RB TIME

by Wmillion on Jun 29, 2008 8:50 PM CDT

Now it is time for the Running Backs. They are a little tougher with teams moving towards two back sets.

Tier 1

Adrian Peterson

Brian Westbrook

Tier 2

Larry Johnson

Stephen Jackson

Marion Barber

F. Gore

C. Portis

Tier 3

MJD

Fred Taylor

Willie Parker

J. Addai

Tier 4

Jamal Lewis

W. McGahee

M. Lynch

J. Fargas

B. Jacobs

L. White

R. Brown

E. James

L. Maroney

Tier 5

Thomas Jones

Ryan Grant

Deangelo Williams

R. Bush

C. Taylor

M. Turner

Bottom Tier

R. Johnson

S.Young

W. Dunn

J. Jones

T. Bell

C.Williams

E. Graham

Houston RB

Poll

Who is the best Rb in the NFL?

Another user-created commentary provided by a BTB reader.

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Comments

Where is

Deuce McAllister? I’d argue he is easily a tier 3 RB when healthy. Way better than R. Bush.

Romo for the WIN

by bigdogarita on Jun 29, 2008 10:45 PM CDT 0 recs

I like Deuce

That guy can’t stay healthy, I would give him tier 4 personally.

"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"

by Wmillion on Jun 29, 2008 11:17 PM CDT up 0 recs

I think Brown (and maybe Jacobs) could get better if they could stay healthy, but it’s hard to argue with this list. I’m not nearly that impressed with LenDale White, though. Grant could rise on this list, but it will depend on how good Rodgers is. Teams might stack the box against GB until they prove they can still throw.

by grapejoos on Jun 29, 2008 10:57 PM CDT 0 recs

true

Brown was starting show some real promise until he got hurt and it was a major injury, not sure how he will return.
Grant is money, but hisbody of work is really small, and they really like his backup Jackson.
I agree about Lendale, but he gets it done, and he played through through injury that slowed him down.
Lynch and McGahee could have huge seasons.

"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"

by Wmillion on Jun 29, 2008 11:20 PM CDT up 0 recs

Addai belongs in Tier 2

He’s every bit as good as the backs in that tier.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jun 30, 2008 9:05 AM CDT 0 recs

+1

Definitely a top 5 back.

by Mandmeisterx on Jun 30, 2008 2:45 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'll never understand...

...how Parker is continually underrated. How many guys have three straight 1200 yard seasons? Two?

I guess it was the beatings made me wise. But I'm not about to give thanks, or apologize.

by TheJeezus on Jun 30, 2008 9:28 AM CDT 0 recs

Because he's got speed and nothing else.

How many times do you see him bull some one over or bounce off a tackle. It doesn’t happen. He’s almost always down on first contact.

by Mandmeisterx on Jun 30, 2008 2:46 PM CDT up 0 recs

Averaged 4.0 a carry

He’s got a lot of yards but he’s not all that effective.

Hard Drive Manufacturer Hires Barkley

by BudLight on Jun 30, 2008 4:51 PM CDT up 0 recs

Comments & Opinions on RB's

My opinions:

• Westbrook is tier 2

• Steven Jackson is tier 1

• All the guys in tiers 2 and 3 can be lumped together into a large second tier. You can add M. Lynch, R. Brown and R. Bush to that list, along with a few others.

•After AP, LT and SJ, there isn’t really much difference between the next twenty or so guys in terms of how much impact they have on their respective teams. The NFL is a passing league, so teams that focus their offense, draft picks and salary cap dollars on running backs usually wind up regretting it.

by Cowboy Louie on Jun 30, 2008 10:55 AM CDT 0 recs

yawn

who cares what ‘tiers’ running backs are? the success of a running back all depends on what system they are in and what kind of o-lines they have to block for them.

I guarantee you that LT would not be as great if he were in atlanta

by Zak on Jun 30, 2008 11:24 AM CDT 0 recs

LT

San Diego was Atlanta before he got there. San Diego had the #1 pick in the draft when they selected LT.

"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"

by Wmillion on Jun 30, 2008 12:17 PM CDT up 0 recs

Fred Taylor belongs in tier two

Barber is not a second tier back, bottom of the third tier at best, he has one game starting in this league. I’d put Lewis and maghee in the third tier

by Deke on Jun 30, 2008 12:05 PM CDT 0 recs

Stephen Jackson and Larry Johnson not in Tier 1?

LOL

And Fred Taylor is a better running back than Marion Barber…

Barber is Tier 3 until he proves he can handle a heavier workload…

by N41D on Jun 30, 2008 12:09 PM CDT 0 recs

Larry and Stephen

I think they are really good backs, I just think the other 2 are head and shoulders beter.

I can see the switch of Marion and Fred or Just lumping tier 2 and tier 3 together.

"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"

by Wmillion on Jun 30, 2008 12:18 PM CDT up 0 recs

I might move

Westbrook Down one, but he is just so good out of the backfield.

"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"

by Wmillion on Jun 30, 2008 12:20 PM CDT up 0 recs

cool list

we all know that to be successful RB you have to have at least a descent OL.(unless its Payton or Sanders) there all good backs each with something different in skills. kinda hard 2 call anyone the best. i remember Cowboys shut down LT,LJ,oops we shut down most backs on list. its a good list anywayz

by bleedn blu on Jun 30, 2008 4:33 PM CDT 0 recs

addai is tier 1 or 2 at worst

"I thought boy's too men was a delivery service". Michael Jackson....

by hashishkabob on Jul 2, 2008 11:09 PM CDT 0 recs

I beg to differ

I really think he is a system back. I don’t think he is special. I think McGahee, R. Brown, and Lynch are more phsycially gifted.

