Power Ranking the 12 Best Running Backs in the NFC

Is All Day the best there is? In the NFC there is an abundance of great running backs, but all of them have one person to look to for a standard. 

My power rankings take into account several things. Running backs must be judged by not only their ability to run, but for their versatility as well. In today's pass happy offense, a good blocking back is like having an extra tackle. A back that can catch the ball keeps himself on the field every down, not just first and second. 

However, in the end, nothing is more important than running. Just remember, that when two players are close on my list, it probably comes down to the fact one just brings the whole package to the table. 

Now, to the rankings!

12. Marshawn Lynch

Marshawn Lynch is a young running back that has averaged 3.9 yards per carry in his career and doesn't appear to have reached his ceiling. 

However, when his team is in mortal peril, Marshawn Lynch transforms into Beastmode, an unstoppable Saints defensive back killing machine. That causes earthquakes. 

Lynch is a first round talent for a reason. With some help, he's able to be an above average running back. He hasn't been able to put everything together, but if he could he might sky rocket up this list in the next couple years. At the age of 25, Lynch still has plenty of time to prove himself. 

11. Tim Hightower

Hightower might be criminally underrated.  

He struggled his rookie year, having only 143 carries for 399 yards. However, he vastly improved as a sophomore gaining 599 yards on 143 attempts. Last year he gained 736 yards on 153 carries. 

The trouble is he has fumbling problems, having had nine fumbles in the last two years. If he can fix that problem, we could see him as a featured back. 

Mike Shanahan has a habit of turning no name guys into stars in his zone blocking scheme. Tim Hightower, at the ripe age of 25, seems primed for a breakout season. Add him to your fantasy roster. 

10. LaGarrette Blount

LaGarrete Blount hit the scene in 2010 as an undrafted free agent out of Oregon. 

He had a great rookie year in which he gained 1,001 yards on 201 carries and scored six touchdowns. He's a great runner, and often makes the highlight reel with his signature hurdles. 

The only thing that hurts Blount is his lack of usefulness in third down situations. He is a poor pass protector, as most rookie running backs are, and only caught one pass last year. 

If Blount can improve his versatility in the passing game he could be a great complete back. Right now, however, he's a fantastic pure runner who can shed defenders and punch in touchdowns.  

9. Felix Jones

Felix Jones was a first rounder out of Arkansas, and is wonderfully talented. 

He has been in a time share with Marion Barber since his rookie season, which has hindered his ability to become an every down featured back.

A little statistical insight: Felix Jones averaged 12 touches and under 100 yards from scrimmage, under Jason Garret he averaged 17 touches for 100+ yards from scrimmage.

In every game Jones has had 17 touches, he has had over 100 yards from scrimmage. 

Now that Barber is gone Jones has the opportunity to explode and crack the top five in this list. His great running ability combined with his great receiving skills makes him one of the best young backs in the league. 

8. DeAngelo Williams/Jonathan Stewart

DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart were the hardest for me to place on this list. 

Both have been 1,000 yard backs, and each has his own unique skill set. If they could combine into one superback DeAnthan Willart might be the best back in the league. 

Williams is the faster, more elusive back in the open field. Stewart the hard nosed runner. They make a great backfield, and are only listed as tandem this far down the list because of a miserable 2010. DeAngelo Williams was injured, but may be able to return to form.

The Panthers will rely on Williams and Stewart to carry their young quarterback through the season. 

7. Ahmad Bradshaw

Bradshaw is one of the best complete backs in the league. 

Something that's overlooked by most people is the blocking ability of a back. Bradshaw, hands down, is the best blocking back in the entire league. He makes Eli Manning's life easier, and might as well be an extra tackle in passing situations. 

Bradshaw is an above average runner, carrying the ball 276 times for 1,235 yards and eight touchdowns. That's in a timeshare with Brandon Jacobs, who had eight touchdowns himself and another 800 yards. If Bradshaw were to become the full time back, he could increase those numbers. 

Bradshaw is a young back with above average skills in every category. 

6. Michael Turner

Turner "The Burner," has been a stalwart of the Falcons offense the past few years. 

Though Turner can't catch the ball and is a third down non-factor, he is one of the best pure runners on this list. His bruising style allows the Falcons to control the clock and punch in short touchdowns at will. 

He excels between the tackles, where he can take on linebackers head on and run straight through them. 

Turner is listed below Matt Forte only because of his limited ability on third down. Turner will always be a pounder, and a good one at that. Age is beginning to be a factor for the 29-year-old Turner, but he undoubtedly has a couple good years left in him. 

5 . Matt Forte

Forte is possibly the most criminally underrated back in the entire NFC.

After a great rookie season where he had 1,700 yards from scrimmage and 12 total touchdowns, Forte was considered by and large a great fantasy pick for the 2009 season. He still attained 1,500 yards from scrimmage his sophomore year, but scored only four touchdowns and has forever been branded. 

In 2010 he carried the ball 237 times for 1,069 yards and six touchdowns. He also gained 547 yards through the air on 51 receptions, one of the best figures for receiving among backs in the NFL. 

Forte is also an exceptional blocker. He may not be as good a blocker as Bradshaw, but he makes up for it by being a superior runner and a top notch receiving back. 

Don't get down on Forte, he's the only offensive weapon for a Bears offense that lacks play makers. 

4. Frank Gore

Frank Gore is consistent if nothing else. He's played in a full season only once, but has not missed more than two games in four out of five of the other seasons. 

Gore has had four 1,000 yard rushing seasons in his six years. He would have had another 1,000 yard season last year had he not missed five games due to a hip injury. 

Gore is immensely talented, but has never been able to establish himself as one of the top backs of the NFL because of his inability to stay on the field in every game. The running back position is rough, but a full 16 game season in the prime of his career would make him elite. 

3. LeSean McCoy

McCoy is the best player on this list in terms of youth and versatility. 

McCoy could have just as easily been a receiver for an NFL team. Last year he caught an incredible 78 passes for 592 yards. He rushed the ball 207 times for 1,080 yards. 

He has break away speed, which makes him a threat to score on every single down. He is an incredible threat out of the backfield, and with the tools the receivers the Eagles have it's easy to see why he'll be able to put up huge numbers in the years to come. 

2. Steven Jackson

It's a shame to see so much of Steven Jackson's prime wasted in the Rams down years. 

Jackson has had six straight years of a 1,000 yards rushing. The only year he did not was his rookie year, when Marshall Faulk was still playing. 

Jackson is useful in every facet of the game. He can catch the ball, block, but more than anything he is a terrific runner. He is elusive in the open field, yet will run right over you if you try to bring him down.

If the Rams had any passing attack over the last few years we might be saying Steven Jackson is one of the greatest backs of our generation.

He is 28 years old now, but he still is a monster on the field. A back like Jackson will be able to sustain two to three more years of fine running, and by the time he leaves the game he will have been considered one of the best to touch the field in recent memory. 

1. Adrian Peterson

All Day. There should be no doubt about who is the best running back in the NFC, or the NFL. 

Adrian Peterson is a once in a generation back. In four years in the NFL Peterson has never had less than 1,298 rushing yards, never less than 10 touchdowns, and never less than 1,700 total yards from scrimmage. 

If you think there should be an argument about whether or not Chris Johnson or Adrian Peterson is the best in the NFL, then watch this.

Peterson is an unbelievable combination of strength, speed, and agility. For a man his size, with that much power, to be able to cut laterally as well as he does is mind boggling. He can run around you, through you, over you. Whatever. It's all the same to him.

All Day is the king of the mountain, the standard by which all modern day running backs will be judged. Let there be no doubt.