Running To Daylight: The Top 10 NFL Halfbacks

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1. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

Adrian "All Day" Peterson is the only halfback to ever be placed in the top five, actually top three, of a position by myself after only one good year at the position. Why, may you ask? Well, it wasn't because of his decimation of the Cowboys and Bears. It wasn't because of his record setting day against the Chargers.

It was because he had a collegiate running style that had not ever been actually brought into the NFL; A style where juking, spinning, jumping and twisting were the norm as opposed to last ditch efforts. I hadn't watched much of him in college, but if this is how he ran then, perhaps that's why he was often injured. Last year Peterson backed up my gamble of placing him high, but winning the rushing title.

2. Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins

Clinton Portis, for as long as he has been a Washington Redskin has been underrated. I mean, let's think about this. Clinton Portis has reached 1,700 Yards from scrimmage every year in his career except for two. Of those two, he only played in nine games due to injury in one of them, and in the other he still went for 1,550.

He's experienced double-digit touchdowns every year of his career except for three. Heck, let's look at last year in which Portis carried the Redskins team to its victories and how they proceeded to fall apart as soon as he and Chris Samuels went down with injury. In only seven short seasons in the NFL, Portis has produced an outstanding 11,108 Yards from scrimmage and 76 touchdowns from scrimmage, and he’s only 27. Portis' averages per season are better than some halfback's best years ever.

3. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers

Tomlinson is, in fact, approaching that magical number for halfbacks—30. It's been evident based on the fact that he hasn't been able to finish the last two seasons as the starting halfback for the Chargers due to injuries as they went into the postseason.

Many will point to Tomlinson's 3.8 yards per carry as evidence of his decline. However, to this I merely retort that Tomlinson put up 1,500 Total Yards from scrimmage, which is respectable, though no longer top five. However, when one considers the 12 touchdowns From scrimmage he placed, one is fast primed to believe that Tomlinson is still an elite halfback and until he cannot produce 1,500 and 12, he is still a top back.

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