NFL Power Rankings Week 10: Ranking the League's Best Running Backs

The usual suspects are populating the top ranks of the NFL's best running backs so far this season, from Chris Johnson to Adrian Peterson.

But there are quite a few surprises among the top backs, such as Arian Foster.

The NFL has been defined by parity in the past decade, and that is no different when it comes to the best running backs, as there is a constant fluctuation of the top backs in the league.

So here are the boys that are doing their best to slam their bodies between the tackles or out-foot linebackers and corners to turn the corner, kick it into fifth gear, and speed down the sideline for huge gains.

10. Rashard Mendenhall

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CINCINNATI - NOVEMBER 08: Rashard Mendenhall #34 of the Pittsburgh Steelers carries the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on November 8, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Steelers defeated the Bengals 27-21. (Photo by Matthew Stockma

The Illinois boy is on his way to his second 1,000-yard season in his young career.

His 4.2 yards-per-attempt average is keeping the Steelers offense, which is quite stagnant at times, afloat. Mendenhall is shouldering much of the running load, when in the past he had shared carries with Willie Parker.

He has scored seven times for the Steelers and is making defenders miss quite a bit this year.

9. Peyton Hillis

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CLEVELAND - NOVEMBER 07: Running back Peyton Hillis #40 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates their victory over the New England Patriots at Cleveland Browns Stadium on November 7, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

Peyton Hillis is the ultimate throwback this season.

He could easily go into a time machine, come out in 1930 and be the star fullback/linebacker of any team.

The dude is huge.

At 240 pounds, and standing at 6'1", he is a far cry from the shifty and fleet-footed backs of late like Maurice Jones-Drew and Chris Johnson.

Sunday against New England, he ran for 184 yards and scored twice.

His 4.8 yards per carry and seven scores are good enough for him to crack the top 10.

8. Michael Turner

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ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 07: Michael Turner #33 of the Atlanta Falcons is tackled by Ronde Barber #20 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Georgia Dome on November 7, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Turner has had an on-and-off year.

But his on games are enough to keep him among the top backs in the league despite his off games.

He's currently putting up 4.5 yards per attempt and has yet to fumble a ball in 155 attempts (he had four fumbles in 178 tries last season) while scoring five touchdowns.

Extra points to Turner for being on the NFC South-leading Atlanta Falcons.

7. LeSean McCoy

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PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 07: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs the ball against the Indianapolis Colts on November 7, 2010 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Colts 26-24. (Photo by Jim McIsaac

LeSean is making a name for himself in Philadelphia running the ball.

He is making a case to be the most promising young McCoy in football (sorry Colt).

While he has had only one breakout game running the ball, in which he rushed for 120 yards, and another receiving with 110 yards, he has been the consistent back that any team could hope for.

He burst onto the scene in Week 2, scoring three times. His 4.7 ypa has made him a favorite in the Philadelphia organization.

6. Darren McFadden

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OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 07: Darren McFadden #20 of the Oakland Raiders runs against the Kansas City Chiefs during an NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on November 7, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Talk about your late bloomers.

After being super-hyped out of college, and subsequently laying eggs in the past two seasons, Run DMC has broken out of his shell and dispelled all talks of him being a bust.

He is averaging 5.4 yards per carry, a full two yards more than he did a season ago, along with scoring four times so far this season.

His patience and explosiveness that were key to his running game at Arkansas have seemed to returned, and he looks more comfortable running the ball.

5. Chris Johnson

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SAN DIEGO - OCTOBER 31: Quarterback Vince Young #10 of the Tennessee Titans carries running back Chris Johnson #28 over his shoulders after Johnson scored a touchdown against the San Diego Chargers in the second quarter at Qualcomm Stadium on October 31,

Johnson is poised to have a huge second half of the season.

Prior to the acquisition of Randy Moss, the tandem of Vince Young and the 83-year-old Kerry Collins have been averaging under 200 yards passing per game, putting the offensive load fully on Johnson.

Teams are stacking the box against Jonson, muddling his yards per carry down to 4.1. But with both Kenny Britt and Randy Moss on the field, defensive coordinators will have to watch out for the deep threat, giving Johnson more room.

4. Ahmad Bradshaw

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SEATTLE - NOVEMBER 07: Running back Ahmad Bradshaw #44 of the New York Giants rushes against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on November 7, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. The Giants defeated the Seahawks 41-7. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Bradshaw has always been the dependable second-option running back, stationed behind Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Reuben Droughns for the past three seasons.

As a result, he never amassed more than 800 yards rushing.

That's all about to change. He has a blistering five yards per carry, five touchdowns and a league-leading 10 runs of more than 20 yards this season.

3. Jamaal Charles

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KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 24: Jamaal Charles #25 of the Kansas City Chiefs in action during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 24, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

The most underutilized back in the league, in part because of time shared with Thomas Jones, is racking up yards with ease.

In only 113 carries this year, he has over 700 yards and is posting 6.4 yards every time he runs the ball.

He is easily capable of breaking out. In the one game in which he was given more than 20 carries two weeks ago against Buffalo, he amassed 177 yards.

2. Adrian Peterson

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MINNEAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 07: Running back Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the ball on a 33 yard pass play in the Vikings game tying drive against the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth quarter at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on November 7

With a lackluster passing game for the majority of the year, Peterson has been asked to play a huge role for the Vikings.

So, for Peterson, it's business as usual this year.

He has combined eight rushing and receiving touchdowns this year, and is averaging 4.8 yards per carry.

His explosiveness is still hanging around too, as he has three games with more than 130 rushing yards already this season. He is lurking to take down the No. 1 back and reclaim his spot on top.

1. Arian Foster

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HOUSTON - NOVEMBER 07: Running back Arian Foster #23 of the Houston Texans rushes past Stephen Cooper #54 of the San Diego Chargers at Reliant Stadium on November 7, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

After shellacking the Colts in the opening week, Foster hasn't taken much time to look back at the wreckage that he has left behind him.

He has five games where he has passed the century mark rushing, and four multi-touchdown games.

Fantasy owners get giddy whenever they hear his name because it is rarely associated with anything bad this season.

His 5.5 yards per attempt are second only to Jamaal Charles, who has run the ball 44 fewer times than Foster. His nine rushing touchdowns lead the league.

Foster has grabbed onto the top spot and has a stranglehold on it, at least for now.