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Posted: May 17, 2009
Elite NFL running backs come in all shapes and offer a wide array of skills, but there is one thing they all have in common: They all should be the focal point of their offenses.
RealScouts, Sporting News' team of former NFL scouts, rank their top 20 running backs for '09:
1. Adrian Peterson, Vikings. He is the best pure runner in the game, leading the league in rushing average as a rookie and rushing yards in '08. He'll get more chances to show his blocking and receiving skills this season.
2. Steven Jackson, Rams. New coach Steve Spagnuolo has made no secret of the fact he plans to build the team around Jackson. He probably is the best all-purpose back in the league, a candidate to lead the league in carries and yardage in '09.
3. Brandon Jacobs, Giants. His size and physical style set up everything the Giants do on offense, and his absence late in the season exposed some of the team's weaknesses.
4. Brian Westbrook, Eagles. He was hampered by injuries last season, but he has 37 touchdowns rushing/receiving over the last three seasons. He is a matchup nightmare for opponents. He should benefit greatly from upgrades along the offensive line and at wide receiver.
5. Frank Gore, 49ers. The hiring of new offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye and running backs coach Tom Rathman is good news for Gore. He has posted three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, and the Niners now are more committed to a power running game.
6. Clinton Portis, Commanders. He runs with power and vision, showing the ability to locate cutback lanes and burst to daylight. When healthy, he has been one of the most productive backs the last five years.
7. Michael Turner, Falcons. Turner led the NFL's second-ranked rushing attack with an NFL-high 376 carries last year, and he finished second in rushing yards (1,699) and rushing touchdowns (17). New TE Tony Gonzalez might steal some of Turner's red-zone touches, but Turner remains the focal point of a run-first offense.
8. LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers. His 3.8-yard average and two 100-yard efforts in 2008 were among the worst numbers of his career, but he played through injuries that would have kept most of us in bed for weeks. When healthy, Tomlinson is one of the NFL's most versatile and explosive backs. And indications are L.T. will be able to carry the load again in '09.
9. Matt Forte, Bears. As a rookie last year, he accounted for an incredible 37 percent of the Bears' offense. He runs with power and vision, and he makes plays as a receiver. He will be even more effective behind an upgraded line and with QB Jay Cutler's powerful arm keeping the safeties honest. No more eight-man fronts for Forte. The future looks bright.
10. Chris Johnson, Titans. He is an outstanding open-field runner and a dangerous receiver. Titans coaches say the best is yet to come from Johnson. The plan is to use Johnson in more varied ways in '09, shifting him around the field to create mismatches and get him the ball in the open field. He could become a star this year.
11. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars. The departure of Fred Taylor leaves the bulk of the mail-carrying to MJD. He has the speed to attack the edge, is a tough inside runner and can make plays after the catch.
12. Darren McFadden, Raiders. Turf toe troubles behind him, he should have a breakout season in '09. He is a phenomenal athlete who can line up anywhere. He'll beat out Justin Fargas for the starting job, and it wouldn't surprise us if he led the Raiders in rushing and receiving.
13. Marshawn Lynch, Bills. Despite his impending suspension, Lynch still projects as a 1,000-yard back who will excel in Buffalo's zone-blocking scheme because of his one-cut running style. He also showed improved receiving skills in '08.
14. DeAngelo Williams, Panthers. He is a tough, instinctive runner with great vision and burst to make big plays. He rushed for 1,515 yards and 18 touchdowns last year. Teammate Jonathan Stewart added 836 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns, and Carolina's run-first game plan doesn't figure to change in '09.
15. Willie Parker, Steelers. He missed five games last year because of knee and shoulder injuries but still shows great burst to the edge. With second-year man Rashard Mendenhall (broken shoulder) now healthy, too, Parker could be asked to split time in '09.
16. Ronnie Brown, Dolphins. The Dolphins brought along Brown slowly last year as he recovered from ACL surgery. This season, with an improved offensive line, another year in the system and well on his way to full health, Brown should improve over last year's so-so performance.
17. Thomas Jones, Jets. Jones is coming off his best NFL season (1,312 yards rushing, 13 touchdowns) but is holding out for a new contract. He turns 31 in August, though, and Jets coaches figure to give backup Leon Washington a larger role and find work for rookie Shonn Greene.
18. Ryan Grant, Packers. Grant struggled early in '08 with the Packers' zone-blocking concepts but performed better in the second half of the season. Still, 2008 was a disappointment for Grant, and the coaches don't appear to have full confidence in him. He might not be an every-down back, and there is plenty of competition for carries.
19. Kevin Smith, Lions. Smith started as a rookie in '08, a bright spot on a winless team. He is a productive zone-scheme runner with a nose for the end zone and proved to be a capable receiver. He'll improve with the arrival of Jim Schwartz and new offensive coordinator Scott Linehan.
20. Chris "Beanie" Wells, Cardinals. Wells is big and powerful, in the Jacobs mold. Wells is only a rookie but should overtake Tim Hightower as the first- and second-down back and get the call in short-yardage and goal-line situations. Wells must improve as a pass blocker and receiver, but that will come in time.
RealScouts analyze NFL and college players, coaches and teams exclusively for Sporting News.
