In YOUR Opinion, Who's The Best Ever Pass-Catching NFL Running Back Out Of The Backfield?

[RunLeeRun]

Tom Rathman was pretty nasty from the fullback spot. That 49er offense really fed the backs the ball.

 

[RunLeeRun]

Priest Holmes

 

[Shub]

Priest Holmes

he was a beast. Too bad he had those neck problems.

 

[ChiTownHustler]

Dalton Hilliard, Eric Metcalf were pretty good in their time

 

[joebatters]

James Brooks

That was the first name to come to my mind.

 

[MikeB]

Roger Craig's 1985 season was something special. First 1000/1000 rush/receiving in a season.

This

Offensive players weren't protected as much back then either.

 

[HarryCaray]

LT and Westbrook come to mind.

Arian Foster has great hands.

 

[The Guesser]

larry centers, played with my skins late

Great answer, highly underrated, and believe it or not the career leader in receptions for a RB. Marshall is #2 and more explosive at it, ran WR routes.

 

[Akillies]

chuck foreman
first one that was great at catching passes out of the backfield

 

[Akillies]

larry brown, keith byars, freeman mcneil, and charley johnson deserve mention

 

[PatsFan1283]

Westbrook was a beast out of the backfield in that Reid/McNabb offense, just couldn't really stay healthy very many years

Forte is really good too, keep in mind he has played in pretty bad offenses with bad OLs most of his career

 

[silver7]

Craid had Joe & Walsh, sure helped. Yeah my boy Chuck was great for the Vikes. Has to be Faulk tho!

 

[JustinCruise]

Marshall Faulk



More Recently Forte

 

[HarryCaray]

As far as up-and-comers, how about Shane Vereen? He has some great hands.

 

[HacheMan]

Wow just found this. (From 2012)
Check out Emmitt Smith.



Following are the running backs that have had the most seasons with 250+ carries and 50+ receptions.

Seasons with 250+ carries/50+ receptions, Players
8: LaDainian Tomlinson
6: Marshall Faulk
5: Tiki Barber, Edgerrin James
4: Ahman Greene, Emmitt Smith, Thurman Thomas, Ricky Watters
3: Marcus Allen, Ottis Anderson, William Andrews, Priest Holmes, Ray Rice, Lydell Mitchell

If we move the criteria up to 300 carries and 70 catches, only eight players have met those numbers in league history. They are:
Lydell Mitchell, 1977, Baltimore, 301 carries, 71 catches
James Wilder, 1984, Tampa Bay, 407 carries, 85 catches
Roger Craig, 1988, San Francisco, 310 carries, 76 catches
Marshall Faulk, 1998, Indianapolis, 324 carries, 86 catches
Curtis Martin, 2000, N.Y. Jets, 316 carries, 70 catches
LaDainian Tomlinson, 2002, San Diego, 372 carries, 79 catches


Priest Holmes, 2002, Kansas City, 313 carries, 70 catches
LaDainian Tomlinson, 2003, San Diego, 313 carries, 100 catches
Priest Holmes, 2003, Kansas City, 320 carries, 74 catches
Steven Jackson, St. Louis, 2006, 346 carries, 90 catches

Here’s a few more stats concerning running backs with 250-plus carries and 50-plus catches in a season:
* Four players accomplished this feat at the age of 30: Tiki Barber (2006, 2007 at age 30 and 31), Ricky Watters (2000 at age 31), Tony Dorsett (1984 at age 30) and Priest Holmes (2003 at age 30).
* LaDainian Tomlinson holds the record for most consecutive seasons with 250-plus rushing attempts and 50-plus receptions with eight. He did it from 2001-2008. Tiki Barber did it in five straight seasons from 2002-2006.
* Eight players reached the 250/50 milestone in their rookie season. They were: Billy Sims (1980), Joe Cribbs (1980), Eric Dickerson (1983), Marshall Faulk (1994), Edgerrin James (1999), LaDainian Tomlinson (2001), Steve Slaton (2008) and Matt Forte (2008).
* Two players in NFL history not only had 250 carries and 50 catches, but also had at least one kickoff return and one punt return in that season. Joe Cribbs did it in 1980, Maurice Jones-Drew did it in 2009.