Who is the Best Running Back in the NFL?

The NFL is full of talented running backs, but who is the best of the best? We take a look at the top contenders and make our case for who we think is the best running back in the NFL.

Introduction

In the National Football League (NFL), a running back is an offensive position, whose primary job is to receive handoffs and carry the ball on running plays. Running backs are also often used as receivers on passing plays. A player who excels at carrying the ball and gaining yardage is called a “workhorse back”. A “scat back” or “speed back” is a running back that excels at catching passes or runnin

Today, there are many types of running backs that teams utilize in order to gain an advantage on offense. However, some fans and analysts argue that the wrong type of player is being used more often than not. They believe that teams should rely on so-called “workhorse backs” to carry the load on offense instead of smaller, faster “scat backs”.

The Case for Adrian Peterson

Adrian Peterson is one of the best running backs in the NFL. He is a powerful runner with a unique combination of size, speed, and strength. He is also a very good receiver out of the backfield. In addition, Adrian Peterson is a great blocker and is very good at picking up blitzes.

His Numbers

In 2012, Adrian Peterson had one of the greatest seasons for a running back in NFL history. He rushed for 2,097 yards, just nine yards shy of the all-time record, and he did it coming off of a torn ACL that he suffered late in the 2011 season. That’s an incredible feat, made even more impressive by the fact that it was his first season back from injury.

In addition to his rushing total, Peterson also had 21 touchdowns and averaged 6.0 yards per carry. He was named the NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year, and he helped lead the Minnesota Vikings to a playoff berth.

There’s no doubt that Adrian Peterson is an incredible talent, but there are other great running backs in the NFL. So, what makes him the best?

For one thing, Peterson is incredibly durable. In his eight NFL seasons, he’s missed just three games due to injury. And as we mentioned before, he came back from a serious knee injury to have one of the best seasons ever by a running back.

In addition to his durability, Peterson is also a workhorse. He’s averaged over 300 carries per season during his career, and he had 327 carries in 2012 despite missing two games. He’s shown time and again that he can handle a heavy workload without slowing down or getting injured.

Finally, Adrian Peterson is simply one of the most explosive players in the NFL. He has breakaway speed and can make big plays happen anytime he touches the ball. In 2012 alone, he had 11 runs of 40+ yards and seven runs of 50+ yards. That kind of big-play ability is rare in any player, let alone a running back.

So while there are other great running backs in the NFL, Adrian Peterson stands out as the best due to his combination of durability, work ethic, and explosive playmaking ability.

His Impact

Adrian Peterson changed the game of football. In an era where the running back position was being devalued, Adrian Peterson came in and completely transformed the way teams viewed the position. Not only did he show that a running back could be a valuable asset to a team, but he proved that a running back could be the most important player on a team. When Adrian Peterson is on the field, he is the best player on the field. There is no other player in the NFL who can impact the game the way he does.

The Case for LeSean McCoy

LeSean McCoy is widely considered to be one of the best running backs in the NFL. He’s a versatile player who can run between the tackles and catch the ball out of the backfield. McCoy also has great vision and can make people miss in the open field. He’s a threat to score a touchdown every time he touches the ball.

His Numbers

In his six NFL seasons, McCoy has rushed for 6,792 yards and 44 touchdowns, while averaging 4.6 yards per carry. His 6,792 career rushing yards are the most of any active running back in the NFL, and his 44 career rushing touchdowns are tied for the sixth-most of any active player at his position. In 2013, he led the league in rushing yards (1,607), total scrimmage yards (2,146), and touchdowns (11). He is just the sixth player in NFL history to lead the league in all three categories in the same season.

In addition to his accomplishments as a runner, McCoy is also one of the best receiving backs in the league. In his six seasons, he has caught 292 passes for 2, 282 yards and 11 touchdowns. His 292 receptions are the sixth-most of any running back over that span, while his 2,282 receiving yards are seventh-most among running backs since 2009.

His Impact

When LeSean McCoy is on the field, good things happen for the Bills offense. Since joining Buffalo in 2015, he’s rushed for 3,814 yards (4.8 yards per carry) and 28 touchdowns while adding 157 receptions for 1,257 yards and four more scores. He’s been one of the most efficient and versatile running backs in the league during that time, and his presence has helped to mask some of the deficiencies on the Bills offensive line.

Perhaps most importantly, McCoy has been a model of durability during his time in Buffalo. He’s missed just four games over the last three seasons, and he’s only been sidelined for one game since joining the Bills. That reliability is crucial for a team like Buffalo that has struggled to find consistent play at the running back position.

The Case for Jamaal Charles

Jamaal Charles is one of the most versatile running backs in the NFL. He has the ability to make plays in the passing game and the running game. He is a threat to score a touchdown every time he touches the ball. Jamaal Charles is the best running back in the NFL.

His Numbers

Jamaal Charles is one of the most electric running backs in the NFL. He has the speed to run away from defenders, the power to run through them, and the elusiveness to make them look foolish.Charles also has a nose for the end zone, as evidenced by his absurdly good touchdown-to-carry ratio. In fact, Charles has scored more touchdowns (56) than any other running back since he entered the league in 2008, despite having fewer carries than many of his peers.

His Impact

In just his fifth season, Charles has already amassed 6,857 total yards and 46 touchdowns while averaging an incredible 6.4 yards per carry. He’s also been a factor in the passing game, totaling 2, 457 yards and 20 scores through the air. And he’s done all of this while playing in an offense that has been in a constant state of flux and has had trouble staying on the field for long stretches at a time.

Perhaps most impressive about Charles’ numbers is that he’s done all of this while sharing the backfield with another solid running back in Peyton Hillis. In fact, Charles has actually out-produced Hillis despite carrying the ball nearly 200 fewer times.

Conclusion

After careful consideration, we have come to the conclusion that the best running back in the NFL is Le’Veon Bell of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Bell is a powerful runner with great vision and patience, and he is also an excellent receiver out of the backfield. He is a true dual-threat weapon who can make plays in both the running and passing game.