No. 50: Tim Hightower, Arizona
Tim Hightower present both a threat in the receiving game and the rushing game.
He is not much of a playmaker though and does not create long runs or take over games. But he is a great complement to Beanie Wells in Arizona because he does not need to carry a workload.
When Hightower plays sparingly, he is more aggressive and shows more burst. Although, he will likely see less time this season as long as Beanie Wells stays healthy.
No. 49: Willie Parker, Washington
They call him "Fast Willie" for a reason. Willie Parker is one of the quickest backs in the NFL, but since injuries took over his career, he has lacked the elusiveness and power to become a franchise back.
In recent seasons, Willie's production has dropped due to injury and I am sure that he will never return to the 1500 yd./16 TD form that he once was.
He is looking to start anew in Washington, but will struggle to see time because he will just be one of a handful of quality backs in the capital this season.
No. 48: Justin Forsett, Seattle
Forsett played great last season for the Hawks. He has above-average skills and is shifty at the LOS and in the open field. He has also bulked up but his strength is limited due to his small frame.
In his first season seeing playing time, Forsett also excelled in the passing game, pulling in 41 grabs. Also adding to his versatility is his ability in the return game.
Forsett will battle Julius Jones and Leon Washington for the starting role this season.
No. 47: Michael Bush, Oakland
Bush has produced more than McFadden, despite being the less hyped ball carrier. He is tough runner inside and his size and strength can really give defenses problems.
Where he lacks is in potential. He is not nearly as fast a McFadden and isn't explosive enough to become the Raiders' starting back.
No. 46: Kevin Smith, Detroit
Kevin Smith does not stick out as a particularly talented back. Considering his talent, I would say the he has over-performed in his first two seasons.
After a stellar rookie season in Detroit, Smith struggled in 2009. He rushed for only 3.4 YPC and half as many TDs as in the previous season.
His receiving numbers did pick up though, despite missing 3 games due to injury. It will be interesting to watch how Smith bounces back from an ACL tear and fights off Jahvid Best for the starting spot.
No. 45: Leon Washington, Seattle
Leon Washington will take his show to Seattle this season, as the Jets traded him away for a measly fifth round pick.
Seattle is inheriting an extraordinary returner as well as another versatile back to throw into the mix. He is explosive, agile and scares defenses. Washington might finally see a starting spot in 2010, something he has been yearning for since he entered the league.
No. 44: Darren Sproles, San Diego
Darren Sproles is very similar to Leon Washington. He has the quickness of Washington, but has better strength and balance.
Not only is Sproles a threat out of the backfield (whether he's running the ball or catching it), but he also adds value to a team with his returning ability.
He struggled on the ground last season, but piled up 500 receiving yards on 45 receptions.
No. 43: Lesean McCoy, Philadelphia
With the release of Brian Westbrook, the Eagles made a clear commitment to McCoy. He is capable of being a first back, but I am not sure if he will be used like one.
Andy Reid's Eagles are a passing team and Shady McCoy is an awful pass blocker. Therefore Leonard Weaver, the teams star fullback, could see a lot of time this season. He is a solid blocker and can also run the ball.
No. 42: Correll Buckhalter, Denver
After a 5 season career in Philadelphia, Buckhalter moved to Denver last off-season and had the best season of his career.
Buckhalter has struggled with injury for his entire career, missing entire seasons in 2002, 2004, and 2005. But since 2006, he has been relatively healthy, missing only a couple games here and there.
Correll presents a good combination of size and speed that makes him one of the better backups in the league.
No. 41: Ryan Matthews, San Diego
Matthews fell into a good spot when San Diego traded up to draft him this past April. San Diego does not like to use Sproles as any more than a complement and Matthews can carry the rest of the workload in the Chargers' offense.
Do not expect San Diego to stray too far from their winning formula on offense, but with a young, capable in place now as the starter, they likely won't rank in the 30s this year in rush offense.
No. 40: Derrick Ward, Tampa Bay
Derrick Ward left the Giants in 2009 for a starting job with the Bucs, or so he thought. Ward took a back seat to Cadillac Williams for the season and saw his numbers take a big decline.