Elite NFL running backs come in all shapes and offer a wide array of skills, but there is one thing they all have in common: They all should be the focal point of their offenses.
RealScouts, Sporting News' team of former NFL scouts, rank their top 20 running backs for '09:
1. Adrian Peterson, Vikings. He is the best pure runner in the game, leading the league in rushing average as a rookie and rushing yards in '08. He'll get more chances to show his blocking and receiving skills this season.
2. Steven Jackson, Rams. New coach Steve Spagnuolo has made no secret of the fact he plans to build the team around Jackson. He probably is the best all-purpose back in the league, a candidate to lead the league in carries and yardage in '09.
3. Brandon Jacobs, Giants. His size and physical style set up everything the Giants do on offense, and his absence late in the season exposed some of the team's weaknesses.
4. Brian Westbrook, Eagles. He was hampered by injuries last season, but he has 37 touchdowns rushing/receiving over the last three seasons. He is a matchup nightmare for opponents. He should benefit greatly from upgrades along the offensive line and at wide receiver.
5. Frank Gore, 49ers. The hiring of new offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye and running backs coach Tom Rathman is good news for Gore. He has posted three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, and the Niners now are more committed to a power running game.
6. Clinton Portis, Commanders. He runs with power and vision, showing the ability to locate cutback lanes and burst to daylight. When healthy, he has been one of the most productive backs the last five years.
7. Michael Turner, Falcons. Turner led the NFL's second-ranked rushing attack with an NFL-high 376 carries last year, and he finished second in rushing yards (1,699) and rushing touchdowns (17). New TE Tony Gonzalez might steal some of Turner's red-zone touches, but Turner remains the focal point of a run-first offense.
8. LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers. His 3.8-yard average and two 100-yard efforts in 2008 were among the worst numbers of his career, but he played through injuries that would have kept most of us in bed for weeks. When healthy, Tomlinson is one of the NFL's most versatile and explosive backs. And indications are L.T. will be able to carry the load again in '09.
9. Matt Forte, Bears. As a rookie last year, he accounted for an incredible 37 percent of the Bears' offense. He runs with power and vision, and he makes plays as a receiver. He will be even more effective behind an upgraded line and with QB Jay Cutler's powerful arm keeping the safeties honest. No more eight-man fronts for Forte. The future looks bright.
10. Chris Johnson, Titans. He is an outstanding open-field runner and a dangerous receiver. Titans coaches say the best is yet to come from Johnson. The plan is to use Johnson in more varied ways in '09, shifting him around the field to create mismatches and get him the ball in the open field. He could become a star this year.
11. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars. The departure of Fred Taylor leaves the bulk of the mail-carrying to MJD. He has the speed to attack the edge, is a tough inside runner and can make plays after the catch.
12. Darren McFadden, Raiders. Turf toe troubles behind him, he should have a breakout season in '09. He is a phenomenal athlete who can line up anywhere. He'll beat out Justin Fargas for the starting job, and it wouldn't surprise us if he led the Raiders in rushing and receiving.
13. Marshawn Lynch, Bills. Despite his impending suspension, Lynch still projects as a 1,000-yard back who will excel in Buffalo's zone-blocking scheme because of his one-cut running style. He also showed improved receiving skills in '08.
14. DeAngelo Williams, Panthers. He is a tough, instinctive runner with great vision and burst to make big plays. He rushed for 1,515 yards and 18 touchdowns last year. Teammate Jonathan Stewart added 836 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns, and Carolina's run-first game plan doesn't figure to change in '09.
15. Willie Parker, Steelers. He missed five games last year because of knee and shoulder injuries but still shows great burst to the edge. With second-year man Rashard Mendenhall (broken shoulder) now healthy, too, Parker could be asked to split time in '09.
16. Ronnie Brown, Dolphins. The Dolphins brought along Brown slowly last year as he recovered from ACL surgery. This season, with an improved offensive line, another year in the system and well on his way to full health, Brown should improve over last year's so-so performance.
17. Thomas Jones, Jets. Jones is coming off his best NFL season (1,312 yards rushing, 13 touchdowns) but is holding out for a new contract. He turns 31 in August, though, and Jets coaches figure to give backup Leon Washington a larger role and find work for rookie Shonn Greene.
18. Ryan Grant, Packers. Grant struggled early in '08 with the Packers' zone-blocking concepts but performed better in the second half of the season. Still, 2008 was a disappointment for Grant, and the coaches don't appear to have full confidence in him. He might not be an every-down back, and there is plenty of competition for carries.
19. Kevin Smith, Lions. Smith started as a rookie in '08, a bright spot on a winless team. He is a productive zone-scheme runner with a nose for the end zone and proved to be a capable receiver. He'll improve with the arrival of Jim Schwartz and new offensive coordinator Scott Linehan.
20. Chris "Beanie" Wells, Cardinals. Wells is big and powerful, in the Jacobs mold. Wells is only a rookie but should overtake Tim Hightower as the first- and second-down back and get the call in short-yardage and goal-line situations. Wells must improve as a pass blocker and receiver, but that will come in time.
RealScouts analyze NFL and college players, coaches and teams exclusively for Sporting News.
