Best Running Back Ever?

Question

I personally think it's barry sanders, he is better than payton/smith, and would've kept playing if payton hadn't been ill.
barry sanders retired just a year after rushing for 2000 + yards. I found out how many more carries smith had then sanders, and divided it by the difference of carreer yardage,(basically, seeing how many yards per carry barry sanders would have had to average for the rest of his carreer to meet smith). He would only have to roughly average 2.3 ypc for the rest of his carreer if he had the same attempts as emmitt. Clearly, barry was a better rusher, and who was much more consistent then emmitt. Also: Emmitt had one season with 5+ ypc, and sanders had 5(in ten years mind you, compared to smith's 15). Now many people will say that totals matter more than averages, but when emmitt smith is rushing so much more than sanders is, its hard to compare. Also, emmitt played on a much better team.
Here are the links to the stats:www.pro-football-reference.com

Answer 1

Barry Sanders. Nobody could match his moves. He played behind a terrible line for a terrible team even bringing them to the playoffs four times. He never complained, pointed fingers, or demanded a trade. He was also involved with the community and shared his good fortune with others. His character, abilities, and numbers make him my pick.

Answer 2

Whoa Whoa Whoa. Everybody let's get off the Barry Sanders bandwagon. Great player no doubt but did anybody manage to see who has the most rushes for a loss? Barry Sanders. I'm an Emmitt Smith guy myself but I won't say he is the best ever. I mean the guy only has more yards than anybody else in NFL history so how could you say he isn't one of the greatest of all time. Don't diss the man cuz he had Larry Allen, Erik Williams, and Moose out there blocking for him. That's called good GM skills right there. But even after all that, I have to agree with the guy that said Jim Brown. That man was a beast. Ran over anybody in his way and didn't even care. Watch some game film, he would run at people just to run them over. His career was too short or he would be up on that list with Sanders, Payton, and Smith as one of the leading rushers of all time.

Answer 3

RB's job includes 3 things. Rushing, Blocking, and Recieving

Water Payton was the best all-around at that.

His then single game record of 275 yards rushing came on a day when he was terribly sick with the flu.

He had agility like Barry, although they rarely show it on his highlight films. He had speed and of course great power, but he wasn't a "big" back. Seeing the way he bounched of tacklers is like watch Barry dodge them, but then Payton could do that too.

He also had 8 or 9 touchdown passes, and even played one game at QB.

I have Barry as a close #2, and he would have broke the record if he had not retired. Still rushing yards alone aren't what make you the best, which is why I don't have Smith as #1.

Both Payton and Sanders had to deal with bad offensive lines for a while. Smith had it easy with Dallas. He only got the record because the Cardinals sucked, and they didn't really have anyone to play instead of him at RB.

Patyon #1 Sanders a close #2....Smith maybe top 5?

Answer 4

Smith ran behind a line and first tackler was after the line of Scrimmage. Sanders ran on his own and was just trying to get to the LoS. Sanders was the best, an opposing coach once said Barry Sanders has two speeds-Here he comes and There he goes. Now if you want a power back, not a pure RB, then ride the Bus-Jerome Bettis.
Oh and to those saying Jim Brown, HE WAS BIGGER THEN THE GUYS TRYING TO TACKLE HIM. Heck I could run over an 80 pound dude and be great, but that doesn't mean I really am that great. Sanders was SMALLER then most of the guys trying to tackle him. At best you should call Brown a POWERback not a PUREback. A pureback does it with speed, take Willie Parker as a good example today, as a Steelers fan that is my choice and he is a pure back. A power back just runs guys over or drags them, it isn't about speed.

Answer 5

Wow, that's tough. My first thought is to say Barry Sanders, but then of course you've got Sweetness, Jim Brown, and Eric Dickerson. To all the Emmitt fans out there, I think Emmitt was a top ten back, I just don't think he was the best back. I'm an Oilers fan so I just want to drop Earl's name out there too. And what about the newer guys like LT and Marshall Faulk. Tough, tough choice. If I needed one back for a game I needed to win, I think it's between Dickerson and Brown. Barry was incredible, and he still sends shivers down my spine watching his highlights, but that guy could also turn something into nothing. He's the classic take two steps forward and one step back. Dickerson was the man. He could do it all. He could run around you, past you, or through you. He laid out the pass protection, and caught balls too. Unfortunately I'm not old enough to have seen Brown, so I only get to hear stories and see highlights. So I guess my answer would have to be Dickerson.

Answer 6

Barry is the best I've seen. Too young to see Payton, but like Barry played on some bad teams.

Always thought Emmitt Smith was overrated, had the best line in football, and a very good passing game to take the load off.

Answer 7

Barry Sanders is one of the best purest backs to ever pay the game and also one of the greats, he played behing a mediocre line and did what he did (I'm a Packer fan), he retired to early, respected Walter Payton and his record, woold have and easily broke his record....cant' respect Emmitt Smith on that....he had a line to run behind, but Sanders or Payton didn't have the same line, yes I have heard it about Sanders, lost alot of yards, but to have what he has for yardage and still lost the most yardage for an NFL RB, have to respect that...some stats

tied 2nd most seasons leading the league
tied 3rd most consecutive seasons leading the league
15,269 Barry Sanders, Detroit, 1989-1998
tied 2nd most 1000 yrds rushing 10yrs (also 2nd on consecutive)
3rd in most yrds gained in season 2,053
tied for 2nd most 200yds + per game (4)
last one....
14 games in a season of at least 100 yds or more

like I said one of the best ever, LT will take Emmit on yards and has already broken records, but who know if Barry would have played out his career and not retired

Answer 8

I think barry sanders is clearly better than emmit smith. if youre playing 5 years less than another guy on a team that struggles to make it into the playoffs compared to a team thats goal is the super bowl every year, its pretty clear. barry sanders would have crushed walter peyton's record if he played longer, and smith would still be playing today trying to catch up. If youre trying to find the best running back, its easily barry sanders. right now. I say that becasue ladanian tomlinson is on track to get about 23,000 yards rushing if he played 15 years. even if he doesnt play that long, hes already has about 9,000. already over half way there in 6 years of playing, and right now hes just starting to do really good, so he might even reach it in 5 years. also another key point. what about touchdowns. i dont care if you run for 1000 yards in one game, if you dont score a touchdown that means nothing. what youre suppossed to do every play is somehow contribute to youre team. and scoring is the main way to do that. you could break the single season rushing record in one game, but if you lose 7-0 that doesnt really matter. L.T. we know gets into the endzone better than anyone, and in my book, hes the greatest running back of all time.

Answer 9

Hard to say but either Jim Brown or Barry Sanders. Different running styles but Jim Brown had the whole package he was elusive, powerful, and fast. Barry was more elusive, quicker and had good power for his size, he made defenders look silly. I think you could make a case for both of these men. I really don't think Emmit Smith should be mentioned as one of the greatest of all time (although an outstanding running back) he was just a grinder who was blessed with a relatively injury free career.

Answer 10

Barry is good, Great infact but there were better runningbacks like Jim Brown Earl Campbell Eric Dickerson and now theres LT. Payton was better than Sanders at the end of his career but barry stopped short. Emmit isnt that great. Also Marshall Faulk should be recognized.
id gotta say L.T will Be the best but so far Jim brown.

Answer 11

People need to get over Barry Sanders...He was good, but he bailed on his team, he was not ill/injured...also, no Super Bowl for Barry...Walter Payton is the best RB in NFL history...and Emmitt Smith is #2...and Tomlinson needs to win a Super Bowl if he wants consideration...I would say Barry Sanders is the 3rd best RB in history...no higher without a ring...