Thread: Broncos Top 10 RBs

Something else to talk about...

The Top 10 Broncos Running Backs Ever

10. John Elway (3,407 yards, 33 TDs, on 774 attempts)
John Elway is the sixth-leading rusher in team history. That's the type of affect he had on the franchise. Not only is he one of the greatest passers of all time, and the best quarterback the Broncos have ever had, he was also a dual threat. He's also in the top 10 all-time for quarterbacks in terms of rushing yards (Michael Vick, Randall Cunningham and Steve Young top the list).

9. Jon Keyworth (2,653 yards, 22 TDs, on 699 carries)
Probably the second best pure fullback the Broncos ever had, Keyworth's best season came in 1975, when he ran 182 times for 725 yards and caught 42 passes for 314 yards. Though he never went over 1,000 yards rushing in a season, he finished his seven-year career as the eighth ranked rusher in team history.

8. Howard Griffith (117 yards, 1 TD on 35 carries)
Griffith is 98th in team history in rushing, actually behind the likes of Bubby Brister and Javon Walker, but it's his role as a blocking fullback that propelled Terrell Davis and the Broncos to two Super Bowl titles that puts him on this list. Plus, he was the guy with the ball on the screen pass where Eddie McCaffrey blew up Brian Williams, that set up TD's winning score in the Super Bowl. He also caught 68 passes for 445 yards and six touchdowns in his four seasons in orange and blue.

7. Bobby Humphrey (2,386 yards, 14 TDs, on 593 carries)
He played just two full seasons in a Broncos uniform, but he had two electric seasons, rushing for 1,151 yards in 1989 as a rookie, and 1,202 yards in 1990. His 1989 season and 1990 season rank 13th and 9th, respectively on the team's single-season rushing lists in terms of yards, plus, he was awesome on Tecmo Bowl. Sadly, his career ended after a holdout in 1991 that lasted 14 games, and he lasted just one year in Miami, before drugs ended his career.

6. Otis Armstrong (4,453 yards, 25 TDs, on 1,023 carries)
Armstrong's career overlapped with Floyd Little's for three seasons, yet his finest season came during that stretch, when he rushed for 1,407 yards and nine touchdowns, while also catching 38 passes for 405 yards in the 1974 season. He led the NFL in rushing in 1974, the first Bronco to do that. His 1974 season was the seventh best in team history.

5. Clinton Portis (3,099 yards, 29 TDs, on 563 carries)
Portis is seventh on the all-time rushing list for the Broncos, and he played just two seasons for the Broncos, rushing for 1,508 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2002 and 1,591 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2003. The 2003 season was the third best single-season in team history, and his 2002 season was fifth best. He also boasts the highest yards per carry in team history, amongst players with more than 100 carries.

4. Sammy Winder (5,427 yards, 39 TDs, on 1,495 carries)
The Mississippi Mudwalk alone puts Winder on the list, but he was a consistent piece of the puzzle in an offense that was driven by Elway. Winder's best season was 1984 when he ran for 1,153 yards and four touchdowns, and caught 44 passes for 288 yards. With a young John Elway trying to figure it all out, Winder was perfect.

3. Mike Anderson (3,822 yards, 36 TDs, on 919 carries)
Probably because it was the years after Elway retired and TD got hurt, Mike Anderson's five-year run in Denver was actually fairly impressive, but not memorable. He had some injury issues and Shanahan, for some reason, insisted on playing him at fullback rather than tailback, but he finished 2000 with 1,487 yards and 15 touchdowns and 2005 with 1,014 yards and 12 touchdowns. The 2000 season was the sixth best rushing season in team history.

2. Floyd Little (6,323 yards, 43 TDs on 1,641 carries)
Little was the Broncos first star, and remains the face of the franchise for the first 22 seasons of the team's existence. He played just nine years in the NFL, which is what may have hurt his chances of getting into the Hall of Fame, but he's finally there. His best season was 1971, when he ran for 1,133 yards on 284 carries. It marked the only season where he went over 1,000 yards.

