1. Marshall Faulk
Colts, Rams
Nobody did it better. LaDainian Tomlinson was close, but Faulk’s prime was untouchable.
Owning Faulk was like having two top players jammed into one fantasy position. He gave you top-five running back numbers, and then threw in 80-90 catches on top. Simply the best of his era.
Notable Stats:
Finished no worse than 17th at the position from 1995-2003. Finished in the top seven in six of his first seven years, with No. 1 overall finishes in 2000 and 2001, seasons where he averaged 1,371 rushing yards, 798 receiving yards.
2. LaDainian Tomlinson
Chargers, Jets
Don’t let the last few years fool you. Tomlinson averaged 2,003 yards from scrimmage and 18 touchdowns in his first seven seasons in the league. That’s just insane. At a position where it is tough to last, LT2 showed up big every year until he was 30.
Notable Stats:
Finished as a top-seven running back every year from 2001-2008, finishing in the top three in six of those eight years. He was the No. 1 overall player in 2006 with 1,815 rushing yards, 38 touchdowns and 508 receiving yards.
3. Shaun Alexander
Seahawks, Redskins
He was great in real life, but even better in fantasy. He averaged almost 20 touchdowns-per-season over a five-year stretch including 48 in 2004-2005 combined. He didn’t catch the ball, but he didn’t need to. It was like Mike Holmgren had Alexander on his fantasy team.
Notable Stats:
Was a top-six fantasy back each year from 2001-2005, including 2 No. 1 finishes at the position in 2004 and 2005. He also finished with 1,880 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns in 2005, then fell off a cliff called old age.
4. Curtis Martin
Patriots, Jets
Steady as a metronome and saved his best for second-to-last in 2004. Herm Edwards ran him into the ground, but it was fun while it lasted.
Notable stats:
Was a top 20 fantasy back every season from 1995-2004, including seven top-eight finishes and four top-five finishes. Finished No. 2 in 1995.
5. Adrian Peterson
Vikings
Yeah, it’s early. Yeah, no one else has finished in the top-three backs in each of his first four seasons.
All Day could wind up with just as many top-five finishes as Faulk and Tomlinson. In an era of committee, Peterson is still the man. He has room to rise on the list.
Notable stats:
Peterson has never finished outside the top three running backs in his four-year career, finishing third three times and No. 2 in 2009.
6. Ricky Watters
Eagles, Seahawks
One of the most underrated running backs of all time just started to peak in 1995. The worst season of his first nine years came in 1993: 1,276 yards from scrimmage and 12 scores.
I generally preferred players with a big peak over compilers, but Watters’ consistency was one of a kind.
Notable stats:
Finished in the top 10 at running back in his first nine NFL seasons. His best finish was No. 3 in 1996, rushing for 1,411 yards and 13 touchdowns, as well as 444 receiving yards.
7. Priest Holmes
Ravens, Chiefs
He had a very similar career to Terrell Davis, but was even better in fantasy leagues because of his receiving skills. Taking him tops in 2004 didn’t hurt if you handcuffed Larry Johnson. We tend to prefer short periods of dominance on this list, and Holmes was as dominant as they came for three years.
Notable stats:
Only finished inside the top 10 three times, but they were second, first and first finishes in 2001-2003. In his two No. 1 overall season, Holmes averaged 1,518 rushing yards, 681 receiving yards and 24 rushing touchdowns. It was fun while it lasted.
8. Barry Sanders
Lions
Sanders averaged 1,980 yards from scrimmage in his final five seasons. You loved him as long as you didn’t have him in a keeper league.
Notable stats:
Finished No. 1 twice before 1995. Also finished in the top 10 in 1995-1998, including a No. 1 overall finish in 1997 with 2,053 rushing yards, 305 receiving yards and 14 total scores. If we started this list in 1990, Sanders would have a case for No. 1.
9. Edgerrin James
Colts, Cardinals, Seahawks
He made it look so easy. The post-James era in Indianapolis shows that it wasn’t easy. James rarely had an off week and came back strong after he tore his ACL. He was as versatile a back as you’ll find and could handle any assignment.
Notable stats:
Had six top 10 finishes from 1999-2007, including a No. 1 overall finish in 1999 with 1,553 rushing yards, 586 receiving yards and 17 total touchdowns.
10. Tiki Barber
Giants
From third-down back to primary guy to juggernaut, Tiki’s career path was unconventional, which often made him an underrated asset on draft day. Like Sanders, he skipped over the decline phase.
Notable stats:
Never finished outside the top 15 from 2000-2006, including four finishes inside the top seven. His best season came in 2004, where he finished as the No. 2 back with 1,518 rushing yards, 578 receiving yards and 15 combined scores.
11. Clinton Portis
Broncos, Redskins
After putting up Terrell Davis-like numbers in Denver, Portis settled into a workmanlike run in Washington. You always wanted a little more from Portis, but he ultimately was one of the steadier backs of his era.
Notable stats:
Finished no worse than eleventh six times from 2002-2008, including No. 4 finishes at the position in 2002 and 2007.
12. Terrell Davis
Broncos
A supernova for three years, and then nothing. T.D. gets knocked some for crushing owners year after year that thought he might get healthy.
Notable stats:
Finished second, second and first from 1996-1998, respectively. In his No. 1 overall year, Davis finished with 2,008 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns.
13. Chris Johnson
Titans
Which way will his career go? Johnson has Hall of Fame talent if he can remain durable and run with the same explosion for a while.
