M.D. Wright
10.30.09
***EDITOR'S NOTE: These selections have been influenced in part by the halfway-complete 2009 NFL Season. Nevertheless, these are the most complete Running Backs in the NFL, rushing, blocking and receiving.
1. ADRIAN PETERSON.
YOUNG ALL DAY, himself. It's not close, either. He can do it all. As someone who watched guys like Eric Dickerson and saw highlights of OJ Simpson before he became THAT OJ Simpson, this is the guy who reminds me of both them. Mixed in with a bit of Jim Brown -- see here: AND HERE if you don't believe me ha. Underrated receiver out of the backfield and blocks when necessary. This is one of the few guys I'd lay down $115 and go see in person without thinking.
2. STEVEN JACKSON.
You gotta feel for this guy. Wasting his prime on a team that will never win anything as long as he's in his peak years. But even without TV coverage, I have seen Steven Jackson singlehandedly carry the Rams... to the only 7 or 10 points they score every week. His runs are explosive, he's powerful, still fast for a guy who is pushing 245 lbs and has probably the best VISION outside of Peterson and Tomlinson.
3. RONNIE BROWN.
Mr. Wildcat. He does it all for the Dolphins. He rushes. He blocks adroitly. He passes at times. He runs routes. He too has excellent vision. He is Mr. Do It All for the Dolphins and is still somehow not readily mentioned by most people. (Putting on John Madden Voice) When you think of the best RBs in the NFL right now, you think of Adrian Peterson, you think of Steven Jackson, but I don't know that you don't put Ronnie Brown in there. Because when you have a guy who can do THESE types of things... you-you-you gotta think he's one of the players in the league".
And I'd agree.
4. FRANK GORE.
Can't stay healthy to save his life, but he's dynamic as heck. There isn't much that he cannot do. He'd get more publicity if he wasn't playing on the West Coast and on teams, previous to this year at least -- that weren't middling at best. His come-up is NOW.
5. CHRIS JOHNSON.
I hate putting rookies or 2nd year guys up this high on lists like this, but he belongs. He is the fastest RB in the NFL and he's not one of those track-cum-RB guys. He's a FOOTBALL PLAYER. He has speed, and those of us who have it (myself included) know it CANNOT BE TAUGHT. To go along with it, he is not just a straight-line runner, he is elusive, doesn't lose speed on his cuts whatsoever and he has superb vision for such a young player. I saw him play at East Carolina and was amazed that he was there and not at The U. or Florida State or even USC.
Honorable Mention: Maurice Jones-Drew, Thomas Jones, Felix Jones, Ray Rice, Ahmad Bradshaw, DeAngelo Williams, Marshawn Lynch, Ricky Williams, Clinton Portis.
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