Tampa's offensive line did not play up to it's potential and Ward could not find room to use his speed. He averaged only 3.6 YPC.
No. 39: Larry Johnson, Washington
Larry Johnson is the second injury-riddled back picked up by the Redskins on this list. Alike Parker, Johnson has seen glory at one point in his career, but is now seen as more of hassle to a team than a help.
He has no glaring weakness, despite being on the slower side. He is strong, elusive and has good vision, but he's lacking the motor he had in 2005 and 2006, where he rushed for over 3500 yards and 37 TDs.
No. 38: Laurence Maroney, New England
Maroney has struggled with fumble problems so he has seen inconsistent time since he entered the league. He showed real promise early on in his career, but has not improved enough to become a feature back.
Maroney has displayed power and explosiveness at points, but can easily disappear and has had injury problems.
No. 37: Ahmad Bradshaw, NY Giants
2009 was Bradshaw's time to shine and he did impress, but not enough to make any big assumptions. He did pile up 1,000 all purpose yards though to go along with seven touchdowns.
Bradshaw is very shifty and slippery, but he also has deceiving leg strength. He will remain at the no.2 spot in the Giants lineup this season, but he could see as many carries as Jacobs if he stays healthy.
No. 36: Jerome Harrison, Cleveland
Harrison burst onto the scene with an amazing, record-breaking performance in 2009, but failed to continue his success for the remainder of the season.
He will battle with rookie Montario Hardesty for the fighting job, but either way he will not carry this offense. He is not durable or strong enough to handle a workload so Hardesty will dip into his numbers quite a bit.
No. 35: Steve Slaton, Houston
Slaton ran into the sophomore slump worse than anyone could have imagined. Due to fumbling problems, he was featured more as a receiving threat in 2009.
There are also health concerns with Slaton, and he now finds himself in a crowded backfield. He has the agility and versatility though to start for the entire 2010 season.
No. 34: C.J. Spiller, Buffalo
Spiller enters the league already being one of the fastest backs there is. He is a big play threat no matter where he lines up and that is why Buffalo drafted him.
He will see time all over the place in Buffalo because they will need help in numerous places. But with Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch in the backfield, he won't post up fantastic numbers.
No. 33: Willis McGahee, Baltimore
Ray Rice turned McGahee into a goal-line back last season. The 28-year-old looks twice his age when he is on the field.
He has lost his burst, but still contains the ability to punch it in in short yardage situations. His strength and vision will keep him in sight for now, but that pesky number 30 is closing in fast.
No. 32: Cadillac Williams, Tampa Bay
Due to injury, Cadillac has aged fast and he will be lucky if he starts all next season with Derrick Ward ready to step in.
Williams combination of power and speed caught attention early on in his career, but he has never performed quite the same since injuries interrupted his stellar rookie season.
No. 31: Darren McFadden, Oakland
There is no question that McFadden has the tools to succeed, but until he has a serviceable offensive line in place and survives an entire season, we will not realize what his real potential is.
He could blow up in two ways this season. He could work hard all off-season and show up ready to perform in 2010, or he could suffer another injury and fall back into the shadow of his former self. Either way, he's only 23 and will eventually see success once he finds the right situation.
No. 30: Ladainian Tomlinson, NY Jets
The days are gone of "LT" breaking defensive backs ankles on a weekly basis. He is now just a 31-year old complement back.
Tomlinson won't produce big yardage numbers next season, but don't be surprised if he racks up the TDs. Shonnnnnn Greene will need some relief because of the Jets offensive style and LT will be waiting on the sidelines to hawk in steal away some fantasy points.
No. 29: Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo
Lynch is not the best-looking guy, but he showed off his spectacular "Marion Barber-like" toughness in his first two seasons, but after a suspension in 2009, he slipped into a backup role.
Marshawn is still young though so he could look for opportunities elsewhere and he could surely find a starting job if he chose to move.
No. 28: Beanie Wells, Arizona
Wells surprised critics by making it through all 16 games in '09, but will he break out like a teenager's complexion with Kurt Warner gone? He most likely will because Hightower's fumbling issues have dealt him a reduction in playing time and Wells is the man for the job.
