Injuries in subsequent seasons, however, led to a drastic drop in Alexander's production. Jones enjoyed a solid yet unspectacular six-year NFL career. While he would never come close to duplicating his success of 2002, Bennett still managed to carve out a 10-year career. Nobis' early success earned him a place on the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 1960s. Watters was a dual-threat playmaker who consistently produced. . With seven seasons of 1,000 yards rushing, Watters sits 24th all-time in yards on the ground. He also led the NFL in passing yards in consecutive seasons. He was instrumental in helping the Pats win their third Super Bowl in four seasons. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. In the Super Bowl Era. He was elusiveenough to make defenders miss, but could lower the boom at the goal line as well. (AP Photo/Greg Trott), Davis' bid for the Pro Football Hall of Fame is hurt because his career ended so abruptly. The Dolphins have a slew of Canton-worthy players who still haven't gotten the call. 11:15 am ET. 39 in league history among all pass-catchers. Tomlinson is tied for 80th with 626 catches and Allen is 100th with 587. He handled a high volume and earned everything he could despite a limited downfield passing game and some blocking issues. His absence from the Pro Football Hall of Fame might be most egregious when you look at the length of his career and the impact he had on one of the greatest teams of all time. Definitely, but trading for him could compromise the Birds future. He's currently eighth all-time with 14,731 career receiving yards. Now with James Robinson recovering from a torn Achilles', Etienne is flashing all his explosive college skills again to vie for key work to support long-time teammate Trevor Lawrence. Maurice Jones-Drew spotlights three running backs with 50 or fewer carries this season who could significantly impact the stretch run. He ran for a career-high 1,047 yards and 10 touchdowns that included a franchise-record 228 yards against the Rams. With respect to Tom Jackson and Rod Smith, Gradishar remains the greatest Bronco who is still waiting for his place in Canton. However, he only spent three of those years with the . "Playoff Lenny" gained 448 total yards and four touchdowns during the Buccaneers' 2020 playoff run. While his career may not have lived up to his pre-draft hype, Bush nonetheless enjoyed a fruitful NFL career. And while an injury in 2007 contributed to his 2009 release, McAllister was added to the Saints' roster prior to the team's Super Bowl win over the Colts. His success that season ultimately led to the team parting with Williams during the 2015 offseason. A former fifth-round pick, Thomas was one of the NFL's most productive players during his dozen seasons in Miami. For a list of other positions, click here. In this year's edition of Sporting News' ratings, there are promising rising stars mixed in with those who have hit their career prime, with the right experience experience but without the wrong wear. Dillon had the size (6-foot-1, 225 pounds) and physical style similar to Eddie George. He bolstered his rsum after being traded to the Patriots in 2004, racking up a career-high 1,635 rush yards and 12 TDs in his first season in New England. Maurice Jones-Drew identifies five running backs who can save their teams' seasons down the stretch. 2021 stats: 151 carries, 541 rushing yards, 4.1 yards per carry, 62 receptions on 78 targets, 452 receiving yards, 7 total TDs. Plus, check out his updated ranking of the top 15 RBs right now. Warren also went to three Pro Bowls, but was often overshadowed by some of the great running backs of the 1990s like Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders. After rushing for 931 yards in 13 regular-season games as a rookie, Michel rushed for 336 yards and six touchdowns during the 2018 postseason. While injuries ultimately cut his career short, Perry did help the Bengals win their first AFC North title in 2005. 2: Eddie George -- He opened his career with five consecutive 1,000-yards campaigns, and then added two more over the course of his career. Plus, MJD updates his ranking of the top 15 running backs right now. Running Backs (Not) in the Hall of Fame When you think of the best running backs in NFL history, names like Marshall Faulk, Emmitt Smith, and Walter Payton come to mind. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Swift has some good Kamara-like assets and is now helped by strong blocking and a better complementary passing game. Maurice Jones-Drew has one thought about the Cowboys' usage of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard in Zeke's return: Keep it even-steven! A key member of theBroncos' 2013 AFC championship team, Moreno rushed for over 1,000 yards that season after missing half of the 2012 campaign with a torn ACL. Dillon has gone from expected power complement to Jones to a well-rounded back in his own right. The speedy Johnson earned Pro Bowl honors during his first three seasons with theTitans. Heading into the Divisional Round, Maurice Jones-Drew ranks the top 10 rushers remaining in the NFL playoffs, a list that includes three teams with two players apiece. Stevenson was touted as a power back out of Oklahoma but showed he could be complete as a rookie, to the point he may pick up injured James White's key receiving snaps in 2022 to split more of the work with Harris. 20 in homage to Sims. Maurice Jones-Drew evaluated every running back who started a game during the 2022 NFL regular season to create a COMPLETE ranking, from 1 to 75. He finished his career with nearly 5,000 all-purpose yards and 19 touchdowns. No would be surprised if he boosted his Hall of Fame credentials with another massive campaign as the centerpiece of his team's offense. Look, all 15 finalists are absolutely deserving of the honor. He's not sneaking up on anyone anymore as one of the league's most efficient backs with his quickness in the passing game and compact power in the running game. Beyond being dynamos in the rushing attack, the most talented players at the position are also key contributors as receivers and pass blockers. Of course not. But yeah running backsaredevalued. He spent the 2016 season as Ezekiel Elliott's replacement before retiring during the 2017 season. And the fact that the city was thisclose to a second consecutive Lombardi -- a debate that never ends well for Pete Carroll -- helps his case. Edwards-Helaire hasn't lived up to being a first-rounder in 2020 for multiple reasons. 1 receiver when the Colts made it back to the Super Bowl in 2009. As a rookie, he started over future All-Pro Priest Holmes. Bush enjoyed more success after leaving New Orleans. In fact, that 1994 season kicked off a seven-season stretch in which Watters had at least 1,500 scrimmage yards per year -- the second-longest streak in NFL history. He was a key contributor to a powerful Colts team that won back-to-back NFL titles to close out the decade of the 1950s. He's been a semifinalist for three straight years but has yet to be named a finalist. Taylor has parlayed his prolific play at Wisconsin into the complete durable package in the NFL. . (National Football League), You might not believe this, but the New York Jets were actually good in the 1980s. There is no quit in this guy. Here's a look at some of the best prospects available for teams drafting in the early part of the second round: Jordan Porter Jr., CB, Penn State. Nobody could stop him on the football field. First, he's missed 10 games in his first two seasons. 2023 Audacy, Inc. All rights reserved. Or write about sports? Did he win (or compete for) a league MVP award? San Francisco 49ers (2005-2014), Indianapolis Colts (2015-17), Miami Dolphins (2018), Buffalo Bills (2019), New York Jets (2020). Brian Branch, S, Alabama. Craving even more NFL coverage focusing on previews, recaps, news and analysis? A key member of the Bengals' 1981 AFC championship team, Riley returned a league-high three interceptions for touchdowns during his final two seasons. His relentless work ethic -- both physically and in the film room -- allowed him to be one of the best of his era. All of these men are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but there are many talented running backs that are not enshrined in Canton for some reason. Ingram -- who is entering his first season with the Texans -- is currently 60th on the NFL's all-time rushing list. Taylor was an extraordinary teammate who exemplified everything it meant to be a professional. 225), a three-star recruit who is rated the 42nd-best athlete in the nation in the . (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli), Andrews went to four consecutive Pro Bowls for the Atlanta Falcons from 1980-83. His best season took place in 2006, when Jackson rumbled for 1,528 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Rams. Injuries, however, along with the eventual emergence ofLeGarrette Blountultimately contributed to Williams never duplicating his rookie success. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. In 2011, Brown ran for five scores while averaging 4.8 yards per carry. Formerly the Panthers' career rushing leader, Williams enjoyed a late career resurgence in Pittsburgh, as the Steelers went 10-4 with Williams in the starting lineup. Brown, to the Eagles nonetheless, would be putting it lightly. 