1. Terrell Davis (7,607 yards, 60 TDs on 1,655 carries)
Terrell Davis is the team's all-time leading rusher, but that's not why he comes in at No. 1. He's No. 1 because he has 1,140 rushing yards in just eight playoff games, with 12 touchdowns, and a Super Bowl MVP on his resume. No one could find a hole in the zone-blocking scheme quite as good as TD could, sparking the famous "Here we go" calls of Dave Logan. Oh, and he's only one of six men to ever go over 2,000 yards in a single season.

Dear Hall of Fame voters,
You are idiots.
Signed, Mo.

Ooh what would have been with Clinton Portis. Dude was the most explosive RB in the NFL with Denver. Really really miss that.

Originally Posted by silkamilkamonico

Ooh what would have been with Clinton Portis. Dude was the most explosive RB in the NFL with Denver. Really really miss that.

Much happier with Bailey though. RBs have such a short life span in the NFL. Look how quickly Portis flamed out in Washington while Champ is still going strong.

But to stay on topic, I'll give my list. I'll make mine more modern since I don't like judging guys I couldn't watch play just based on stats.

1. TD
2. Little (yes I'm breaking my rule but he is in the HOF)
3. Portis
4. Anderson
5. Griffith
6. Elway
7. Tebow
8. McGahee
9. ehh, can't think of anyone else that good in recent memory

98. Henry
99. Clarett
100. Hillis

Originally Posted by BaileyTheBest

But to stay on topic, I'll give my list. I'll make mine more modern since I don't like judging guys I couldn't watch play just based on stats.

1. TD
2. Little (yes I'm breaking my rule but he is in the HOF)
3. Portis
4. Anderson
5. Griffith
6. Elway
7. Tebow
8. McGahee
9. ehh, can't think of anyone else that good in recent memory

98. Henry
99. Clarett
100. Hillis

Reuben Droughns, Olandis Gary and Tatum Bell?

Originally Posted by MOtorboat

Reuben Droughns, Olandis Gary and Tatum Bell?

Vaughn Hebron?

It probably should be pointed out that in 2003, Portis only played in 13 games, and was averaging 122 per game...which would add up to 1,958 yards...

Originally Posted by MOtorboat

Reuben Droughns, Olandis Gary and Tatum Bell?

Tatum Bell I forgot about. He definitely deserves to be on there. I think he was very underrated. I think Gary and Droughns were complete system backs though.

1) Terrell Davis, obviously I'm biased but behind Sweetness this is my favorite RB to watch.

2) Floyd Little, never saw him play but is still an obvious choice.

3) Clinton Poorti$, averaged over a 100 yards a game in Denver.

4) Otis Armstrong, never saw him but my parents F'n loved him.

5) Mike Anderson, Mr Underrated imo, you never hear his name in conversation but he's easily the 3rd best Broncos runner in recent history.

6) Bobby Humphrey, wasn't with the Broncos long before stupidity derailed his career but could make the list on talent alone, is somehow 10th in Broncos history. Fifth in average yards a game.

7) Olandis Gary, really only had one season as the primary focus in the running game but he made the most of it. Didn't have Tatum Bell's talent but was a better player imo.

8) Gerald Wilhite/Steve Sewell, same player, both valuable because of their ability in the passing game.

9) Jon Keyworth, another old timer who makes the list because he stopped the SB parade to give a little kid his autograph.

10) Gaston Green, I always liked him in college and he had a solid yards/game average as a backup to Rod Bernstein. Would be a much better player in today's game.

Honorable Mention, Willis McGahee. Shouldn't take him long to move into Broncos Top10 if he stays healthy. Should been a Bronco in 2007 instead of Travis Henry. Just as Marshawn Lynch should be a Bronco right now.......

Nice thread.

Steve Sewell was pretty damn good too he didn't get Winder's workload but was more versatile, important to the passing game.

I wonder where Tim Tebow ranks? He was a Bronco after all.

Originally Posted by CrazyHorse

I wonder where Tim Tebow ranks? He was a Bronco after all.

Shouldn't be in the top 10.

Tebow is 33rd among Broncos rushing leaders, not bad for one season at RB........

Originally Posted by Jaded

Tebow is 33rd among Broncos rushing leaders, not bad for one season at RB........

He's 14th among Broncos passing leaders, also not bad for one season at RB.......

Really loved Rueben Droughns. Dude was a flat out football player. He played RB, FB, was on every single special teams unit at one time or another, dude even lined up at TE in some formations.