He runs physically and is a decent enough receiver to survive in Arizona. He is a big guy and with him in the starting lineup, we could see a new era begin for the Cardinals.
No. 27: Reggie Bush, New Orleans
Ahhhhh....Reggie Bust. That wasn't a typo. Reggie has not come close to reaching expectations after leaving USC, but he still has some serious talent.
Bush is still an extremely explosive player, but he lacks the ability to consistently produce good rushing numbers. His returning ability is undoubted though, so he should still add some value for years to come on special teams.
No. 26: Shonn Greene, NY Jets
Greene showed up in the playoffs and was the biggest reason why the Jets went so far. But it is yet to be season whether he can continue that success into 2010.
He likes to throw his weight around and once he runs through a defender or two, he is capable of breaking away for a long run.
No. 25: Clinton Portis, Washington
Remember when Portis was thought of as a young, comedic running back who just happened to rush for 1,000+ yards every season? What a year can change.
The walls are closing in on Portis and I think it may be happening faster than people think. He could lose his starting job by the halfway point this season.
No. 24: Knowshon Moreno, Denver
Moreno has great vision and makes spectacular moves when he has room to run, but he struggled to adjust to the speed of the NFL in his rookie season, posting a measly 3.8 YPC.
But after an entire season as a starter, Knowshon is ready to burst out and become one of the league's best, as long as plays to his strengths and that is to use his agility and elusiveness rather than relying on his speed.
No. 23: Brandon Jacobs, NY Giants
2007 goes by...5.0 yards per carry. Then 2008 comes and goes...5.0 yards per carry. And then 2009 comes along...3.7 yards per carry? What happened to one of the league's most efficient runners?
Jacobs uses his pure size, strength and beastliness to pick up first-downs, but that can be one of the easier things to game plan against because once your team catches on to the concept of gang-tackling, Jacobs cannot succeed.
No. 22: Ricky Williams, Miami
Is Ricky aging in reverse? Ricky is improving with age and the numbers tell the same story. When Ronnie Brown went down with an injury, Williams stepped up and zipped through defense after defense on his way to a 1,121 yard, 13 touchdown season.
Ricky looked to have his old speed and moves back in 2009, but his age is chasing him like a cheetah after a gazelle. Once it catches him, he won't be able to escape.
No. 21: Joseph Addai, Indianapolis
Addai has lost his big-play ability. Ever since he missed 4 games in 2008, he has been unable to fully recover, posting two sub-par seasons.
He is still a solid back though, especially in the Colt's system where he does not need to make the big play. Rather, he must make the little plays that no one seems to notice and he does that job well.
No. 20: Thomas Jones, Kansas City
Jones is looking to be the 5th back in history to eclipse the 1,000 yard mark after age 32, but with an emerging superstar in front of him, he will likely never achieve this goal.
The Jets cut him purely to save cash, because he is much better back at this point than his replacement, Ladainian Tomlinson. But on the always-rebuilding Chiefs, he will slowly drift away into the abyss.
No. 19: Fred Jackson, Buffalo
Buffalo really surprised me when they selected C.J. Spiller in the 2010 draft because they already have a franchise back in Jackson. He is tough, durable and has an unbelievable motor.
He returned kicks, ran and caught last season. That's all you can ask from your starting running back so when the Bills selected a duplicate of Jackson in the draft(with some added strength), it made me wonder what their intentions are with this versatile back.
No. 18: Matt Forte, Chicago
Forte struggled last season because of the Bear's awful o-line, but the Bears hired Mike Martz, so Forte could turn his career back on track.
Forte is big, but he does not have a particularly brilliant array of skills. He runs smoothly though and if the Bears repair the line, Matt can enjoy a long career in the windy city.
No. 17: Felix Jones, Dallas
When Felix and Arkansas teammate Darren McFadden entered into the 2008 draft, everyone was sure that McFadden would have the better career, but Felix has shown more promise.
His explosiveness ranks with the likes of Chris Johnson and Jamaal Charles. That's not too bad for being the "other guy" coming out of college.