Notable stats:
Has only been in the league since 2008, but finished 11th, first and fifth in his three seasons. Rushed for 2,006 yards, totaled 503 receiving yards and scored 16 times in his No. 1 season in 2009.
14. Ricky Williams
Saints, Dolphins
No one has had a career quite like Ricky. Williams had his workhorse days under Dave Wannstedt and his surprising renaissance in Miami as a useful role player. He has outlasted everyone in the Miami organization three times over. What were the odds on that?
Notable stats:
Finished in the top 10 four times from 2001-2009, including a No. 2 overall season in 2002 with 1,853 yards and 16 touchdowns.
15. Ahman Green
Seahawks, Packers, Texans
It’s easy to forget what a strong peak that Green had. He was a quality RB1 for more than half a decade.
Notable stats:
Finished in the top 13 five seasons in a row from 2000-2004, including two No. 3 overall rankings.
16. Larry Johnson
Cfiefs, Bengals, Redskins
Sure, he only helped for two and a half seasons. But those two and a half seasons were sweet! He was possibly the greatest handcuff ever, carrying teams to titles in 2004 before dominating the following two seasons. He’s another running back Herm Edwards used up to benefit fantasy owners.
Notable stats:
Only finished inside the top 25 twice in eight seasons, but both were No. 2 overall seasons in 2005 and 2006, where he averaged 1,770 rushing yards, 377 receiving yards and 20 total touchdowns.
17. Emmitt Smith
Cowboys, Cardinals
Only the years we’re measuring keeps Smith this low. It says a lot that he earns a ranking this high even though most of his best years came before 1995.
Notable Stats:
Finished No. 1 at running back three times before 1995, and finished No. 1 overall in 1995 with 1,773 yards and 25 touchdowns, as well as 375 receiving yards. Finished in the top six three more times starting in 2006.
18. Maurice Jones-Drew
Jaguars
Only Fred Taylor has kept Mo-Jo from being a total fantasy star from day one and MJD managed t produce as a backup as well. He could be this generation’s Curtis Martin in terms of consistency.
Notable stats:
Jones-Drew finished no worse than 13th in his five seasons. His best season was a No. 3 finish in 2009 where he totaled 1,765 yards from scrimmage and 16 touchdowns.
19. Eddie George
Titans, Cowboys
The guy showed up. He averaged 341 carries in his first eight seasons, even if he was never the same after topping 400 in 2000.
Notable stats:
Was a top 20 fantasy running back every year from 1996-2002, including three top 10 finishes. Finished No. 3 at the position in 1999 and 2000.
20. Brian Westbrook
Eagles, 49ers
The peak was shorter than you remember. Westbrook was a PPR star before PPR was cool.
Notable stats:
Finished in the position's top 20 six years in a row from 2003-2008, including two top-six rankings in 2006-2007. Was the No. 2 back in 2007 with 1,333 rushing yards and 771 receiving yards.
21. Jamal Lewis
Ravens, Browns
Even at his best, his lack of receptions hurt. He didn’t even finish top three at the position during his 2,000-yard year. That yardage mark came with a price; Lewis was never quite the same after that season.
Notable stats:
Was a top 25 fantasy back every season from 2000-2008, including two top-10 finishes. Was the No. 4 overall player in 2003 when he rushed for 2,066 yards and 14 touchdowns.
22. Jerome Bettis
Rams, Steelers
The most Bettis line of all time came in the ’04 opener. Five carries, one yard, three touchdowns.
Notable stats:
The Bus finished in the top 20 six times in a nine year span from 1996-2004. He finished in the top 10 twice, No. 7 in 1996 and No. 4 in 1997.
23. Frank Gore
49ers
Durability has been a bit of a concern since his 2006 season with 2,180 total yards. Still, few have been more consistent scorers despite rough surroundings. In a better organization, things could have been better.
Notable stats:
Has been a top 20 back every season since 2006 and has finished in the top 10 three times. His best season was a No. 4 finish in 2006.
24. Corey Dillon
Bengals, Patriots
He got yards early with the Bengals, but not touchdowns. He got touchdowns late with the Patriots, but not always yards. He always ran angry.
Notable stats:
Finished at the position's top 20 seven times between 1997-2004, including three top 8 finishes. Never finished higher than No. 6 in his career.
25. Fred Taylor
Jaguars, Patriots
An underrated reality runner, but he was partly underrated because his fantasy numbers were lacking. You need guys that will score touchdowns and catch passes and Taylor didn’t do both consistently.
With that said, the guy was one of the fiercest runners of his era. Jim Brown often said he loved watching Taylor run and we can see why.
Notable stats:
Only finished in the top 10 three times, but all three came between 1998 and 2003. Finished No. 4 in 1998 with 1,644 total yards and 17 touchdowns.
Honorable Mention
Steven Jackson - Rams
It’s somewhat amazing and disappointing Jackson has finished in the top ten at running back only once in his career.
Notable stats:
Jackson has been very consistent since 2005, finishing somewhere between 11th and 14th five times in those six seasons. His only top-10 year was a No. 3 finish in 2006, where he rushed for 1,528 yards and had 806 receiving yards.
Others Receiving VotesCharlie Garner - Eagles, 49ers, Raiders, Bucs
Rudi Johnson - Bengals, Lions
Thomas Jones - Cardinals, Bucs, Bears, Jets, Chiefs
Warrick Dunn - Buccaneers, Falcons
Also check out:
The Top 25 Fantasy Quarterbacks of All Time