Who are the top 10 runningbacks of all time?

Question

Here's my list.
1.Walter Payton
2.Barry Sanders
3.Jim Brown
4.O.J. Simpson
5.Marshall Faulk
6.Emmitt Smith
7.Earl Cambell
8.Eric Dickerson
9.Terrell Davis
10.Bo Jackson

Answer 1

1. Emmitt Smith (holds yardage record, SB MVP)
2. Walter Payton (Sweetness, held yardage record until Smith broke it)
3. Jim Brown (the man)
4. Barry Sanders (would likely be higher if he'd been on a better team)
5. Marshall Faulk
6. Earl Campbell
7. OJ Simpson
8. Eric Dickerson
9. Larry Csonka (all time leader in Dolphins history, part of '72 perfect season)
10. LaDanian Tomlinson (Most TD's, on track to break Smith's rushing record)

Answer 2

1. Barry Sanders
2. Jim Brown
3. Walter Payton
4. Steve Van Buren
5. O.J. Simpson
6. Emmitt Smith
7. Eric Dickerson
8. Earl Cambell
9. Terrell Davis
10. Marshall Faulk

And for the future list...Ladanian Tomlinson s the current best runningback in the league.

Answer 3

1. Jim Brown
2. Barry Sanders
3. Walter Sanders
4. Emmitt Smith
5. O.J. Simpson
6. Eric Dickerson
7. Earl Campbell
8. Marshall Faulk
9. Bo Jackson
10. Ladanian Tomlinson

Answer 4

Here's my list.
1.Walter Payton
2.Barry Sanders
3.Bo Jackson
4.O.J. Simpson
5.Eric Dickerson
6.Emmitt Smith
7.Earl Cambell
8.Marshall Faulk
9.LT
10.Jim Brown

Answer 5

I don't care what any of you say. On the top of the list has to be Emmitt Smith. Emmitt is on the top of mostly every stat that matters. He is currently the leading rusher in NFL history and has 4 championships. None of the other players on your lists come even close to that. For those of you who say that if you switched teams between he and Barry Sanders that Barry would be way ahead of Emmitt. Well, maybe so, but what I have to say to that is, If if's and but's were beer and nuts, life would be one big party. Since it's so important for some of you to entertain the thought of switching one player from one team to another then I want to switch Barry Sanders from his Lions teams to any of Earl Campbells sorry Houston Oiler teams and then see what would happen. Since Earl Campbell never won a championship you hardly ever hear him mentioned as a really great running back but had he had even just a little talent around him there's a great chance that no one would have ever heard of Walter, Barry, or Emmitt. In the history of the NFL there has never been a running back like Earl Campbell that did so much on a team with such little talent around him. He single handedly took the Oilers to the playoffs and played well against some of the most fearcest defenses in NFL history including the Steel Curtain. So you can stop criticizing Emmitt for playing on a good team and give him the credit he deserves, and if LT is blessed enough to last 12 years in the NFL then he deserves the opportunity to break it. But until then the top spot belongs to Emmitt Smith. The #2 through #10 spots are just a matter of personal opinion. My #2 spot goes to Earl Campbell. The rest don't matter.

Answer 6

#1 Emmitt Smith ( #'s dont lie)
#2 Walter Payton ( never got to see him in real life but seen his highlights)
#3 Barry Sanders (aka M.R. Ankle Breakers)
#4 Earl Campbell (He looked for contact)
#5 Marshall Faulk ( Not only was he a power Runner he had the hands of a great WR)
#6 Terrell Davis ( I used to hate it when the Cowboys played against him...we could never stop him)
#7 Bo Jackson ( Big Runner)
#8 Jerome Bettis (He basically was a DT)
#9 Erick Dickerson
#10 Ladainian Tomlinson (At this rate he will end up with 25,000 rushing YD's)

Answer 7

Walter Payton, Gale Syers,Barry Sandres,E Smith, Dickey Post, Earl Cambal , LT, OJ Eric Dickerson, Bo Jackson

Answer 8

I have co number 1's Jim brown,and Walter Payton stand above the rest because they were complete backs.Emmitt Smith would have to be a closesecond to brown and payton he was a tough runner and able to catch the ball,lacked as a blocker.Franco Harris was another extremely good back on some great teams but was not a punishing runner. Barry Sanders was as elusive as a back to ever play the game bar none.but he was not a good pass catcher,and was disinterested as a blocker.Eric Dickerson had he stayed with the Rams may have been the altime leading rusher. He had size speed,ran tough great speed,longevity wasnt great.EarlCampbell was the most punishing runner i have ever watched awsome speed for a runner of his size. paid for running over people shortening his career. Marshall Faulk good all around back but again good for about 6-8 years. Started sliding back.Marcus Allen quick runner elussive runner great pass catcher average blocker. Tomlinson best currently in nfl lets see how long he can do it .

Answer 9

I say Jim Brown belongs on his own list. After that, I'd say it's debatable all up and down. Payton, Sanders, Campbell, Dickerson, Smith, etc. were all great (Tomlinson still is) and are legitimate Top Ten candidates. No matter who you think the other nine are, Brown is the best of all time. Sanders wasn't the complete back. Who couldn't be great behind Emmitt's offensive line? Yes there's an argument against many of them, but not against Jim Brown.

Answer 10

1. Barry Sanders 2.Bo Jackson3.earl campbell4.walter payton5.jim brown6.L.T.7Emmitt Smith 8.tony Dorsett9.Eric dickerson10.anyone but o.j.