PonyExpress

Most Dominant All-Around Running Backs in NFL History
The Pats’ drafting Maroney has definitely got me interested in the history of the RB position, and prompted me to wonder about some of the greatest at the position. Last time I posted a thread about “most dominant pure runners” I received a lot of criticism and much of it was justified. When you start ranking greatest RBs in NFL history you enter sacred territory to football fans and have to approach it with due respect, which I didn’t. So I went over the top, and decided to look more carefully at the issue. First I decided to look at the most dominant “all-around” Rbs in NFL history, in terms of yards from scrimmage. My method was as follows: I narrowed the pool of players to be considered down to players who appeared on the top-50 rushing list all-time, players in the HOF at the HB/FB position, plus a few Wild Cards (William Andrews, Chick Foreman, Billy Sims, Wendell Tyler, and Chuck Muncie) who had excellent primes. Then I cherry-picked the 5 best years of each player, which I called “prime years” (creative, huh). Then I ranked all the players against each other in 3 categories: (1) Yards from scrimmage per game played by each player’s team during his 5 prime years (per team game instead of per player’s appearance, thereby valuing durability as a factor in dominance); (2) average yards per touch, rushing and receiving combined; and (3) TDs per game played by team during player’s 5 prime seasons (once again factoring in durability). I valued these three categories equally, a subjective but not irrational valuation. After ranking the players against each other in these three categories, I added up the results and listed the candidates in order. Here are the results. Key:
Player Name (Prime Years), Yards per Game (Rank)/Yards per Touch (Rank)/TDs per Game (Rank)/ Final Score.
Tiebreaker: Average YPG.

1.J.Brown (1958,61,63-5)137.1 (1) /5.91 (5) /1.07 (3)/ 9
2.M.Faulk (1994, 98-01) 135.0 (2) /6.02 (4) /1.01 (5)/ 11
3.L.Moore (1957-61)107.5 (19) /9.73 (1) /.97 (7) / 27
4.Simpson (1972-76)126.3 (5) /5.49 (9) /.77 (17)/ 31
5.Sanders (1991, 94-97) 124.7 (6) /5.48 (10) /.78 (16)/ 32
6.Holmes (1998,01-04) 111.4 (15) /5.38 (15) /1.04 (4)/ 34
7.Payton (1977,79,83-85)130.2 (4) /5.26 (19) /.79 (15)/ 38
8.Barber (2000, 02-05)123.4 (7) /5.52 (8) /.61 (26)/ 41
9.Dickerson (1983-4, 86-88)131.3 (3) /5.00 (29) /.87 (10)/ 42
10.E.Smith (1991-95) 121.8 (10) /4.77 (35) /1.11 (2)/ 47
11.Thomas (1989-93) 119.9 (11) /5.33 (17) /.69 (21) 49
12.Tomlinson (2001-05) 121.9 (9) /4.77 (35) /1.00 (6) 50
13.S.Alexander (2001-05) 110.6 (16) /4.82 (34) /1.23 (1) 51
14.M.Allen (1982-85,95) 110.0 (17) /5.18 (22) /.85 (12) 51
15.L.Kelly (1966-69,71) 96.2 (33) /5.42 (13) /1.01 (5) 51
16.E. James (1999-00,03-05)123.3 (8) /4.86 (33) /.86 (11) 52
17.W.Andrews (1979-83)114.8 (12) /5.46 (11) /.55 (29) 52
18.A.Green (2000-04)113.0 (13) /5.17 (23) /.76 (18) 54
19.J. Taylor (1960-64)101.4 (28) /5.14 (25) /1.04 (4) 57
20.C.Foreman (1973-77)106.1 (22) /5.07 (28) /.94 (8) 58
21.B.Sims (1980-84) 98.3 (30) /5.45 (12) /.64 (24) 66
22.J.Brooks (1985-6,88-90) 91.4 (40)/6.12 (3) /.66 (23) 66
23.H.Walker (1986-88,92-3)104.0 (25) /5.40 (14) /.54 (30) 69
24.Sayers (1965-9) 88.3 (42) /5.80 (6) /.69 (21) 69
25.F. Taylor (1998,00,02-04)106.5 (21) /5.16(24) /.61 (26) 71
26.R.Craig (1985-9) 104.9 (23) /5.32 (18) /.54 (30) 71
27.T. Davis (1995-8,01)104.6 (24) /5.00 (29) /.76 (18) 71
28.Dorsett (1977-8,81,83,85)106.6 (20) /5.14 (25) /.60 (27) 72
29.C.Garner (1999-03) 97.7 (31) /5.80 (6) /.41 (36) 73
30.McElhenny (1952-3,56-8)81.5 (51) /6.52 (2) /.72 (20) 73
31.J.Perry (1950,52-4,58) 82.7 (49) /5.71 (7) /.67 (22) 78
32.O.Anderson (1979-81, 83-4) 110.6 (16) /4.92 (32) /.53 (31) 79
33.C.Martin 1995,99-01,04) 112.0 (14) /4.49 (45) /.69 (21) 80
34.Campbell (1978-81,83)103.4 (26) /4.55 (42) /.84 (13) 81
35.Watters (1995-6,98-00) 107.8 (18) /4.59 (40) /.63 (25) 83
36.G.Riggs (1984-7,89) 94.6 (34) /4.42 (47) /.50 (32) 83
37.F.Harris (1972,74-6,79) 92.5 (37) /4.95 (31) /.75 (19) 87
38.Muncie (1977,79,81-3) 86.3 (45) /4.97 (30) /.83 (14) 89
39.W.Tyler (1979,81,83-5)82.3 (50) /5.35 (16) /.63 (25) 91
40.Dillon (1997,00-02,04) 98.4 (29) /4.67 (38) /.63 (25) 92
41.C. Warner 96.4 (1983,85-88) (32) /4.54 (43) /.76 (18) 93
42.McNeil 90.3 (1982,84-86,88)(41) /5.20 (21) /.47 (35) 97
43.E.George (1996-00) 104.0 (25) /4.32 (49) /.63 (25) 99
44.R.Williams (1999-03)102.0 (27) /4.49 (45) /.56 (28) 100
45.Dunn (1997-8,00,04-05) 92.5 (37) /5.11 (26) /.39 (38) 101
46.Hearst (1995,97-8,01-02) 93.4 (36) /5.07 (28) /.39 (38) 102
47.M.Pruitt (1979-83) 92.0 (38) /4.74 (36) /.55 (29) 103
48.Riggins (1972,75,79,83-4) 85.7 (46) /4.35 (48) /.88 (9) 103
49.R. Smith (1995,97-00)83.2 (48) /5.25 (20) /.40 (37) 105
50.T. Allen (1992,94-6,99) 87.1(43) /4.35 (48) /.79 (15) 106
51.Bettis (1993,96-7,00-01) 94.5 (35) /4.57 (41) /.50 (32) 108
52.S. Davis (1999-03) 91.9 (39) /4.53 (44) /.61 (26) 109
53.JHJ (1954,57,60,62,64) 75.7 (53) /5.09 (27) /.53 (31) 111
54.C.Warren (1992-6) 86.4 (44) /4.64 (39) /.53 (31) 114
55.E.Byner (1985,88,90-92) 85.1 (47) /4.72 (37) /.48 (34) 118
56.Csonka (1970-74) 71.5 (54) /4.82 (34) /.49 (33) 121
57.G.Rogers (1981-3,85-6) 81.1 (52) /4.45 (46) /.63 (25) 123
58.R.Hampton (1991-5) 81.1 (52) /4.15 (50) /.56 (28) 130

