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Football

Big fan of Houston football? Then check out this list of Houston Texans running backs.&nbsp;It includes every starting running back from throughout <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-houston-texans-of-all-time/ranker-nfl?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Houston Texans history</a>, including current running backs and past ones.

Featuring&nbsp;some of the greatest NFL&nbsp;running backs&nbsp;of all time, the best Texans&nbsp;RBs include Arian Foster, Domanick Williams, Mark Ingram, Phillip Lindsay, David Johnson, Lamar Miller&nbsp;and Steve Slaton.&nbsp;

Who are the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-nfl-running-backs-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best running backs</a> in Houston Texans history? Vote below, and help decide who is the greatest Texans RB of all time!

The 25+ Best Houston Texans Running Backs, Ranked

The Best Houston Texans Running Backs of All Time

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FREEFORM

Arian Foster

Arian Isa Foster (born August 24, 1986) is a former American football running back. He played college football at the University of Tennessee, and was signed by the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted free agent in 2009. Foster was known for his signature Namaste bow, which he frequently performed after scoring touchdowns. Foster holds the Texans franchise records for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, and also played for the Miami Dolphins. Foster announced his retirement on October 24, 2016.

Ben Tate

Benjamin Franklin Tate (born August 21, 1988) is a former American football running back. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Auburn. Tate also played for the Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Lamar Miller

Lamar N. Miller (born April 25, 1991) is an American football running back for the Washington Football Team of the National Football League (NFL). Miller played college football at the University of Miami and was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Miller attended Miami Killian Senior High School in Miami, Florida. While there, he played high school football for the Cougars. As a senior, he was a Parade All-American after rushing for 1,749 yards on 217 carries with 22 touchdowns. Miller decided to play for University of Miami rather than University of Florida (near his mother's hometown) to stay close to home, and to follow the footsteps of other former Hurricanes running backs. After he was redshirted in 2009, Miller saw his first game action in 2010. Miller was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, 97th overall on April 28, 2012.

Rex Burkhead

Rex Burkhead (born July 2, 1990) is an American football running back for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Nebraska and was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Because of Burkhead’s versatile skill set that enables him to run the ball, catch passes, block in pass protection, and play special teams, New England Coach Bill Belichick has described him as a rare “four-down player."

Justin Forsett

Justin Forsett (born October 14, 1985) is a former American football running back. He played college football at California and was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Forsett also played for the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, and Denver Broncos. Forsett's best season came in 2014 as a member of the Ravens, when he was selected as a Pro Bowl alternate after finishing the season with career highs in carries (235), rushing yards (1,266) and touchdowns (8).

Duke Johnson

Randy "Duke" Johnson Jr. (born September 23, 1993) is an American football running back for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round (77th overall) of the 2015 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of Miami. Johnson attended Miami Norland Senior High School in Miami Gardens, Florida, where he played football and ran track. As a sophomore, Johnson ran for 1,540 yards and 25 touchdowns. In his junior year, he led Norland to a 13–2 record and state runner-up. After beating the Sammy Watkins-led South Fort Myers 44–28 in the semifinals, Norland lost 44–34 to the unbeaten Tampa Jefferson in the class 3A final. During his senior year, Johnson compiled 1,957 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns, 14 receptions for 232 receiving yards and three touchdowns, three kickoff returns and one punt return for scores, as he led Miami Norland to 15–0 finish and state Class 5A championship.

Carlos Hyde

Carlos Dawon Hyde (born September 20, 1990) is an American football running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He played college football at Ohio State University as a Buckeye and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Hyde grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. Hyde enrolled at Ohio State in January 2010. Hyde played primarily as a backup running back in his first two seasons before breaking out in his junior season with 970 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns in less than 10 games after missing two because of an ankle issue. He was named second-team All-Big Ten that year.

Steve Slaton

Steve Slaton (born January 4, 1986) is a former professional football running back.  He played college football for West Virginia University, and earned consensus All-American honors. He was chosen by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Slaton also played for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL) and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Domanick Williams

Domanick Williams (born October 1, 1980, as Domanick Davis) is a former American football running back. He played three years for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL), after playing four season of college football at Louisiana State University (LSU).

Alfred Blue

Alfred Calvin Blue III (born April 27, 1991) is an American football running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Blue is from Boutte, Louisiana and attended Hahnville High School. He played college football at LSU. Blue attended and played high school football at Hahnville High School. He rushed for 1,695 yards and 25 touchdowns along with 13 receptions for nearly 200 yards and three touchdowns in his senior season in 2009. Blue was a member of the SuperPrep Southwest Team and was named to the Baton Rouge Advocate Super Dozen. Blue earned the honors of the Class 5A all-state first-team in 2009 and was selected as the District 6-5A 2009 Offensive MVP.

