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NFL: Top 10 RBs in the 2000’s

Joey Sheiner

Published

February 9, 2025

The workhorse running back was alive and well in the 2000s, with several productive backs receiving heavy workloads each year. That made for some serious superstars at the position, and I will try to narrow that group down to the 10 best.

10. Priest Holmes, BAL/KC

INDIANAPOLIS – NOVEMBER 18: Priest Holmes #31 of the Kansas City Chiefs carries the ball during the game against the Indianapolis Colts on November 18, 2007 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colts defeated the Chiefs 13-10. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Holmes was an incredibly dynamic back who struggled to stay healthy in Baltimore but exploded in Kansas City. Despite only playing all 16 games in a season four out of 10 times, he managed to rack up over 6,500 career rushing yards on 4.6 yards per carry and make 3 Pro Bowls.

9. Steven Jackson, STL

SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 30: Running back Steven Jackson #39 of the St. Louis Rams rushes against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on December 30, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

At 240 pounds, Jackson was a tough man to tackle once he got rolling. The 3-time Pro Bowler ran for over 1,000 yards every year from 2005 to 2010, peaking with 1,528 yards in 2006, and became a fan favorite in St. Louis.

8. Ahman Green, GB/HOU

LANDOVER, MD – OCTOBER 31: Ahman Green #30 of the Green Bay Packers runs with the ball during a NFL football game against the Washington Redskins on October 31, 2001 at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Green was insanely productive for Green Bay in the early 2000s – a whopping 1,833-yard, 20-touchdown season in 2003 was the fourth of five straight 1,100-yard seasons to start off the decade. He made 4 Pro Bowls in Green Bay and remains the Packers’ all-time leading rusher.

7. Shaun Alexander, SEA/WAS

Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander runs the ball in the second half of the NFL game on Monday Night Football November 27, 2006 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin Casey/NFLPhotoLibrary)

The former first-team All-American at Alabama thrived in Seattle, gaining over 1,300 yards four times in five seasons. His monstrous 2005 season – 1,880 yards and 27 rushing TDs on 5.1 yards per carry – helped the Seahawks make their first Super Bowl appearance.

6. Clinton Portis, DEN/WAS

DENVER – SEPTEMBER 22: Running back Clinton Portis #26 of the Denver Broncos carries the ball against the Oakland Raiders on September 22, 2003 at Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Raiders 31-10. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Portis excelled in Denver behind Mike Shanahan’s revolutionary zone-running scheme for two 1,500-yard seasons to begin his career, and continued to produce after the Redskins traded for him. He made 2 Pro Bowls and gained nearly 9,700 career rushing yards.

5. Jamal Lewis, BAL/CLE

BALTIMORE, MD – NOVEMBER 07: Jamal Lewis #31 of the Baltimore Ravens runs with the ball during a NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns on November 7, 2004 at M & T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Lewis was a machine for the majority of his career – if he played, he produced. Although he suffered a torn ACL and missed the entire 2001 season, he continued to rack up 1,000-yard seasons – including a 2,066-yard one in 2003. All in all, he rushed for over 10,000 yards in his nine-year career.

4. Tiki Barber, NYG

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning flips a short pass to Tiki Barber. The Indianapolis Colts beat the New York Giants by a Score of 26 to 21 at Giants Stadium, The Meadowlands, East Rutherford, NJ., September 10, 2006. (Photo by Rich Gabrielson/NFLPhotoLibrary)

Barber initially struggled to find carries in the Big Apple, but once he did, there was no denying his star power. Despite never being a workhorse until later in his career, Barber racked up over 10,000 career yards and made 3 Pro Bowls by averaging 4.7 yards per carry.

3. Fred Taylor, JAX/NE

CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 19: Running back Fred Taylor #28 of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs with the football against the Cleveland Browns during a game at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 19, 1999 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Jaguars defeated the Browns 24-14. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

Taylor was an explosive playmaker for a productive Jacksonville offense. Despite weighing around 230 pounds, he had a surprising amount of agility to go with home-run speed. He had six 1,000-yard seasons in the 2000s and totaled 11,695 rushing yards in his career.

2. Edgerrin James, IND/ARI/SEA

Colts runningback Edgerrin James leaves the field with the ball after scoring late in the game as the Indianapolis Colts defeated the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 28 to 3 at Monster Park, San Francisco, California, October 9, 2005. (Photo by Robert B. Stanton/NFLPhotoLibrary)

James was a special multi-tool weapon for Peyton Manning in Indianapolis – the 4-time Pro Bowler and current NFL Hall of Famer excelled as both a runner and a receiver. He ran for over 1,500 yards four times and caught at least 50 passes in a season five times.

1. LaDanian Tomlison, SD/NYJ

LaDainian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers during a game against the Oakland Raiders at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California on September 11, 2006. San Diego won 27-0. (Photo by Robert B. Stanton/NFLPhotoLibrary)

One of the most productive running backs in NFL history, Tomlinson was a one-man wrecking crew in San Diego. Five Pro Bowls, one Offensive Player of the Year award, and one NFL MVP fail to capture his dominance. His 2006 season – over 2,300 total yards and 31 TDs – may never be equaled again.

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