Observations:
1.Herschel Walker seems to be ranked much higher than I expected. But there was a reason Minnesota traded so many draft picks to Dallas to acquire him. He was a monster early in his NFL career both rushing and receiving, and one of the great pass catching RBs in NFL history.

2. During SB 39 there was a reason BB scoffed at the idea that Westbrook was comparable to Marshall Faulk. BB compared Westbrook more to Kevin Faulk, which I take as a major attempt at humor for BB. Marshall Faulk is second, and a close second, to Jim Brown for dominance during his prime, which is amazing.

3. Lenny Moore of the Colts lined up as a flanker much of the time during his prime, but so did M. Faulk. He is in the HOF as a HB, led the league in rushing during his career, and held the consecutive games with a TD record until Tomlinson broke it last year.

4. Priest Holmes’ career seems to have ended with a whimper, but it is easy to remember how productive he was with 3 straight 2,000 yard seasons and breaking the TD record.

5. Chuck Foreman may be one of the most underrated players in NFL history.

6. William Andrews and Billy Sims are forgotten but were among a handful of the most dominant players in the NFL history during their primes.

7. James Brooks was the offensive engine behind Cinci’s SB offense during Esiason’s prime. He averaged an amazing 6.12 yards per touch, more than any post 1960-HB.

Lloyd_Christmas

This is one of those posts that I found so informative and detailed that I can't think of anything to add.

Just wanted to say thanks for doing the research and compiling the list.

I wouldn't interpret low reply numbers to lack of interest... others may be like me ... nothing to argue about or add, but interesting to read.

Keegs

thanks for posting that. My response serves no purpose but to bump this up.

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Flying Fungi

a little shocking to see one of my favorites of all time down at 34, but I cannot argue with the criteria and analysis

nice work--thanks!

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shakadave

Pony, as one of the (lazy) givers of constructive criticism on your other thread, I would like to officially say Wow, this is worthy of publication! I really think looking at five prime years is the way to go. You rate the player at his best, controlling against one-hit (or three-hit) wonders. You made a decision to rate the RBs' all-round performance, rushing+receiving. There are other ways to do it too, but none any more valid than this IMO. It is what it is, and it is excellent data.

Let us all return to this thread from time to time like pilgrims, bumping and re-bumping it at least until January.

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Please, God, don't let us ever suck as bad as the 2011 Cowboys did in the Jets opener.
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"I got a little shine on and showed you guys a little taste of my speed."

----Vince Wilfork, Jan. 7, 2007

PonyExpress

Don't worry, Earl Campbell finishes #9 among "Most dominant pure runners" a list I may post later (depending on how this one is received).

shakadave

I thought Campbell would be one to benefit from throwing out all that receiving nonsense!

I hoped you had that list too. Please wait at least several days for us to savor this list for awhile!

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Please, God, don't let us ever suck as bad as the 2011 Cowboys did in the Jets opener.
* * * * *
"I got a little shine on and showed you guys a little taste of my speed."

----Vince Wilfork, Jan. 7, 2007

gomezcat

Excellent job. The last stat about James Brooks particularly caught my eye. I remember him being a good back behind a very good O line (Munoz and Montoya come to mind without cheating), but not to that extent. A quick search showed that he averaged over 1,000 yards per season from 88-91 at over 5 ypc. One suspects that if Lewis Billups had made THAT pick, then Brooks might have been better remembered.

I've only seen footage of Jim Brown but he was a monster by all accounts. I wonder if our more "mature" posters remember him?

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T-ShirtDynasty

Excellent work. Gotta bookmark this one for later use of those stats. How much time did you put into this?

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