Mark Ingram, Jr.

Marcus Valentino Ingram Jr. (born December 21, 1989) is an American football running back for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Alabama, won the Heisman Trophy, and was a member of a national championship team. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. During his sophomore college season in 2009, Ingram won the first Heisman Trophy ever awarded to an Alabama Crimson Tide player, set the Crimson Tide's single-season rushing record with 1,658 yards, was recognized as a unanimous All-American, and helped lead the Tide to an undefeated 14–0 season and the 2010 BCS National Championship. Since entering the NFL in 2011, Ingram has earned two Pro Bowl selections (2014 and 2017). In 2018, he received a four-game suspension after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs.

Jonathan Grimes

Jonathan Grimes is an American football running back.

D'Onta Foreman

D'Onta Foreman (born April 24, 1996) is an American football running back. He played college football at Texas.

Chris Polk

Chris Polk (born December 16, 1989) is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He played college football for the Washington Huskies. Despite being considered a top running back prospect for the 2012 NFL Draft, he went undrafted due to concerns over a potentially degenerative shoulder condition. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2012.

Phillip Lindsay

Phillip Lindsay (born July 24, 1994) is an American football running back for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). Lindsay was born in Denver, Colorado, grew up in Aurora, Colorado, and attended South High School in Denver where he became the school's all-time leading rusher with 4,587 yards. He played college football at the University of Colorado Boulder and set the school record in all-purpose yards (5,760) and yards from scrimmage (4,683). He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Denver Broncos in 2018. Lindsay became the first undrafted offensive rookie to ever make the Pro Bowl.

Chris Brown

Christopher Rejean Brown (born April 17, 1981) is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Colorado.

Ahman Green

Ahman Rashad Green (; born February 16, 1977) is a former American football running back who played 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He is the all-time leading rusher for the Green Bay Packers. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 3rd round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska.
Green also played for the Houston Texans, and was a four-time Pro Bowl selection with the Packers.
He is now a co-owner of the Green Bay Blizzard of the Indoor Football League.

David Johnson

David Jerome Johnson Sr. (born December 16, 1991) is an American football running back for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Cardinals in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He played college football at Northern Iowa. Johnson attended Clinton High School in Clinton, Iowa, where he was a three-sport star in football, track, and basketball. He played as a running back and defensive back for the River Kings high school football team. He set numerous school records including touchdowns in a season, career receptions, career receiving yards, career and single-season total offense and single game record for touchdowns. As a senior, Johnson led Clinton to an 11–1 record while accounting for a school-record 42 touchdowns. For his efforts, he was selected 2009 Outstanding Offensive Player for Clinton.

Derrick Ward

Derrick LaRon Ward (born August 30, 1980) is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the New York Jets in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft and played for the New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Houston Texans.  He played college football at Fresno State University and Ottawa University.
Ward earned a Super Bowl ring with the Giants in Super Bowl XLII, beating the New England Patriots. He is the cousin of former Patriots running back J.R. Redmond.

Jay Prosch

Jay Prosch is an American football fullback.

Ron Dayne

Ronald Dayne (born March 14, 1978) is a former professional American football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons.  Dayne played college football for the University of Wisconsin and won the 1999 Heisman Trophy.  He was a first round pick of the New York Giants in the 2000 NFL Draft, and also played professionally for the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans of the NFL.
Bowl statistics accounted for, Dayne is the all-time leader in rushing yards in NCAA Division I FBS history, with 7,125 yards (Official stats exclude Bowl Games played before 2002, without Bowl game stats, Dayne is second all-time behind Donnel Pumphrey).

Jonathan Wells

Jonathan Wells (born July 21, 1979) is a former American football running back.  He played college football at Ohio State University and professionally in the National Football League (NFL) with the Houston Texans.

Samkon Gado

Samkon Kaltho Gado (born November 13, 1982) is a Nigerian-American otolaryngologist (ENT physician) and former American football running back. He played college football at Liberty. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2005.
Gado also played for the Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins and St. Louis Rams.

Stacey Mack

Stacey Lamar Mack (born June 26, 1975 in Orlando, Florida) is a former American football running back who played 5 seasons in the NFL for the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans. He had attended Southwest Community College in Summit, MS from 1995 - 1997 before transferring to Temple University. Stacey was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1999.

Ryan Moats

Ryan Moats (born December 17, 1982) is a former American football running back. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft.  He played college football at Louisiana Tech.
Moats has also been a member of the Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings. Since the completion of his NFL career, Moats has transferred his skills to rugby union and plays for Griffins Rugby of Allen, Texas.

Big fan of Houston football? Then check out this list of Houston Texans running backs.&nbsp;It includes every starting running back from throughout Houston ...