NFL Power Rankings: 30 Best Running Backs of All-Time
By Bryce Olin
22. Ricky Williams
Ricky Williams has always been a personal favorite of mine while he was in the league.
In his 11 seasons in the league, Williams rushed for 10,009 yards, which ranks 29th all-time.
After rushing for two 1,000 yard seasons in his first three years in the league with New Orleans Saints, Williams was traded to the Miami Dolphins where he broke out in his first season in 2002. In that season, Williams rushed for a league-leading 1,853 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Unfortunately, Williams career went downhill from there. He rushed for 1,372 yards in the next season, but after a failed drug test in 2004, Williams retired from football for one year. He came back in 2005 and played in 12 games with the Dolphins before missing the entire 2006 season and only played one game in 2007.
Even after missing all those games and only playing in 13 games in four seasons, Williams returned to the Dolphins in 2008 and stayed for three seasons before joining the Baltimore Ravens. In those last four seasons, Williams played in every game and rushed for 1,121 yards in 2009.
It’s not fair to Williams to wonder what if he would have been like had he not suffered from depression and social anxiety that led to his issues off the football field, but if Williams had played virtually at all between 2003-2008, Williams would easily be in the top ten in rushing yards.
Next: 21. Fred Taylor