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) /
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Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs
KANSAS CITY, MO – OCTOBER 23: Running back Jamaal Charles /

25 best NFL running backs of the 21st century

124. . . . Jamaal Charles. 18. player

After a dominant final season at the University of Texas, one in which he racked up over 1,600 yards on the ground, Jamaal Charles was a third-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs. Charles played for the Chiefs from 2008 through the 2016 NFL seasons, before a year in Denver, and then finishing out his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

However, it was with the Chiefs where Charles would go on to be one of the more explosive backs in football, going to four Pro Bowls, and twice being named first-team All-Pro. During the 2013 NFL season, Charles led the NFL in rushing yards, and when you combine his 70 catches, he nearly had over 2,000 all-purpose yards that year.

For his career, Charles rushed for over 1,000 yards in a season five times and set numerous Kansas City records in a career that saw him rush for over 7,500 yards and 44 touchdowns. When he was healthy, he was nearly unstoppable, possessing the ability to hurt you on the ground and through the air.

To this day, he holds the NFL record for most yards per carry for any running back with at least 1,000 carries at 5.38.

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