Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Frank Gore, Curtis Martin, and Derrick Henry are three of the top seven all-time running backs in career rushing yards. Gore is third with 16,000 yards, Martin is sixth with 14,101 yards and Derrick Henry is currently seventh with 13,707 yards. All outstanding achievements.

Henry rushed for 2,027 yards in 2020, the fifth highest single-season rushing total in NFL history.

Where do you rank them in your pantheon of the NFL's all-time running backs?

I may be old-fashioned and outdated and influenced by what I saw growing up but I've always thought of
1. Jim Brown - the greatest RB ever. Defenses were designed to stop him in a run dominated era and he still rushed for 5.2 yards per carry.
2. Walter Payton - the greatest all-around RB ever
3. Barry Sanders - imagine what could he have done with a good offensive line
4. Emmitt Smith's 18,355 yards as the all-time leading rusher has to mean something.

In that next group I've had O.J. Simpson, Earl Campbell (in his prime few were better, could the same be said of Gale Sayers?), and Eric Dickerson.
I always thought that Marcus Allen was greatly underrated as he could block, throw, and was money near the goal line.

Where do you have Gore, Martin and Henry ranked in your all-time list of NFL running backs? I can see placing Henry fifth in my list, yet I wouldn't have Gore or Martin in my top 10, yet Martin had 10 consecutive 1,000-yard + rushing seasons.

Henry is a great player which everyone knows but he is also benefitting from an era where tackling and hitting are more lacking due to fines and rules changes. You forgot to even mention Adrian Peterson who was even more of a big-play runner.

These Are My Top Backs

Payton
Brown
Sanders
Simpson
Sayers -- talent wise
E Smith
Faulk
Peterson
Tomlinson
Henry

Tough leaving out Jim Taylor, Steve Van Buren, Marion Motley, Joe Perry, Huge McElhenny, Franco Harris, Tony Dorsett, Marcus Allen, Eric Dickerson, Thurman Thomas, Earl Campbell and others off this list. Gore and Martin are further down for me.

saturdaysarebetter wrote: ↑Fri Nov 06, 2026 2:04 pm

In that next group I've had O.J. Simpson, Earl Campbell (in his prime few were better, could the same be said of Gale Sayers?), and Eric Dickerson.
I always thought that Marcus Allen was greatly underrated as he could block, throw, and was money near the goal line.

Of you "next group" few were any help on 3rd down. Today wouldn't be able to do what CMC, Faulk, LT could do. era matters some when picking top 10s, IMO

Speaking of Henry ... very ineffective even in short yardage since Jackson has been out of the lineup. Has to be frustrated, especially with defenses daring him to run. Not sure how bad the blocking is, but hopefully Brissett can hit the receivers and help lighten the boxes. I still believe if the Ravens keep losing, Jackson will be shelved which cheats the fans but they have a massive cap hit on him next season if they dont restructure or extend the deal.