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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) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 18: Adrian Peterson
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 18: Adrian Peterson /

25 best NFL running backs of the 21st century

. Adrian Peterson. 2. player. 60. .

To be honest, the top-2 on this list could have gone either way, as the 21st century has been blessed arguably the two best running backs in NFL history. Here, we kick off the top-2 with Adrian Peterson, a running back who has been so good for so long that he had a team take a flier on him this past season.

Peterson, affectionately referred to as AD, was a rare combination of speed and power, and he immediately made his presence felt, winning the NFL’s Rookie of the Year honor for the 2007 season. It was during that rookie season that Peterson put himself on the map for good, setting the NFL single-game record by rushing for 296 yards against the then-San Diego Chargers.

He would go on to be named either first-team or second-team All-Pro in each of the next seven seasons, and unprecedented run of greatest that even included him being named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player during the 2012 year. A seven-time Pro Bowler, Peterson led the NFL in rushing three times, and to this date, is still the last running back to take home the league’s MVP award.

Peterson has played 15 seasons in the NFL, battled back from injury a time or two, and amassed nearly 15,000 rushing yards in his illustrious career. He is currently in the top-5 in both career rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns, and we honestly may never see his rare skill set again.

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