2021 stats:332 carries, 1,811 rushing yards, 5.5 yards per carry, 40 receptions on 51 targets, 360 receiving yards, 20 total TDs. But if the 38-year-old doesn't play another snap in the NFL, he'll be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026. Injuries and the emergence of 2017 seventh-round pickChris Carsonhave severely limited Penny's NFL production. After holding off Zack Moss for key touches, he will need to do the same again vs. rookie James Cook. . 11-25 Nos. He has a good shot to break the trend and make it two team titles in a row with 1,000-plus yards to boot. . In 1965, Taylor spurned the NFL (he was drafted by theEagleswith the 203rd pick in theNFL draft) to play for the AFL'sKansas City Chiefs. He also led the NFL in touchdown receptions on two separate occasions. He was an impossible matchup for opponents at the height of the San Francisco 49ers' dynasty in the 1980s. The Hall of Famer loses some points for being tied at the top of all running backs ever in terms of most fumbles lost. Curt Warner, Seattle Seahawks/Los Angeles. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. McNeil was the stud running back for the team who made quarterback Richard Todd look good. Given that the rankings focused primarily on overall career achievements, don't look too far into where current players rank on the following list -- they could very well end up on top once they call it a career. He is probably the top candidate to replace Ryan Day at his alma mater should Ohio State turn on Urban Meyers latest and greatest disciple. Despite his abbreviated prime, Alexander is 36th on the league's career rushing list. Multiple concussions resulted in Best appearing in just 22 NFL games. We present them here for purely educational purposes. He was the last running back to win MVP, and there's a chance we may not see it happen again for a very long time with how pass-happy the league has become. Hall of Fame: Yes (1993) NFL MVP: 1. While somewhat underwhelming, Green still managed to rack up 1,000 all-purpose yards while helping theBrownsmake the playoffs during this rookie season. Some think he's prime to return to some early-career form playing off a more explosive passing game with the blocking also reset to be more in his favor. Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans (1996-2003), Dallas Cowboys (2004). If he didn't detour into the USFL, it's not hard to imagine him in Canton. He's since been eclipsed by some dude named Peterson or something. In 1981, Anderson won both league MVP and Comeback Player of the Year while leading the Bengals to their first Super Bowl. Peterson was a three-time league rushing champion with Minnesota, including in his 2012 MVP season when he rushed for 2,097 yards, and helped the team to four playoff appearances. The lastSteelersrunning back taken in the first round before Najee Harris, Mendenhall won a Super Bowl as a rookie despite spending most of the season on injured reserve. Simpson and Marcus Allen. Although Elliott is still the lead in the Cowboys' eyes, it's become more of a 1-2 punch with the latter helping the former stay effective with less mid-career wear. Jacobs seems to always need to deal with competition in both his steady rushing and receiving roles. The 10,000-yard plateau is a good one to cross for that gold jacket. Faulk's statistics weren't just gaudy numbers for a bad team. Since 1980, there have been 19 Modern-Era Running Backs honored by the Hall of Fame, with an average Legends Score of 41. 1 receiver when Pittsburgh defeated theCardinalsthree years later in Super Bowl XLIII. A Pro Bowler each season from 1983-86, Jacoby's blocking helped John Riggins rush for a then Super Bowl record in Washington's win over Miami in Super Bowl XVII. Dolphins (2005-10); Eagles (2011); Chargers (2012-14); Texans (2014). (AP Photo/Ed Reinke), I don't get this one. The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 will be revealed next Thursday during NFL Honors (airs live at 9 p.m. the Eagles were looking to trade for Henry. He was a smooth fit in the system with his quick running and did fine as a receiver when needed there. Conner has been a great power running fit with his size and quickness in Kliff Kingsbury's offense, playing well off Kyler Murray. A member of theBroncos' Ring of Fame, Gradishar is credited with over 2,000 tackles during his 10-year career. He's also one of eight players in league history with 10,000-plus career rush yards and 4,000-plus career receiving yards. The 6-fo-6 Greenwood also had a penchant for batting down passes; he did that on three occasions during the Steelers' Super Bowl IX win over the Vikings. He's still a powerful runner with some pop to finish drives and reel off some long runs, but he also has developed into a reliable short-area receiver for Tom Brady. He had seven seasons with at least 1,100 rushing yards. Even though, you know, the USFL was pro football. McMichael and Dan Hampton (a 2002 Hall of Fame inductee) formed one of the greatest defensive duos in NFL history, a unit that totaled 41.5 sacks from 1984-88. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. The rushing and scrimmage yardage leader from 2021 is a few notches above the field at only 23. Superstar quarterbacks undoubtedly headline the AFC Championship Game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs, but Maurice Jones-Drew explains why the running backs will actually decide who wins. Between 2001-03, Holmes was iconic, a Pro Bowler and All-Pro for three straight seasons. Who knows, honestly? His 46-yard touchdown sealed Kansas City's 23-7 win over theVikings, the last game ever played between the rival leagues. Plus, see which team now has TWO players in MJD's top 15 RB rankings. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell), That's right, Bo Jackson is the greatest running back not in the Hall of Fame. Bills (2007-10); Seahawks (2010-15, 2019); Raiders (2017-18). D.A. The player Riley is often compared to isCharles Woodson, who will receive a gold jacket this summer. Will the Cowboys or Packers tandem earn the No. Gibson was disappointing as he didn't deliver as the complete big back in Year 2 while playing through some injury and fumbling issues. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. After sharing a backfield with Marion Barber at the University of Minnesota, Maroney shared one with Kevin Faulk in New England. McCaffrey is looking to bounce back after an injury sidelined him for all but three games in 2020. A six-time Pro Bowler from 2006-10 and in 2012, Wayne led the NFL in receiving yards in 2007. In 2003, Lewis became the fifth member of the 2,000-yard rushing club while coming within 40 yards of breaking Eric Dickerson's single-season record. He'll have to wait his turn, but should get a gold jacket one day. A score of 100 is around the average modern-era inductee. 1 receiver when St. Louis made a return trip to theSuper Bowlin 2001. The 10 Best Running Backs Not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Dean Hybl June 7, 2009 10. Taylor's transition to the NFL was seamless after the two leagues merged in 1970. And while the running back position may no longer be king of the hill, several teams this century have benefited by selecting a running back in the first round. According to sources, the Philadelphia Eagles have acquired Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift and the No. 13. He averaged better than 4.5 yards per carry during his peak years. A bruising 218-pound runner, Ameche is best known for his game-winning one-yard run in the famous 1958 NFL Championship Game. Williams can be a reliable supporting cog for Russell Wilson in every capacity, taking the Jones role in the Packers-like system. Harris and Etienne will try to change the narrative currently surrounding running backs. A two-time NFL rushing champion, Elliott is on pace to join fellowCowboysgreats Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Al Golub), Do yourself a favor and Google this guy. NFL running back rankings 2022 1. Pitta was the best tight end in college football in 2009, but the Mackey Award voters opted to give the award to Aaron Hernandez from Florida instead. Dupree did give it a go with the Los Angeles Rams, but he just couldn't make it happen. Thomas Jones was an outstanding running back who had a stellar 12-year NFL career in which he rushed for over 10,000 yards. In 12 seasons, he rushed for 10,413 yards and 85 rushing touchdowns (16th all time), and his 12 postseason rushing TDs are tied for fourth-most in NFL history alongside Hall of Famers Terrell Davis and John Riggins. 2021 stats: 203carries, 903 rushing yards, 4.4 yards per carry, 43 receptions on 53 targets, 316 receiving yards, 7 total TDs. The site navigation utilizes arrow, enter, escape, and space bar key commands. Ranked fifth in NFL history with 14,918 career rushing yards, Peterson wants to play in 2022 and perhaps beyond. Taylor finished with 11,695 yards, good for 17th all-time. A Lisfranc injury in 2012 (his only season with thePackers) limited him to just five games in what would be his final season. A five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro, Sharp led the league in receptions three different times. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. An extremely productive player at Alabama, Richardson's lack of big-play ability hindered his NFL production. And following an unceremonious end of his tenure with the Chiefs, Johnson had largely forgettable stops in Cincinnati, Washington and Miami. As far as the Titans are concerned, lets just hope Carthon and head coach Mike Vrabel are on the same page and have owner Amy Adams Strunks blessing to do whatever is in the best interest of the Titans franchise. His cultural impact is through the roof. In 2009, Johnson became the sixth member of the NFL's 2,000-yard club after rushing for a league-high 2,006 yards. Jaguars (2017-19); Buccaneers (2020-Present). He is a good finisher in the red zone and can take any carry the distance. In 16 seasons, he's third on the all-time rushing list with 16,000 yards, third in carries (3,735), third in touches (4,219) and fourth in scrimmage yards (19,985). Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. The four-time Pro Bowler even finished third in the MVP vote for his 2000 campaign, when he rushed for 1,509 yards and 14 scores. Knee problems may ultimately keep Gurley from going down as an all-time great. Would Henry thrive in Philadelphia? But eight significant injuries -- the last one placing him on injured reserve in 2019 -- resulted in Martin playing in his last regular season game at just 29 years old. When Barry Sanders arrived in Detroit, then-coach Wayne Fontes wanted him to wear No. The fifth-leading rusher in NFL history, Peterson is a three-time rushing champion and member of the NFL's All-2010s Team. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. George was the league's best workhorse on the rugged Tennessee Titans teams of the late 1990s. With theCowboyspunting from their own 16-yard line, Tasker was lined up against linebacker Robert Jones, a rookie who filled in for an injured starter. San Francisco 49ers (1992-94), Philadelphia Eagles (1995-97), Seattle Seahawks (1998-2001). . After seven active seasons in Baltimore, Lewis played three more seasons in Cleveland, where he posted two more 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson is a former First-Team All-American defensive back for the TCU Horned Frogs and is one of the top defensive prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. Taylor has been eligible for seven years now. He was a six-time Pro Bowl selection. 1 / 60 At 28, Henry is facing an important rebound year as the massive workload from 2019 and 2020 caught up to him last season. His 53-yard touchdown catch during the previous year's Super Bowl helped theColtswin the franchise's first Super Bowl following their move from Baltimore to Indianapolis. Can the Eagles improve their No. 2021 stats: 219carries, 937 rushing yards, 4.3 yards per carry, 18 receptions on 20 targets, 154 receiving yards, 10 total TDs. But as a rookie, Michel showed his value by helping thePatriotswin their sixth Super Bowl title. With that in mind, we decided to put together a list of the 20 best NFL players who are not in the Hall of Fame. A second-round pick by Cincinnati in 1997, Dillon was one of the few bright spots for a Bengals team that managed just 34 wins during his seven seasons with the franchise. A big, physical back at 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, Jackson ripped off eight straight 1,000-yard seasons from 2005-12. In 1985, he became the first running back in NFL history to top 1,000 yards in both receiving and rushing. At 26, MIxon should maintain that momentum of production. Although 2022 is no different with Kenyan Drake and Georgia rookie Zamir White behind him in the new Josh McDaniels' offense, his more steady than spectacular play may turn out to be the best complement for a more dangerous passing game featuring Davante Adams. Getty Images. A neck injury flattened the rest of his career, and he remained quiet and elusive about his health and future. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Taylor is hurt by his lack of Pro Bowl nods, as he only notched one over the course of his career. Giants (2000-04); Broncos (2005); Texans (2006-07). While he shared a backfield for most of his time in Miami, Brown still managed to averaged nearly 1,000 rushing yards per season with the Dolphins. Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson rushed for a playoff record 248 yards in the Los . An integral member of the 2007 Patriots team that started 18-0, Maroney rushed for 122 yards in the Patriots' postseason wins over the Jaguars and Chargers. All Rights Reserved. He rushed for more than 1,200 yards in each of his first five seasons -- joining Hall of Famers Eric Dickerson and LaDainian Tomlinson as the only other two players to do so in NFL history. Of the three hall-of-fame-caliber players who are potentially on the trade block heading into Thursday nights draft, Henry is the one I feel the least certain about him being dealt.
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