The Best NFL Running Backs of All Time

original ranker Jason3 82,814 views 74 items 99 followers

This list of top NFL running backs of all time is ranked by football fans worldwide, for an expert opinion click here. Who are the best running backs of all time? The goal is to determine the greatest running backs to ever play the game.The list establishes individual rankings of specific running backs and helps answer the question, "Who is the best NFL running back in the world?" This list includes some legendary football players with a lot of rushing yards under their belt. Anyone can vote on the top running backs in history, which means these players are truly fan favorites.

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Rank Name

1

Up 2092

Down 471

Barry Sanders

1968
2

Up 1616

Down 411

Jim Brown

1936
3

Up 1526

Down 754

Walter Payton

1954
4

Up 1167

Down 378

Earl Campbell

1955
5

Up 1205

Down 375

Adrian Peterson

1985
6

Up 856

Down 541

O. J. Simpson

1947
7

Up 738

Down 370

Marcus Allen

1960
8

Up 638

Down 481

Eric Dickerson

1960
9

Up 915

Down 368

Bo Jackson

1962
10

Up 689

Down 626

Gale Sayers

1943
11

Up 542

Down 535

Marshall Faulk

1973
12

Up 804

Down 956

Emmitt Smith

1969
13

Up 563

Down 553

LaDainian Tomlinson

1979
14

Up 485

Down 285

Curtis Martin

1973
15

Up 503

Down 291

Larry Csonka

1946
16

Up 669

Down 192

Chuck Foreman

1950
17

Up 479

Down 250

Jim Thorpe

1888
18

Up 455

Down 306

John Riggins

1949
19

Up 397

Down 263

Bronko Nagurski

1908
20

Up 381

Down 245

Red Grange

1903
21

Up 460

Down 726

Tony Dorsett

1954
22

Up 306

Down 168

Jim Taylor

1935
23

Up 354

Down 204

Roger Craig

1960
24

Up 265

Down 181

Marion Motley

1920
25

Up 272

Down 119

Paul Hornung

1935
26

Up 213

Down 173

Steve Van Buren

1920
27

Up 349

Down 375

Herschel Walker

1962
28

Up 272

Down 481

Franco Harris

1950
29

Up 7

Down 7

C.J. Spiller

1987
30

Up 286

Down 518

Jerome Bettis

1972
31

Up 161

Down 132

Gayle Sayers
32

Up 265

Down 433

Thurman Lee Thomas

1966
33

Up 264

Down 470

Terrell Davis

1972
34

Up 146

Down 124

Ray Rice

1987
35

Up 53

Down 48

Eddie George

1973
36

Up 121

Down 106

Ricky Williams

1977
37

Up 129

Down 197

Edgerrin James

1978
38

Up 140

Down 154

Priest Holmes

1973
39

Up 138

Down 135

Arian Foster

1986
40

Up 126

Down 118

Frank Gore

1983
41

Up 2

Down 2

Trent Richardson

1991

added by: Brian2
42

Up 93

Down 94

Marshawn Lynch

1986
43

Up 64

Down 60

Billy Sims

1955
44

Up 3

Down 5

Clinton Portis

1981

added by: Jhair84
45

Up 3

Down 5

Gerald Riggs

1960

added by: Jhair84
46

Up 120

Down 193

Shaun Alexander

1977
47

Up 120

Down 134

Steven Jackson

1983
48

Up 108

Down 135

Maurice Jones-Drew

1985
49

Up 93

Down 105

Jim Brown
50

Up 72

Down 108

Ricky Watters

1969
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Darius Bemrose
The Best NFL Running Backs of All Time at 12/21/2012 6:30 PM

Sweet best running backs of all time, dude.
Beaulah Lukin
The Best NFL Running Backs of All Time at 11/06/2012 3:30 PM

Sweet Best NFL Running Backs, huh?
Brain Henningson
The Best NFL Running Backs of All Time at 8/16/2012 11:30 PM

Sweet best running back of all time, eh?
tool100
The Best NFL Running Backs of All Time at 3/04/2012 6:08 PM

Reggie bush does not belong
madeyefergy
Larry Csonka at 10/25/2011 9:06 AM

One of the best Fullbacks, yes; Running Backs, no.
madeyefergy
Earl Campbell at 10/25/2011 9:03 AM

He did what he did on a piece of trash team that had no offensive line. He touched the ball almost 40 times a game between running and passing. How long do you think your body would last under that beating? If he would have been on a team that supported him, like the other runners on this list, his stats would be greater than any here.