best running backs not in the hall of fame
When Barry Sanders arrived in Detroit, then-coach Wayne Fontes wanted him to wear No. A four-time Pro Bowler and member of the NFL's All-1980s Team, Craig became the first player in league history to have 1,000 rushing and receiving yards in the same season (1985). But did you realize he averaged less than four yards per carry? If you want to recognize him for being a guy who hung around longer than most big backs, fine. While the Birds do need to effectively replace Miles Sanders in their backfield, Henry is pushing 30 and why didnt they re-sign a cheaper and younger running back in Sanders in the first place?! Thomas, who finished his career with the Chiefs, is 26th all time on the league's career rushing list. 2021 stats: 240 carries, 898 rushing yards, 3.7 yards per carry, 47 receptions on 67 targets, 439 receiving yards, 9 total TDs, NFL POWER RANKINGS: Bills look Super Bowl-serious at top; 49ers, Broncos, Eagles on the rise. Many more would argue that he is the best football player . He was putting up those numbers while helping the St. Louis Rams to two Super Bowls, winning one in 1999. While he helped the Steelers advance to the Super Bowl that season, Mendenhall's most infamous NFL moment occurred whenClay Matthewsjarred the ball loose from his arms during a pivotal moment in Super Bowl XLV (the Steelers ended up losing, 31-25). Patience would be an appropriate word to describe the 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction class. 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. As a rookie, he started over future All-Pro Priest Holmes. NFL Network analysts offer up eight candidates. Jones is now sharing plenty with powerful A.J. Richardson averaged just 3.3 yards per carry during his three-year career. Texas running back Bijan Robinson is a popular pick, but Hall of Fame RB LaDainian Tomlinson has his eyes on a defensive player. His best season came with the Eagles in 2013, when he led the league in attempts (314), rush yards (1,607), rush yards per game (100.4), touches (366) and scrimmage yards (2,164). (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey), Pittsburgh Steelers fans will whine until Bettis gets into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 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. In 1985, he became the first running back in NFL history to top 1,000 yards in both receiving and rushing. Injuries, however, along with the eventual emergence ofLeGarrette Blountultimately contributed to Williams never duplicating his rookie success. Carthon is a total mystery to me, so this gives me some hope that a deal like this could potentially happen. Pro Bowls: 9. 39 in league history among all pass-catchers. Simpson and Marcus Allen. A three-time Pro Bowler, Elliott averaged 1,668 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns per season during his first five years in Dallas. He is the 2022 Jim Thorpe Award winner, given to the nation's best defensive back. 2021 stats: 119 carries, 749 rushing yards, 6.3 yards per carry, 6 receptions on 8 targets, 49 receiving yards, 6 total TDs. All Rights Reserved. After rehabbing for the 2003 season, McGahee rushed for 1,128 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2004 while leading the Bills to the precipice of the postseason. He's still special as a complete receiving-leaning back when healthy and that's why he remains in the top 10, but the lingering injury issues can't be ignored in relation to those now ranked ahead of him. Taylor was an extraordinary teammate who exemplified everything it meant to be a professional. Jim Brown is a superb choice to start a list of top running backs of all time. No. He enjoyed significantly more success in Cincinnati, where he tallied three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons while helping theBengalsclinch two playoff berths and a division title. Still, I think they are more likely to draft Texas Bijan Robinson if the Atlanta Falcons pass on him. The site navigation utilizes arrow, enter, escape, and space bar key commands. 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. Matthews' play was a major reason why the Browns appeared in three AFC Championship Games from 1986-89. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans. The Bengals' all-time leading passer, Anderson's boom under Bill Walsh's "West Coast" offense set the stage for Walsh's success with Joe Montana in San Francisco. Singletary emerged as a reliable workhorse down the stretch to complement the high-volume passing game. The fifth running back selected in the first round of the 2000 draft, Canidate spent his first three NFL seasons playing behind future Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk. He helped engine the Titans to the Super Bowl in 1999, and finished his career with over 10,000 yards on the ground. A score of 100 is around the average modern-era inductee. 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. In 2012, "AD" was named league MVP after rushing for 2,097 yards, the second-highest total in NFL history. Maurice Jones-Drew ranks each team's primary starting running back for the 2022 NFL season. He also helped lead the Seahawks to two NFC titles as well as a victory in Super Bowl XLVIII. