Marshall Faulk's Top 5 RB's...No Portis?!

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by SC Skins Fan

Lots of people like to talk about his "breakaway" ability from his time in Denver. If we measure that by 40+ runs (which is the easiest way since the NFL keeps that stat) those runs have tracked as follows:

2002 - 3
2003 - 6
2004 - 1
2005 - 2
2006 - 0
2007 - 0
2008 - 0

He also averaged 5.5 yds/carry both years in Denver and has never done better than 4.3 in Washington. That probably says more about the talent and system in D.C. than it does about Portis.

His 20+ runs also declined in Washington, though they spiked again last season.

2002 - 11
2003 - 13
2004 - 5
2005 - 6
2006 - 3
2007 - 3
2008 - 13

Maybe the fact that he was able to break the 20 yard runs last year, but not able to turn any of those into 40+ carries does suggest that he is no longer the same back that he was early in his career.

But only 2 players had more carries of 20 or more yards last year; and only 5, I think, had more carries of 10 or more yards. Plus, in my opinion, there isn't a better blocking back in the league.

My top five would be:

Adrian Peterson
Steven Jackson
Clinton Portis
Brian Westbrook
Marcus Mason