No. 16: Pierre Thomas, New Orleans
Pierre finds himself in a sticky situation. The Saints are committed to Reggie Bush, but Pierre is clearly the more complete back. The Saints are also and always will be a finesse, pass-first team.
If he wants to increase his stardom, he needs to move out of New Orleans, but I believe he is too loyal to bolt after the franchise's first Super Bowl.
No. 15: Cedric Benson, Cincinnatti
Benson has made a miraculous return from what seemed to be the end of his career, but for once Cincinnati ignored characters issues and took a chance on Cedric (thankfully).
Benson has played with a spring in his step that we did not see in Chicago and he still contains the same strength that he's always had. If he stays healthy, Benson could rank at the top of the NFL in yardage, but overuse is a concern in Cincinnati.
No. 14: Marion Barber, Dallas
With his style of running, all Barber needs is the brain of a dog and he can succeed. He attacks a defense and fights with all of his might to stay upright and continue on his path, leaving battered defenders on either side of him.
But with two young backs behind him, he could see even more of a reduction in playing time. It is questionable, given his style, if he can return to his 10 TD, 1,000-yard form of the past.
No. 13: Ryan Grant, Green Bay
Grant is a big guy who doesn't necessarily have the most desired attributes that you want your franchise back to have. He is not very fast or elusive, but he manages to get the job done.
Green Bay has a pass-heavy offense and that is partially responsible for Grant's success, but he is not too shabby of a downhill, straight-line runner.
No. 12: Ronnie Brown, Miami
Brown is obviously talented. He is speedy, versatile and can be a game-changer when healthy. The only problem is, he is rarely healthy.
Brown's versatility has turned the Wildcat into a legitimate offensive set, but he is far from a one trick pony. Brown is dangerous on the ground and if he was not coupled with Ricky Williams, he could rank among the league's best in yardage year in a year out.
No. 11: Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh
Mendenhall enters the season with competition being relatively absent in Pittsburgh. This doesn't mean he is on pace for a great season though because the Steelers still have a lousy offensive line in place.
With the loss of Santonio Holmes and questions of Roethlisberger's status in the locker room, the Steelers could go back to playing smash-mouth football. Can Mendenhall's young legs carry the load?
No. 10: Jamaal Charles, Kansas City
Since leaving Texas for the draft, Charles has grabbed my attention because of his incredible potential. He is incredibly fast, agile, and elusive. This leaves me to think about him as a "Chris Johnson Light."
In the final eight games of last season, he rushed for 968 yards and seven touchdowns. At this point, Charles is not strong and durable enough to carry the workload by himself so Thomas Jones will likely share time with him.
No. 9: Michael Turner, Atlanta
Last season, Turner fell to the curse of 370 carries and seemed to have lost some speed. Another factor that pushed him down to 9th on this list is that he is non-existent in the passing game.
He is still a goal-line threat, but with injury problems arising, it is only a matter of time until "The Burner" becomes the next Willie Parker.
No. 8: Jonathan Stewart, Carolina
When Deangelo Williams was out of the starting lineup due to injury (four games), Stewart made the most of his opportunity. In those four games, he rushed for 560 yards on 95 carries. That comes out to be a stunning 5.9 YPC.
Not only did he put up the numbers, but he also displayed breakaway speed that wasn't seen in his rookie season. He broke of runs of 52 and 67 yards in consecutive games.
Most surprising was his success versus the best of the leagues rush defenses: 109 yards vs. Minnesota, 206 yards v. NY Giants, 82 yards plus 2 TDs vs. Atlanta. And this is all in spite of the Panthers losing their best two linemen due to injury along with their starting left guard.
No. 7: Frank Gore, San Francisco
Gore broke of a few huge touchdown runs last season: Three being over 64 yards. But he also faced injury problems, missing two games.
Gore has been consistent in his statistical outputs over the past few seasons. He has rushed for 1,000 yards time after time and he adds great value in the passing game, where he posted 52 receptions in 2009.
If he stays healthy this season, he could once again rank among the leaders in yardage, but that's a stretch, seeing as he has missed time due to injury in four of his five seasons.