"You can't win until you're not afraid to lose"

by Wmillion on Jul 2, 2008 11:38 PM CDT 0 recs

I'll beg to differ with you...

Addai is the complete package… blocks, catches well out of the backfield and is a gifted runner with good vision and the ability to make people miss in space. I’d take Addai before I’d take Portis or Gore because he’s a much more versatile back. Just my personal opinion…

The Red Ball Express will be rolling this year!

by BulletBob on Jul 3, 2008 9:52 AM CDT up 0 recs

Agreed, Tier 2

Frankly, I’m not sure Portis belongs in tier 2. I respect the guy, but he doesn’t make a ton of big plays.

by grapejoos on Jul 3, 2008 10:20 AM CDT up 0 recs

No way

Gore and Portis are better backs in my opionon.

Both GORE and Portis have proved that can have huge seasons. Addai barely topped a 1000 yds last year. Gore had more rushing yards in his down season last year. Talk about well rounded Gore caught more balls then Addai last season. You put Gore on Indy and he goes for over 2500 total yards. He is killing on a terrible team.

Porits has topped 1200 yds 5 out of his 6 seasons in the league, he has topped 1500 yds 3 times you don’t do that by acccident. Portis is like Gore you put him on Indy and you would think he was LT.

Portis and Gore are studs, don’t get me wrong Addai is good, but not as good as those guys.

Addai’s best year was good, but it looked better because of the number of TD’s. Addai gets a lot of his TD’s from punch-ins because Peyton drove them the length of the field.

"You can't win until you're not afraid to lose"

by Wmillion on Jul 3, 2008 12:00 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'm with bulletbob

I’d take Addai over Portis or Gore in a heartbeat, its not even close. Those 2 former Hurricanes are way overrated IMO.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jul 3, 2008 12:46 PM CDT up 0 recs

Why

I see if you are talking fantasy football, but the stats are not there to back up your opionon..

Dominic Rhodes rushed for 1100 yds when he was the starter. It is the system that makes Addai look special, and his season wasn’t special.

Or is your argument I just think he is better??

"You can't win until you're not afraid to lose"

by Wmillion on Jul 3, 2008 1:22 PM CDT up 0 recs

Heartbeat

That is crazy you would take him in heartbeat.. Guys with proven stats are over-rated now? Man, I just don’t see where you guys are coming from.

"You can't win until you're not afraid to lose"

by Wmillion on Jul 3, 2008 1:26 PM CDT up 0 recs

you're right, I just think he's better

and I’m judging and evaluating him by watching them play, not solely by numbers. This is football, not baseball.

I just think Addia is the total package and that Gore and Portis have some deficiencies in their games after studying them on film.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jul 3, 2008 1:54 PM CDT up 0 recs

FILM

What deficiencies do you see in guys who can rush for 1500 yds in a season and catch 40+ balls in a season?

I don’t buy it.

"You can't win until you're not afraid to lose"

by Wmillion on Jul 3, 2008 4:49 PM CDT up 0 recs

addai!

you are saying addai is a system back well he got stats like that on a PASSING team!. Both portis and gore have been on running teams thats all they do because neither team has had a qb or passing game to do anything. That is why their numbers are higher they get more carries.

What the French?! Toast!

by thebigham on Jul 4, 2008 10:07 AM CDT up 0 recs

hmmm

I think Edge got it done on that same passing team. 4 1500 yd rushing seasons, and one those he went for over 1700 yds..

"You can't win until you're not afraid to lose"

by Wmillion on Jul 4, 2008 3:46 PM CDT up 0 recs

ok.....

What the French?! Toast!

by thebigham on Jul 4, 2008 4:32 PM CDT up 0 recs

Addai was hurt for half of the season last year

He played hurt, but look at the carries. Both years Addai has had 261 and 226 carries. Gore and Portis have had more than that in every healthy year they’ve had. I think health is a legitimate knock on Addai, but I think you have to look at his stats considering that he was in a platoon (as a rookie) in the first year with Rhodes, and then was hurt most of his second year. He also played a big part in the Colts winning a Super Bowl as a rookie.

That said, I think Portis and Gore are both great backs, but they’re horribly utilized by their current teams. The wear and tear is starting to show on Portis. I hope Gore gets some help in SF so he doesn’t get ruined like Larry Johnson.

by grapejoos on Jul 5, 2008 1:54 PM CDT up 0 recs

i hear ya

Imagine Gore on the Saints, man that guy would be a top 3 fantasy back..

"You can't win until you're not afraid to lose"

by Wmillion on Jul 5, 2008 2:39 PM CDT up 0 recs

Agreed, he is a horse

And getting him in the 12th round 2 years ago won me a fantasy championship :)

by grapejoos on Jul 5, 2008 4:13 PM CDT up 0 recs

those sleepers

I got AP last year in 2 leagues in the 6th round..

"You can't win until you're not afraid to lose"

by Wmillion on Jul 5, 2008 5:52 PM CDT up 0 recs

12th round in my league

Back-to-back 12th round wonders lead to back-to-back titles (btw, there are 8 teams and 2 starting QBs, so the other GMs aren’t THAT stupid letting them slip that far…Randy Moss in the 8th round also worked out nicely).

by grapejoos on Jul 5, 2008 5:59 PM CDT up 0 recs