The *Official* Best Running Back in the NFL Today Thread (1 Viewer)

[MaddHatter]

Many consider Vikings RB Adrian Peterson to be the best running back in football. Hard to disagree, right? Well, Titans RB Chris Johnson has emerged as well.

Which one of the two is the better running back in the NFL? If not Peterson or Johnson, who else then? I don't think it is close after Peterson and Johnson but guys like Steven Jackson, DeAngelo Williams, and Maurice Jones-Drew could make a case.

But, let's get back to the top two, not just for fantasy purposes either, running backs in the NFL.

Through ten games in 2009...

Chris Johnson, Tennessee

199 carries, 1242 rushing yards, 6.2 ypc avg, 8 rushing TDs, 30 rec., 262 receiving yards, 1 TD, 1 fumble lost

Adrian Peterson, Minnesota

205 carries, 999 rushing yards, 4.9 ypc avg, 11 rushing TDs, 25 rec., 215 receiving yards, 0 TD, 4 fumbles lost

I will update these stats throughout the season as long as this thread continues to create a great debate, which I think it will. A lot of arguments can be had for both sides, plus some will argue that it is not Johnson or Peterson who is the best RB in the NFL today, but Jackson, Williams, or Jones-Drew.

So, my basic question to you is... who is the best OVERALL running back in the NFL today?

 

[Moniker]

Steven Jackson and it isn't even close. He can do everything.

Now... if you were talking about the best runner, that's a different story.

 

[Chase Stuart]

Johnson's in the midst of one of the greatest seasons by any RB in the history of the NFL. Peterson's having a great season.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/play-index/tiny/xSrkf

Game  Game	Rush	Rush	Rush	Rush	RushRk				Player Year Age  Tm  Lg	 G	GS	 Att	 Yds	 Y/A	  TD	 Y/G1			 Jim Brown* 1963  27 CLE NFL	14	14	 291	1863	6.40	  12   133.12		  Chris Johnson 2009  24 TEN NFL	10		   199	1242	6.24	   8   124.23		 Barry Sanders* 1997  29 DET NFL	16	16	 335	2053	6.13	  11   128.34		  O.J. Simpson* 1973  26 BUF NFL	14	 0	 332	2003	6.03	  12   143.15			 Jim Brown* 1958  22 CLE NFL	12	12	 257	1527	5.94	  17   127.36			 Jim Brown* 1960  24 CLE NFL	12	12	 215	1257	5.85	   9   104.87		 Barry Sanders* 1994  26 DET NFL	16	16	 331	1883	5.69	   7   117.78		Eric Dickerson* 1984  24 RAM NFL	16	16	 379	2105	5.55	  14   131.69		  O.J. Simpson* 1975  28 BUF NFL	14	 0	 329	1817	5.52	  16   129.810		Clinton Portis 2003  22 DEN NFL	13	13	 290	1591	5.49	  14   122.411		Walter Payton* 1977  23 CHI NFL	14	14	 339	1852	5.46	  14   132.312			Frank Gore 2006  23 SFO NFL	16	16	 312	1695	5.43	   8   105.913		   Jim Taylor* 1962  27 GNB NFL	14	 0	 272	1474	5.42	  19   105.314		Otis Armstrong 1974  24 DEN NFL	14	14	 263	1407	5.35	   9   100.515			Jim Brown* 1965  29 CLE NFL	14	14	 289	1544	5.34	  17   110.316		   Jamal Lewis 2003  24 BAL NFL	16	16	 387	2066	5.34	  14   129.117		   Ahman Green 2003  26 GNB NFL	16	16	 355	1883	5.30	  15   117.718   LaDainian Tomlinson 2003  24 SDG NFL	16	16	 313	1645	5.26	  13   102.819		  Emmitt Smith 1993  24 DAL NFL	14	13	 283	1486	5.25	   9   106.120   LaDainian Tomlinson 2006  27 SDG NFL	16	16	 348	1815	5.22	  28   113.4										  Games Games Rushing Rushing Rushing Rushing RushingRk				Player Year Age  Tm  Lg	 G	GS	 Att	 Yds	 Y/A	  TD	 Y/G21		   Tiki Barber 2005  30 NYG NFL	16	16	 357	1860	5.21	   9   116.322		 Larry Johnson 2005  26 KAN NFL	16	 9	 336	1750	5.21	  20   109.423		Earl Campbell* 1980  25 HOU NFL	15	15	 373	1934	5.18	  13   128.924		 O.J. Simpson* 1976  29 BUF NFL	14	 7	 290	1503	5.18	   8   107.425			Jim Brown* 1964  28 CLE NFL	14	14	 280	1446	5.16	   7   103.326		 Priest Holmes 2002  29 KAN NFL	14	14	 313	1615	5.16	  21   115.427		 Terrell Davis 1998  26 DEN NFL	16	16	 392	2008	5.12	  21   125.528	   Shaun Alexander 2005  28 SEA NFL	16	16	 370	1880	5.08	  27   117.529		   Tiki Barber 2006  31 NYG NFL	16	16	 327	1662	5.08	   5   103.930	   Adrian Peterson 2009  24 MIN NFL	10		   205	 999	4.87	  11	99.931		Ottis Anderson 1979  22 STL NFL	16	16	 331	1605	4.85	   8   100.332	   Adrian Peterson 2008  23 MIN NFL	16	15	 363	1760	4.85	  10   110.033			Billy Sims 1981  26 DET NFL	14	14	 296	1437	4.85	  13   102.634		 Stephen Davis 1999  25 WAS NFL	14	14	 290	1405	4.84	  17   100.435		Ricky Williams 2002  25 MIA NFL	16	16	 383	1853	4.84	  16   115.836		 Tony Dorsett* 1981  27 DAL NFL	16	16	 342	1646	4.81	   4   102.937	   Shaun Alexander 2004  27 SEA NFL	16	16	 353	1696	4.80	  16   106.038		Steven Jackson 2009  26 STL NFL	10		   215	1031	4.80	   3   103.139		   Fred Taylor 2000  24 JAX NFL	13	13	 292	1399	4.79	  12   107.640		 Terrell Davis 1997  25 DEN NFL	15	15	 369	1750	4.74	  15   116.7

Better remainder of career? I'd have to take Peterson just because he's got the longer track record. But right now, Johnson's the best RB in the league IMO.

 

[Holy Schneikes]

Think you could make the case for any of the guys you mention. If Williams had a little more opportunity his numbers would be right up there with both of those guys (actually they are right up there with ADP right now). He's around 5.5 YPC for the last two years. That's sick (and about the same as Johnson despite all of Johnson's mega-runs).

That said, the way Johnson is going right now, it's very hard to argue against him. He has a dimension no one else has.

 

[Lehigh98]

Bad Pole, if you were going to mention other guys then why not include them in the voting?