Adrian Peterson rushed for 1925 yards and 15 touchdowns, and finished as the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. He had shoulder surgery after that season, then had foot, ankle, and collarbone injuries over the next 2 seasons, and he decided to skip his senior season and enter the 2007 NFL Draft, where he was taken #7 overall by the Minnesota Vikings.

As a rookie, Peterson rushed for 1341 and 12 touchdowns, despite missing 2 weeks with a knee injury, and finished #2 in the league in rushing yards while winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. He also set the all-time record for most rushing yards in a game, when he ran for 296 yards against San Diego, a record that is still standing today.

Peterson remained great in his second season, rushing for 1760 yards, which led the league, and also finished with 1885 scrimmage yards, also the most of any player. He also got the Vikings into the playoffs that year, but his 2 touchdowns weren't enough for them to advance past the wild card round.

Peterson led the league in rushing touchdowns in his third season, scoring 18 times during the season, and finishing with 1383 yards. He had his deepest playoff run that season, taking the Vikings to the NFL Championship Game, but his 122 yards and 3 touchdowns weren't enough to get them past New Orleans and into the Super Bowl.

Peterson was solid in 2010, finishing with 1298 yards and 12 touchdowns and reaching his 4th straight Pro Bowl to start his career, and he had 970 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2011 before going down with a torn MCL and ACL near the end of the season. 

Even though he had been injured the previous December, Peterson returned for week 1 of the 2012 season, and he was better than ever. He averaged an amazing 6.0 yards per carry on the season, finishing with 2097 rushing yards, the second-highest total ever, and he also led the league with 2314 scrimmage yards. His efforts earned him the Comeback Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, and MVP awards for the season.

He was solid again in 2013, rushing for 1266 yards and 10 touchdowns, and he became the 3rd-fastest player to reach 10000 career rushing yards. He started the 2014 season with 75 yards in the first game, but he was deactivated before week 2 when he was indicted for child abuse, and the league ended up suspending him for the entire season.

He was reinstated prior to the 2015 season, and he responded by having his last good season, leading the league with 1485 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, and being named to the All-Pro First Team for the 4th time in his career. He injured his knee in the first game of 2016, and didn't play again until December, and he ended up with only 72 yards on the season.

Peterson left Minnesota as a free agent in 2017, signing with New Orleans, but he was traded just a month into the season to Arizona. After 6 games as a Cardinal, he was place on IR with a neck injury and missed the rest of the season, then was released after the season ended.

He signed with Washington for 2018, and had his final 1000-yard season that year, finishing with 1042 yards. He remained with the Redskins in 2019, finishing with only 898 yards, his lowest total for a healthy season, before being released after the season. After that, he played one year with Detroit, then played 3 games with Tennessee in 2021 to fill in while Derrick Henry was injured, then a single game for Seattle. He was unable to find a team to sign him in 2022 or 2023, and is now retired from the NFL.

Peterson was great during his decade with the Vikings, leading the league in rushing yards 3 times, scrimmage yards twice, and touchdowns twice, and even though he was not the same player after leaving the team, he still racked up quite a few yards in his last 5 seasons, which got him up to #5 in all-time rushing yards and #4 in all-time rushing touchdowns. He won a Rookie of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, and MVP award in his career, and is easily one of the best to have ever played the game.

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #13: James Brooks

James Brooks

Teams

San Diego Chargers (1981-1983)

Cincinnati Bengals (1984-1991)

Cleveland Browns (1992)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1992)

Playoffs

Appearances - 4 (1981,1982,1988,1990)

Conf Champ Games - 2 (1981,1988)

Super Bowls - 1 (1988)

Championships - 0

Awards and Honors

Pro Bowl - 4 (1986,1988,1989,1990)

All-Time Ranks

Yards per Rush - #24

Rushing Yards - #56

Total Touchdowns - #72

Scrimmage Yards - #76

Rushing Touchdowns - #88

Yards per Touch - #96

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#7-1989, #8-1986,1990)

Rushing Touchdowns (#8-1982, #10-1989)

Yards per Rush (#1-1986, #2-1988,1989, #3-1982,1990, #5-1981, #8-1985)

Rushing Yards per Game (#8-1989, #10-1986,1990)

Total Touchdowns (#4-1988, #7-1985)

Scrimmage Yards (#3-1986, #5-1989, #10-1990)

Yards per Touch (#2-1986, #3-1988, #5-1985,1989, #9-1981,1990)

As a junior at Auburn, James Brooks averaged 7.4 yards per carry, then piled up 1314 rushing yards as a senior, after which he was drafted #24 overall in the 1981 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers.

