Rank the Top 5 RB's going into the 2012 NFL Season?

[sunshinekids99]

Good line there

My current top 5:
1. Arian Foster
2. MJD
3. Peterson
4. McCoy
5. Ray Rice

I don't think people appreciate just how inferior MJD's line is to the other backs listed here, even McCoy's jumbled blocking group. If he got Foster's or Rice's blocking he's easily top 2000 yards.

I think this is a really fair top 5. I might have Rice over McCoy with Forte being real close as well.

[HurricaneKid]

This is absurdly fantasy focused.

Arian Foster plays behind a line that would make ME look good and his backup avg almost a full ypc more than him last year AND higher this year as well.

CJ Spiller FINALLY dropped below 10 ypc this week.

Its a shame we would rather see a RB dance in the backfield and get 5 yards than pick up a blitz that leads to a 40 yd pass play but there is no arguing we do.

[Bank Shot]

J Charles aka the ALL-TIME leader (among RBs) in YPC by .6 of a yard deserves a mention. The best home run hitter in the game and he looks healthy now.

[CJ_18]

I still find it very disrespectful to AP rating him anything but #1...

[Maritimer]

Foster puts up monster numbers, but so did Steve Slaton and Ben Tate when given chances. Even though Arian puts up the best numbers, it's hard to call him the best back. I have the same 5 as Icness, but a different order:

Peterson - I don't think a back can singlehandedly take over a game the way he can.
Rice - Can do absolutely everything and has to be accounted for in every formation.
McCoy - Juuuust behind Rice.
MJD
Foster

I appreciate Charles and Spiller fans wanting to see their guys get their due, but neither has proven what these 5 have. Charles has yet to prove that a) he can help a team win or b) that he can stay healthy enough to be an offensive focal point for an extended period of time. Spiller has been a beast for all of 5 or 6 games in his career. He's skilled, but let's slow our roll a bit.

[Bank Shot]

To be fair to Charles, 2 years ago he put up 1900+ total yards to go along with a 6.4 YPC average and KC won the division. Going into his last carry that year he actually had the YPC single season record but got tackled for a loss and lost it.

Your second point is legit, I'm interested to see how he holds up this year (it looks like it won't be the split with Hillis people were predicting). The crazy part is that the guy has put up just as good or better numbers than some of the guys being mentioned in this thread even with limited touches.

My personal list would be:

1) MJD (how he won the rushing title last year, with that line/team on a bum knee is beyond me)
2) Peterson
3) Rice
4) Charles
5) Foster (I don't really know what to do with Foster tbh, that O line is just so ridiculous)

[Maritimer]

I guess that's fair on Charles -- I may have gone too far on the first point to say he can't lead a winning team.

Still, I haven't seen enough to be convinced we won't be remembering him as a one year wonder. He's got crazy, crazy skills and I would LOVE for him to be on my team (God, could the Steelers use a playmaker like that at RB), but the other 5 I listed have shown me more.

[LAKESHOW]

he looks healthy now.

Nope. He hadd dudes nippin at his heels almost catching up. Previously, there was no one in the picture. He outgunned everybody.

[Lightning25]

Foster is overrated to me. I think he really benefits from the Texans run system and their offensive line.

My top 5 RBs are this...

Peterson
McCoy
Rice
Forte
MJD

It's not in order but I do think Forte is better than Foster. Charles is probably better as well.