Top 10 RBs of All Time

Well I'll just go based on guys I've seen, so this is pretty much from 1985 on, and really you can go to about 1992 before I really understood anything...

#1: Walter Payton: Simply put, theres none greater.
#2: Emmit Smith: He was a Cowboy, but he had some absolutley huge games and would grind out the tough yards when the team needed them, so I think he is very desrving of that.
#3:Barry Sanders: I still think Barry Sanders was the "best" running back of all time, but he wasent the "greatest" that being he never did anytihng great in the playoffs or led his team to a miracle season or anything like that. Alot of it wasent his fault as he was on a complete crap team, but I think that knocks him down a few notches.
#4: Thurman Thomas: Had the chance to watch him MANY times in Buffalo and he was about as good of an all-around player as they come.
#5: Curtis Martin: Guy just GRINDS it out and makes big plays, but he's on the way down as its coming around now.
#6: Jerome Bettis: Guy got LUCKY this past season after that fumble on the goal-line....but a great player for years nonetheless.
#7:Terell Davis: GREAT player for the Broncos, injuries cut his career far too short, if he stuck around he could have been one of the greatest ever. Should be noted that he played on a few of the best teams ever, in my opinion.
#8: Ricky Watters: Eagles, Seahawks, 49ers....still got the job done, was a very good player that is very unoticed...in the top 10 for all time rushing yards I belive.
#9: Ladanian Tomlinson: This is where the youth starts to come in on my list....there is no reason, from what I've seen that this guy can't be #1 on everyones "All Time List" by the time its said and done.
#10: Theres so many guys you can put here......but Clinton Portis has been DAMN impressive in both here and Denver. Kinda a crapshoot if he can keep his health....but if he keeps like he is, could be right up there with Tomlinson.

Payton, Brown, Campbell, Sanders, Simpson, Dorsett, Allen, Smith, Harris, Sayers.


I put Walter at the top of the list because he was the most complete back in history, there was nothing he couldn't do on the field, and he missed 1 game his entire career due to injury.

Thomlison is on his way but doesn't have the body of work to back it up yet.

I left off Dickerson because he was a fumbling machine, he would run for 60 yds during a drive and turn it over on the 10 yard line, not a guy I would want to rely on.

1.Payton
2.Brown
3.Sayers
4.Sanders
5.Smith
6.Dickerson
7.Campbell
8.Dorsett
9.John Riggins
10.Jerome Bettis

Barry is my #1 choice.

but there is a spot in my heart for Bo Jackson. Only if...

My thoughts exactly. Had Bo taken the game seriously and not just as a "hobby", he would have been very high on the list.

God, I'm sorry guys. I'm totally burned out after work. I was half asleep when writting that, I know I spelled LT's name wrong, but didn't much care at the time because I knew everyone knew who I was talking about. Why I said Eric Campbell I have no idea.

My thoughts exactly. Had Bo taken the game seriously and not just as a "hobby", he would have been very high on the list.


My buddy I grew up with and played ball with since we were kids is the player who ended his career.

Bo was probably the greatest pure athlete we have ever seen in terms of physical ability!

I completely and totally disagree with Eric Campbell in your top five...Earl Campbell maybe, but not Eric ;)

I'm surprised I haven't really heard any mention of Edgerrin James or Tiki Barber (unless I missed it) when talking about active running backs

I'm not saying these following guys are top 10 by any means but let me just ask you where they might rank

Herschel Walker
Ricky Watters
Ottis Anderson


Herschel was a great college back but Jimmy Johnson knew what he was doing when he traded the guy, Herschel was a straight ahead runner highly overated.

Watters was the protypical san fran west coast type back.

Out of those 3 I go with Anderson he could do everything Watters could do but with more power.