He played his first 3 seasons in San Diego, serving mostly as a backup to Chuck Muncie on offense, but making a name for himself returning kicks. In both 1981 and 1982, he led the league in all-purpose yards, and in 1982 he also had the most kick return yards of any player. After his third season, he was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals, where he would have a chance to start.

His breakthrough started in 1985, when he gained 929 yards and scored 7 touchdowns on the ground, while also picking up 576 yards receiving with another 5 touchdowns. He had his best season in 1986, when he had 1087 yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground, led the league with 5.3 yards per carry, and had a career-high 686 yards receiving, putting him at 1773 scrimmage yards, good for 3rd place in the league.

He missed half of the 1987 season with injuries, and was obviously hampered when he did play, but he was back at full health in 1988, scoring a career-high 8 touchdowns while gaining 5.1 yards per carry, and earning a second Pro Bowl berth. He also helped the Bengals reach the Super Bowl, gaining 56 yards in the contest, but Cincinnati lost to San Francisco 20-16.

In 1989, he topped his previous career highs when he gained 1239 rushing yards on 5.6 yards per rush, and he had 1545 scrimmage yards, #5 in the league for the year. His 1990 season was nearly as good, with 1004 yards on 5.1 yards per carry, but in 1991 he began to be used less and less as the season wore on, and at the end of the year, he was traded to the Browns.

He played in only 4 games for the Browns and gained only 38 yards before being traded to Tampa Bay, then was injured in his second game with the Bucs, and decided to retire rather than attempt a return from the injury at 34 years of age.

Brooks was not recognized as a great back during his career, and still is forgotten my most fans. He is #24 all-time in yards per carry, led the league once in that category and finishing in the top 5 six different times. He is #41 in all-purpose yards, including 2 seasons leading the league. He may not be a household name, but he was one of the greatest of all time.

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #14: Tiki Barber

Tiki Barber

Teams

New York Giants (1997-2006)

Playoffs

Appearances - 5 (1997,2000,2002,2005,2006)

Conf Champ Games - 1 (2000)

Super Bowls - 1 (2000)

Championships - 0

Awards and Honors

All-Pro First Team - 1 (2005)

Pro Bowl - 3 (2004,2005,2006)

All-Time Ranks

Scrimmage Yards - #15

Yards per Rush - #24

Rushing Yards - #27

Rushing Yards per Game - #53

Rushing Touchdowns - #65

Yards per Touch - #96

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#2-2005, #4-2006, #5-2004, #7-2002)

Rushing Touchdowns (#4-2004, #9-2002, #10-2005)

Yards per Rush (#2-2001, #3-2005, #5-2000,2006, #7-2004, #9-2002)

Rushing Yards per Game (#2-2005, #4-2006, #8-2002,2004)

Total Touchdowns (#4-2004)

Scrimmage Yards (#1-2004,2005, #4-2002, #5-2006, #8-2000)

Yards per Touch (#4-1999, #6-2004, #7-2005, #9-2006, #10-2000)

After back-to-back 1300-yard rushing seasons at Virginia, and an ACC Player of the Year award, Tiki Barber was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft.

In his first 3 seasons, Barber was used mostly as a punt returner, gaining less than 1000 yards rushing combined in those three years, but he was used to catch passes out of the backfield, with over 1200 yards receiving over that same time.

He became the starter in 2000, and he gained 1006 yards on the ground and a career-high 719 receiving that year, showing that he had the ability to be an every-down running back. He helped lead the Giants to the Super Bowl that year, where they were blown out by the Ravens 34-7.

After being slowed a little by injuries in 2001, he came back strong in 2002, gaining 1387 yards rushing and scoring 11 touchdowns on the ground, while amassing 1984 scrimmage yards, 4th-best in the NFL. After a slightly down 2003 season, he really hit his stride in 2004.

That year, he rushed for 1518 yards and 13 touchdowns, the best of his career, and he led the league with 2096 yards from scrimmage. In the final game of the season, he broke the Giants' single-season and career rushing records, both of which he still holds.