No. 6: Deangelo Williams, Carolina
Williams is one of the biggest home-run threats in football. He has the best vision in football to pair with his great speed.
He is not easy to bring down either. He displays great balance and once he gets by the "Big Ugly's," he is able to show off his array of moves, picking his way through the defense's upper-levels.
He also might be the most underrated back in the league. Despite being apart of the first running back tandem EVER to rush for 1,100 yards each, he doesn't seem to get much attention.
No. 5: Steven Jackson, St. Louis
Jackson is clearly talented. He is strong, agile and tough. His biggest limitation is his durability. He has been bothered by injury since he entered the league.
Another big limitation on Jackson is his offensive line. They were battered up in 2009, but he still managed to post a 4.4 YPC. If the Ram's o-line stays healthy this season, we could see Jackson return to his previous form.
Despite his just above-average receiving numbers, Jackson is one of the best receivers on this list. In 2006, he made 90 grabs for 800 yards and he is still young and ready to repeat that performance if Sam Bradford allows him to.
No. 4: Ray Rice, Baltimore
In Rice's sophomore season, he broke out for an amazing year, even while sharing time with Willis McGahee. Had McGahee not gotten all the goal line carries, Rice might have posted Maurice Jones-Drew-like numbers on the ground.
But only half of Rice's game is on the ground. He also posted receiver-like numbers to go couple with his rushing stats. He caught 78 passes and piled up 702 yards. Just imagine what he can do if he plays all three downs this season.
Don't blink because by the end of the season, you could be looking at a new No. 1 running back in the NFL.
No. 3: Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville
Maurice Jones-Drew is one tough sucker. But when you're 5'7, you have to take care of yourself. MJD is a touchdown machine, and when he needs to, he can pick up big receiving yardage.
One of his biggest assets is his low center of gravity. It allow him to keep his balance while staying small and hiding behind his offensive linemen.
And when a defender get's his hands on him, it is tough to bring him down. He fights for every yard and you can never tell when he's down because of his balance.
No. 2: Chris Johnson, Tennessee
C.J.'s amazing season was the product of a weapon-less team relying on a great player to carry them. Obviously it didn't work, because the Titans failed to reach the playoffs.
His success is also linked to his great run-blocking offensive line. Without them, his 5.6 YPC would have been severely diminished. But that does not take away from his speed and explosiveness.
Johnson is also a good receiver, doubling his receiving performance from his rookie season. It will be interesting to see though how he holds up after a 408-touch season.
No. 1: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota
Peterson is the hardest worker of all the backs on this list. He has the desire to be the best and that's what gives him an edge over C.J. His durability was a concern coming out of college and that is why 6 teams mistakenly passed on him.
Peterson has stayed healthy despite a 363 carry season, but it is important that he starts spending more time on the sidelines because the Vikings will need him to last. With the drafting of Toby Gerhart, they could be moving in that direction.
Peterson has also developed as a receiver. He made 43 receptions for 436 yards in 2009, but he his ball carrying has developed in reverse. He needs to fix that problem this off-season or else the Vikings could suffer another disappointing finish in 2010.
Summary
Adrian "All-Day" Peterson came out on top in the end, but before you begin to complain about a player's ranking, let's take a look at the skills that were considered when this list was compiled.
Speed:
Highest: Chris Johnson
Lowest: Michael Bush
Agility:
Highest: Ray Rice
Lowest: Michael Bush
Vision:
Highest: Deangelo Williams
Lowest: Tim Hightower
Power:
Highest: Adrian Peterson
Lowest: Leon Washington
Durability:
Highest: Ryan Grant
Lowest: Ronnie Brown
Elusiveness:
Highest: Chris Johnson, Jamaal Charles
Lowest: Michael Bush
Explosiveness:
Highest: Chris Johnson
Lowest: Tim Hightower
Receiving Ability:
Highest: Ray Rice
Lowest: Michael Turner
Ball-Carrying:
Highest: Deangelo Williams
Lowest: Steve Slaton
Workhorse:
Highest: Adrian Peterson
Lowest: Darren Sproles
Size:
Highest: Michael Bush
Lowest: Darren Sproles
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