Marshall Faulk's Top 5 RB's...No Portis?!

[Zerohero]

It's hard not to like Portis even with all the stupid stuff he pulls, but he isn't even close to the top 5 runningbacks. Whens the last time you have seen him outrun anyone. He's not bad but dont get hurt hes not in top 5 list, maybe it will motivate him.

[44Deezel]

Originally Posted by Zerohero

It's hard not to like Portis even with all the stupid stuff he pulls, but he isn't even close to the top 5 runningbacks. Whens the last time you have seen him outrun anyone. He's not bad but dont get hurt hes not in top 5 list, maybe it will motivate him.

I like Portis, but not for the money he makes. RB seems to be the easiest position to fill, and the best teams seem to put their money elsewhere... O and D line, for example. Look at the Pats. Anyone they stick in the backfield seems to get 100 yards. It's because they are solid everywhere else - passing game, O-line, etc. Would prefer to see the skins build a solid foundation, so that players at skill positions can be interchanged without the team missing a beat.

[irish]

Originally Posted by 44Deezel

I like Portis, but not for the money he makes. RB seems to be the easiest position to fill, and the best teams seem to put their money elsewhere... O and D line, for example. Look at the Pats. Anyone they stick in the backfield seems to get 100 yards. It's because they are solid everywhere else - passing game, O-line, etc. Would prefer to see the skins build a solid foundation, so that players at skill positions can be interchanged without the team missing a beat.

I couldnt agree more. CP is a nice back but not for the $ he makes. He's not a break away threat anymore and as a result, he isnt a game changer he's a pounder and pounders shouldnt make what he makes.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Zerohero

It's hard not to like Portis even with all the stupid stuff he pulls, but he isn't even close to the top 5 runningbacks. Whens the last time you have seen him outrun anyone. He's not bad but dont get hurt hes not in top 5 list, maybe it will motivate him.

Not even close? come on. Riggins could never out run anyone himself and where would you rank him?

[irish]

Originally Posted by firstdown

Not even close? come on. Riggins could never out run anyone himself and where would you rank him?

Riggo was a power back, a bruiser that was used to pound the ball. He was never considered a breakaway threat. Thats why they called him The Diesel. CP is a speed back that can take a pounding. Big difference.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by firstdown

Not even close? come on. Riggins could never out run anyone himself and where would you rank him?

Kind of a bad argument. Riggo could really move especially for a big guy. He was a sprint champ in college too.

But I agree with the basic point. Even if CP is no longer a home run threat he still does many other things really well, and since when is being able to outrun people the main criteria for being a great back?

[Zerohero]

Originally Posted by firstdown

Not even close? come on. Riggins could never out run anyone himself and where would you rank him?

I can't speak about guys i didnt watch play, i'm just going by the great running backs i watched growing up and they outran the defenders on a consistant basis. I was a little strong in saying not even close, but when i watch portis i'm constantly thinking to myself "if that was peterson or williams he wouldnt have gone down.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Zerohero

It's hard not to like Portis even with all the stupid stuff he pulls, but he isn't even close to the top 5 runningbacks. Whens the last time you have seen him outrun anyone. He's not bad but dont get hurt hes not in top 5 list, maybe it will motivate him.

Kinda hard to say he's not even close considering he was 4th overall in the league in rushing last year.

[SC Skins Fan]

Also from NFL.com. Obviously any of these lists would be subjective.

As more teams split carries, these five backs stand above the rest

[Zerohero]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Kinda hard to say he's not even close considering he was 4th overall in the league in rushing last year.

We were statistically the 4th best defense, do you think we had the 4th best defense last year? Yeah saying not even close was harsh, but if you could pick from any team right now who you want to start at running back, would portis be in yalls top 5?

[53Fan]

I'm certainly not CP's biggest fan, but he gives 100% on the field and as far as blocking, there's no RB I'd rather have back there. As Tee pointed out, behind a good o-line he would be top 5 IMO.

[an23dy]

I think there could be 20 guys you could create some argument for, given some would be a stretch but it's tough to say what makes a good RB and it's definitely tough to judge guys because it's so much based on the o-line. I think AP is able to do so much of what he does in open space because his o-line is very good at run blocking. No doubt he's real good, but put him behind the Lions o-line and he's not putting up the best stats in the NFL.

