Fansided

Power ranking: The 13 biggest running back busts of all-time

By Robert Judin

Dec 28, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back Trent Richardson (34) carries the ball against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back Trent Richardson (34) carries the ball against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 23, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; San Diego Chargers running back Ronnie Brown (30) before the game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; San Diego Chargers running back Ronnie Brown (30) before the game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

13. Ronnie Brown/Cadillac Williams/Cedric Benson

When you combine the statistics from all three, they make for a sure-fire Hall of Fame running back, but as individuals they crashed and burned compared to the expectations the media had for them.

The reason the list started off with all three of them is because they were the beginning of running backs’ declining value.

In the 2005 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins selected Ronnie Brown out of Auburn with the second-overall pick. The Chicago Bears took Cedric Benson out of Texas with the fourth pick, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Cadillac Williams with the fifth-overall pick.

Since that ’05 draft, only two running backs have been drafted in the top-five picks: Darren McFadden (fourth overall) and Richardson (third overall).

There haven’t been more than two running backs drafted in the top-15 since, and you can forget about finding more than one selected in the top-10 picks.

Brown was the most successful of the three, but his 38 rushing touchdowns and 5,391 rushing yards are far less than what you expect from a second-overall pick.

Williams tallied 4,038 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns. Injuries derailed them all, but Williams suffered from the injury bug more than the other two. He played in 81 games in seven seasons. Benson played in 91 while Brown played in 132.

Speaking of Benson, he had some meaningful playoff runs for the Bears, but his 6,017 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns were nowhere close to what Bears fans thought they were getting when he was drafted – pretty much Walter Payton Jr.

They were the straws that broke the general manager’s back.

Next: Trent Richardson

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