Some running backs grind out three yards and a cloud of dust. And then there are the guys who only need one chance to make the entire stadium gasp.
These are the game-breakers—the home run hitters of the backfield. Whether it’s a cutback lane or busted coverage, these running backs could change the outcome in a single snap.
17. Brian Westbrook
He was a nightmare in space and could take a screen pass 70 yards before you blinked. Westbrook wasn’t the biggest guy, but he didn’t need to be—just fast and sneaky.
16. Chris Johnson
When CJ2K hit the edge, it was over. He looked like he was playing a different sport from everyone else.
15. Jamaal Charles
Every time he touched the ball, it felt like something big was about to happen. He averaged more than 5 yards a carry for a reason.
14. Reggie Bush
You never quite knew what direction he was going in, but it always seemed to end with defenders on skates. Reggie had highlight-reel speed and made open space his personal playground.
13. Barry Foster
For a brief but blazing moment, Barry Foster was the most electric thing on the field. Defenders who blinked missed him entirely.
12. Alvin Kamara
Kamara has that rare ability to glide through defenders like they’re cones at practice. One cut and suddenly he’s in the end zone, barely looking like he tried.
11. Tiki Barber
He wasn’t just slippery—he was explosive when he found daylight. Tiki had a knack for turning 5-yard gains into 50-yard memories.
10. Terrell Davis
Sure, Denver’s system helped, but Davis didn’t just take what was blocked—he turned it into fireworks. His vision and burst made every carry dangerous.
9. Dalvin Cook
In his prime, Cook was a threat to take it the distance from anywhere. Once he planted and went, good luck catching him.
8. Saquon Barkley
When healthy, Barkley is a walking highlight waiting to happen. One jump cut and he’s off to the races.
7. Bo Jackson
Bo didn’t just break games open—he broke the sound barrier. Watching him in the open field felt unfair to everyone else.
6. Tony Dorsett
A 99-yard touchdown run kind of says it all. Dorsett had elite speed and didn’t need much room to show it.
5. Christian McCaffrey
He’s not just a do-it-all back—he’s a game-breaker disguised as a route-running savant. Any touch could be the one that flips the momentum.
4. Marshall Faulk
Faulk could catch, run, juke, and sprint past defenders without warning. The Rams didn’t call it the Greatest Show on Turf for nothing.
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3. Adrian Peterson
Power backs aren’t supposed to be able to take it 80 yards, but AP wasn’t normal. Once he hit that second gear, defenders just watched him leave.
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2. Barry Sanders
He could turn a busted play into a touchdown with zero blocking. Sanders didn’t need a hole—he made his own path with ridiculous agility.
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1. Gale Sayers
Sayers didn’t run as much as he floated across the field. Blink and he was gone, with defenders grasping at air and fans losing their minds.
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