Adrian Peterson
Michael Turner
DeAngelo Williams
Clinton Portis
Steven Jackson
Brandon Jacobs
Thomas Jones
Chris Johnson
Steve Slaton
Matt Forte
Frank Gore
Willie Parker
Larry Johnson
Ladanian Tomlinson
Brian Westbrook
Marion Barber
Ronnie Brown
Maurice Jones-Drew
Jonathan Stewart
Derrick Ward

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by an23dy

I think there could be 20 guys you could create some argument for, given some would be a stretch but it's tough to say what makes a good RB and it's definitely tough to judge guys because it's so much based on the o-line. I think AP is able to do so much of what he does in open space because his o-line is very good at run blocking. No doubt he's real good, but put him behind the Lions o-line and he's not putting up the best stats in the NFL.

Adrian Peterson
Michael Turner
DeAngelo Williams
Clinton Portis
Steven Jackson
Brandon Jacobs
Thomas Jones
Chris Johnson
Steve Slaton
Matt Forte
Frank Gore
Willie Parker
Larry Johnson
Ladanian Tomlinson
Brian Westbrook
Marion Barber
Ronnie Brown
Maurice Jones-Drew
Jonathan Stewart
Derrick Ward

18th? You have Jones-Drew ranked 18th? Seriously? I think this post belongs on the epic fail thread. This is a guy that has 34 rushing tds, 38 rush/rec tds, and 40 total tds in 3 seasons as a PART TIMER (he's only started 4 games in his career). Portis over that same span has only 28 total tds despite having 794 carries to Jones-Drew's 530. Jones Drew also averages 4.8 yards per carry. In the last 3 years, only Westbrook, Bush, Jackson, Tomlinson and Gore have more receptions that Jones-Drew and only Bush and Jones Drew were not starters.
Now that Jones-Drew is a starter, he is CERTAINLY worthy of a top 10 at the least, I have him top 5.
FYI, sporting news fantasy football mag has Portis ranked 8th, and Jones-Drew ranked 6th. NFL.com fantasy football magazine has Portis ranked 12th and Jones-Drew ranked 4th.

My top 5:
1- Peterson
2- Turner
3- Jones-Drew
4- Jackson*
5- Forte

Jackson is my only hesitation due to his injuries. He started only 11 games last year (although still managed to get 1042 yards and 8 total tds) and 12 games back in 2007 (although had 1002 yards and 7 total tds)
If healthy, his numbers would be pretty darn good...assuming he played a full season both of the last two years, he would have had these numbers:
2008- 1392 yds, 11tds, 51 receptions, 505 rec yds (1897 total yards)
2007- 1344 yds, 9 tds, 53 receptions, 361 rec yds (1705 total yards)
Keep in mind the numbers would be higher if he didn't get injured and miss time in games in both 08 and 07.

[an23dy]

Originally Posted by jsarno

18th? You have Jones-Drew ranked 18th? Seriously? I think this post belongs on the epic fail thread. This is a guy that has 34 rushing tds, 38 rush/rec tds, and 40 total tds in 3 seasons as a PART TIMER (he's only started 4 games in his career). Portis over that same span has only 28 total tds despite having 794 carries to Jones-Drew's 530. Jones Drew also averages 4.8 yards per carry. In the last 3 years, only Westbrook, Bush, Jackson, Tomlinson and Gore have more receptions that Jones-Drew and only Bush and Jones Drew were not starters.
Now that Jones-Drew is a starter, he is CERTAINLY worthy of a top 10 at the least, I have him top 5.
FYI, sporting news fantasy football mag has Portis ranked 8th, and Jones-Drew ranked 6th. NFL.com fantasy football magazine has Portis ranked 12th and Jones-Drew ranked 4th.

My top 5:
1- Peterson
2- Turner
3- Jones-Drew
4- Jackson*
5- Forte

Jackson is my only hesitation due to his injuries. He started only 11 games last year (although still managed to get 1042 yards and 8 total tds) and 12 games back in 2007 (although had 1002 yards and 7 total tds)
If healthy, his numbers would be pretty darn good...assuming he played a full season both of the last two years, he would have had these numbers:
2008- 1392 yds, 11tds, 51 receptions, 505 rec yds (1897 total yards)
2007- 1344 yds, 9 tds, 53 receptions, 361 rec yds (1705 total yards)
Keep in mind the numbers would be higher if he didn't get injured and miss time in games in both 08 and 07.

That wasn't a ranking of 20 guys, that was just a list of 20 guys that you could argue for. Left the numbers out, but I guess I should've said in no particular order. I would put MJD in my top 10 though.

[Ruhskins]

Here's what I hate about these rankings. Let's take a look at LaDainian Tomlinson. He's had a great career, but didn't his team almost cut him because they thought that he was getting old and would not restructure? So, can the Chargers win without him? I think they might; whereas in the case of Westbrook, I don't think the Iggles can with without him. I'm sure the same could be said of Portis.