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton), Unfairly remembered for "The Fumble," which hurt the Cleveland Browns' chances for a Super Bowl bid. (AP Photo/Beth Keiser). Injuries and off-field issues led to a significant drop in production after the 2006 season. (AP Photo/PKS), One of the big backs who burned out a little bit too quickly. A valued member of Minnesota's "Purple People Eaters" defensive line, Marshall holds numerous NFL records, including the most seasons played by a defensive player (20, along with Junior Seau and Darrell Green), most consecutive games by a defensive player (282), most consecutive starts by a defensive player (270), and most career fumble recoveries (30). He can be an older Dillon to Williams' younger Jones. With Chicago also turning to a Green Bay-like rushing attack for more explosiveness, Montgomery's precarious lead role will be challenged by second-year man Khalil Herbert. 2023 Audacy, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Plus, MJD updates his ranking of the top 15 running backs right now. Thomas received just 18 starts during his first four NFL seasons. (National Football League), You might not believe this, but the New York Jets were actually good in the 1980s. But for my money, I'd rather celebrate a guy who had a huge impact and was the best at his position instead of a guy who was all right for a number of years (looking at you, Bettis). He was never the same after that. He led the league with 73 receptions in 1975. Maurice Jones-Drew says yes. 2021 stats: 133 carries, 606 rushing yards, 4.6 yards per carry, 14 receptions on 18 targets, 5 total TDs. Not hating on any of those guys. Wayne wasPeyton Manning'sNo. The Saints have had to lean more on Kamara's rushing on top of his consistent receiving in the past two seasons and he's proved to have the legs for it, even with some missed time. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara), Dupree was injured for most of his pro career, the majority of which was wasted in the USFL. 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. He's currently eighth all-time with 14,731 career receiving yards. But he's currently 19th all time in rushing yardage. And while his touches were somewhat limited during his first season in Denver, Gordon still managed to rush for nearly 1,000 yards while scoring 10 touchdowns for the fourth time in his career. Unlike most induction classes, there was not a single member of this year's class that got in on the first ballot. That season, Perry caught 51 passes, the most by a Bengals running back since James Brooks in 1986. While he continuously battled through injury, McFadden still managed to amass 1,664 all-purpose yards for the Raiders in 2010. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. After nine seasons in St. Louis, Jackson signed with the Falcons, who were coming off of a 13-3 season and appearance in the NFC title game. Lynch made his first Pro Bowl in Buffalo, but his "Beast Mode" persona was born in Seattle. Taylor has parlayed his prolific play at Wisconsin into the complete durable package in the NFL. With NFL+, stay connected throughout the rest of the NFL offseason with special content from Training Camp, Hall of Fame, and more! Mixon had teased of a big season early in his career. There are still a slew of eligible former players who are still waiting for their call to Canton, Ohio. First, he's missed 10 games in his first two seasons. Conner should be treated as more of a workhorse with Chase Edmonds now playing for the Dolphins. He was a freak of nature coming out of Oklahoma and didn't disappoint at the pro level. And he absolutely quantifies the whole "you can't tell the story of the NFL without this player" requirement. Though Gore's been seen in the boxing ring of late, he hasn't officially closed the door on an NFL return. 2021 stats: 188 carries, 870 rushing yards, 4.6 yards per carry, 40 receptions on 50 targets, 228receiving yards, 8 total TDs. He still can produce well, but the Commanders seem to be committed to more of a situational committee approach to keep him fresh vs. putting more on him as a workhorse. The production and potential says to meet those outcomes somewhere in the middle, with lean toward the positive. You have to wonder if his prickly personality is what is keeping him out of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Injuries are the reason why Mathews was out of football at age 29. In 2011, Brown ran for five scores while averaging 4.8 yards per carry. Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown (32) is pictured in Cleveland, circa 1960s. Tasker's brilliance was on display during the opening minutes of Super Bowl XXVII. Falcons (2002-05); Washington (2006); Lions (2007); Seahawks (2008). Swift, like Chubb and others, keeps the pipeline strong for Georgia running backs in the NFL. That season, Stewart earned his first and only Pro Bowl selection while helping thePanthersreach the Super Bowl. 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. Hayes is a member of the NFL's All-1980s Team. 5-ranked rushing attack? A big, physical back at 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, Jackson ripped off eight straight 1,000-yard seasons from 2005-12. 2021 stats: 206 carries, 911 rushing yards, 4.4 yards per carry, 70 receptions on 94 targets, 647 receiving yards, 20 total TDs. But he was one of the most productive backs of his era. Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson rushed for a playoff record 248 yards in the Los . Dillon had the size (6-foot-1, 225 pounds) and physical style similar to Eddie George. According to sources, the Philadelphia Eagles have acquired Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift and the No. For whatever the reason, there are numerous deserving players who are still hoping to earn a spot in football immortality. But he's already done more than enough to land himself among the game's immortal. 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. wedding snacks after ceremony,
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