Greatest Running Backs of All Time - peak skills over 3-5 year stretch (not on longevity)

For those who never saw him, Barry Sanders was electric and what made him special was his potential to pull some sort of juke or spin that turned -5 yards into +50. Bo Jackson was a prototype of the future. He was all potential that at times showed absolute dominance but he never had the opportunity to display it consistently over a stretch of time. So, to really understand how good he was, you have to go back to his time at Auburn.

This is a really tough question. When you look at a 3-5 year stretch you could make a good argument for any of these guys. O.J. was incredible for a few years with the Bills. Earl campbell couldn't be stopped for a period with Houston. Dickerson had his glory years. Gale Sayers had his short but electric career ended by a knee injury. I'll never forget watching that game in the mud against the 49ers when he scored 6 TDs from everywhere on the field. On the ground, in the air and by punt return.

In the end I'll go with Sanders who never really had a bad season playing for a bad team. His moves were from another planet.

Another one that's underrated is Shaun Alexander.

I personally thought he was helped a ton by Walter and Hutchinson but you can't deny the production.

Haven't done all the math but I'm guessing he might have some touchdown records over the 3-5.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AlexSh00.htm

There's only one player on that list that you can give the ball to with zero linemen in front of him and he would be the most effective out of anyone on that list:

Barry.

The best football show of all time in their prime was NFL Primetime during Barry Sanders days.

As a kid, waiting until 7:30 EST to see what he did was the f**king s**t !!!

Originally posted by fropwns:

For those who never saw him, Barry Sanders was electric and what made him special was his potential to pull some sort of juke or spin that turned -5 yards into +50. Bo Jackson was a prototype of the future. He was all potential that at times showed absolute dominance but he never had the opportunity to display it consistently over a stretch of time. So, to really understand how good he was, you have to go back to his time at Auburn.

Yep, Baz.

One thing no one has mentioned, he played for Detroit. And yet he was still great!!

Priest Holmes, Terrell Davis, and Tomlinson all had some of the greatest 3 year stretches ever... BUT... I still have not and I'm not sure will ever see anyone better than Barry, who I still consider the greatest running back of all time.

I can't argue with any of these picks. As I said above I'd go with Sanders but I'm a little surprised that Campbell isn't getting a little more love. He wasn't flashy but in his prime he just ran over people. His body wore down because he took such a beating every game. The other is Sayers. Some may not be old enough to have seen him but I think he would have been greater than Payton if he could have played longer. He only played 6 years but the first 4 were amazing.

Dexter Carter.

There were better runningbacks for stretches, but in my opinion Frank Gore had the greatest vision of all time. Also he has to be one of the best ever in the ability to accelerate so quickly through the smallest holes. He would have put up better numbers if he wasn't on such s**tty offenses for so many years.

Delusional that no one has really made a case for Adrian Peterson.

Originally posted by English:

Dexter Carter.

Kevan Barlow

Originally posted by Hysterikal:

Originally posted by English:
Dexter Carter.

Kevan Barlow

Whatever happened to the white arby on the Brows who was on the cover of Madden? he had like one good year and just vanished.

Originally posted by TheGore49er:

Originally posted by Hysterikal:

Originally posted by English:
Dexter Carter.

Kevan Barlow

Whatever happened to the white arby on the Brows who was on the cover of Madden? he had like one good year and just vanished.

Peyton Hillis lol

Originally posted by TheGore49er:

Originally posted by Hysterikal:

Originally posted by English:

Dexter Carter.

Kevan Barlow

Whatever happened to the white arby on the Brows who was on the cover of Madden? he had like one good year and just vanished.

That's exactly what happened.