He had his best season in 2005, when he rushed for 1860 yards on 5.2 yards per carry, and finished with 2390 scrimmage yards, enough to lead the league again, and currently the 4th-highest total in history. His great season earned him his first All-Pro First Team nod, and also got him 4th place in the MVP race.

Early in the 2006 season, he announced that it would be his last. He had another great season, gaining 1662 yards on the ground, and 2127 total from scrimmage, giving him the highest total in both categories for a player in his final season. He is also one of 4 players ever to have 3 straight 2000-yard scrimmage seasons. True to his word, he retired at the end of the season, his 10th in the NFL.

Barber is one of the few running backs ever to retire at his peak. He is currently ranked #15 all-time in scrimmage yards and #24 in yards per carry, and is one of only 4 players ever to have over 5000 yards both rushing and receiving. He finished his career with 2 of the top 50 rushing yard seasons in history, and 3 of the top 50 scrimmage yard seasons ever, and though he probably had several more good seasons in the tank when he retired, there is no doubt that he is one of the best to ever play the game.

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #15: Fred Taylor

Fred Taylor

Teams

Jacksonville Jaguars (1998-2008)

New England Patriots (2009-2010)

Playoffs

Appearances - 6 (1998,1999,2005,2007,2009,2010)

Conf Champ Games - 1 (1999)

Super Bowls - 0

Championships - 0

Awards and Honors

All-Pro Second Team - 1 (2007)

Pro Bowl - 1 (2007)

All-Time Ranks

Rushing Yards - #17

Rushing Yards per Game - #23

Yards per Rush - #35

Scrimmage Yards - #35

Rushing Touchdowns - #42

Total Touchdowns - #95

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#6-2000,2003, #9-2002,2007, #10-1998,2004)

Rushing Touchdowns (#2-1998, #6-2000)

Yards per Rush (#3-2007, #4-2000, #5-1998, #6-1999, #7-2004,2006, #9-2002, #10-2003)

Rushing Yards per Game (#1-2000, #7-2003, #10-1998,2002,2007)

Total Touchdowns (#2-1998, #7-2000)

Scrimmage Yards (#6-2003, #7-1998, #8-2004)

Yards per Touch (#6-1998, #9-2006, #10-2004)

As a junior at Florida, Fred Taylor won a national championship, then rushed for 1292 yards and 13 touchdowns on 6 yards per carry as a senior, which helped get him drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the #9 overall pick in the 1998 Draft.

Taylor had his best NFL season as a rookie. He rushed for 1223 yards and 14 touchdowns, which was the most of his career, and had 421 receiving yards, also his career-best, and came in #3 in voting for Rookie of the Year.

He missed 6 games due to a hamstring injury in his second season, which limited him to only 732 yards, but he was healthy in the playoffs, gaining over 100 yards twice as the Jaguars made it to the AFC Championship game for the first time.

In the 2000 season, he gained 1399 yards and scored 12 touchdowns, and since he missed 3 games due to injury, he led the league with over 107 yards per game. A groin injury early the next season limited him to only 2 games, and he suddenly had a reputation for always being injured.

He shook off that reputation over the next two seasons, as he didn't miss a single game, rushing for 1314 yards in 2002 and a career-high 1572 in 2003. That total, and his 1942 scrimmage yards that year, were both #6 in the league for the season.

After he missed 7 games over the next 2 seasons, the Jaguars drafted Maurice Jones-Drew to be his eventual replacement. He still managed to rush for over 1000 yards 2 more times, giving him seven 1000-yard seasons in his career, but then started splitting carries in 2008 before missing the end of the season with a thumb injury.

He was released by the Jaguars after 11 seasons, and signed a 2-year deal with the Patriots. He ended up playing only 13 games over those two years, with ankle and toe injuries costing him long stretches. After the 2010 season, he decided to retire.

Taylor was never the best back in the league, but he was regularly among the league leaders in rushing yards and yards per carry for a full decade. He is currently #17 all-time in rushing yards, and #35 in yards per carry, and is the all-time rushing leader for Jacksonville still. He had a reputation for missing games, but he played at least 10 games in all but one season with the Jaguars, and he is one of the best running backs to have played the game.