Fansided

25 best NFL running backs of the 21st century

By Brad Weiss

Charger RB LaDainian Tomlinson runs down the field as the San Diego Chargers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 20 - 9 on December 17, 2006 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, CA. (Photo by Tracy Frankel/Getty Images)
Charger RB LaDainian Tomlinson runs down the field as the San Diego Chargers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 20 - 9 on December 17, 2006 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, CA. (Photo by Tracy Frankel/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
21 of 25
Next
MIAMI – OCTOBER 25: Running back Ricky Williams #34 of the Miami Dolphins celebrates a touchdown run against the New Orleans Saints at Land Shark Stadium on October 25, 2009, in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)
MIAMI – OCTOBER 25: Running back Ricky Williams #34 of the Miami Dolphins celebrates a touchdown run against the New Orleans Saints at Land Shark Stadium on October 25, 2009, in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) /

25 best NFL running backs of the 21st century

player. 59. . . . Ricky Williams. 5

By now, we all know the story of Ricky Williams being drafted by the New Orleans Saints, as Mike Ditka gave away his whole 1999 NFL Draft outside of the Williams pick as well as a first and third-round pick the following year to get him. The trade was a lot, but rightfully so, as the Texas Tornado ran through every collegiate defense he faced and was seen as a can’t-miss prospect by plenty of draft experts.

Williams had a decent three-year stint with the Saints, rushing for nearly 1,000 yards in only 12 games as a rookie, before putting together back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns in 2000 and 2001. Heading into the 2002 season, he was traded to the Miami Dolphins for draft picks and would go on to have his best game as a pro, racking up a league-high 1,853 yards to go along with 16 touchdowns.

It was the kind of production that Ditka was hoping to get when he traded away all those draft picks for him, and he followed up that campaign with nearly 1,400 yards the next year, leading the NFL in carries. From there, the Williams journey had many twists and turns, including early retirement, a year suspension, and a stint in the CFL.

However, Williams returned to form in 2008 and did not miss a single game the rest of his career. His final real solid season was in 2009 when he cracked the 1,000-yard mark, and when all was said and done, he had rushed for 10,000 yards and scored 66 rushing touchdowns in his career.

Home/NFL