...and its not even close.
Fact of the matter is, most folks would call this post blasphemy (waiting for Kenny to strike me down with a bolt of lightning) and in part it might be. However, this post might be more to strike a comparison to another highly fabled player in our generation and to determine a fatal flaw in the crowned king of tailbacks in the NFL. Let me make this argument in 2 points.
#1. Chris Johnson is the next coming of
#2. Adrian Peterson could quite possibly cost the Minnesota Vikings a Super Bowl in the same way that Earnest Byner (remember him?) cost the Cleveland Browns a Super Bowl.
See, fear comes in many forms, for some fear is being overwhelmed physically and not being able to do anything about it. See one Gay, William last month. However, there's a totally different fear which in my opinion is worse, and that's a fear of being embarrassed and made to look silly. See, what happened to William Gay was bad because he got trucked on national television, however I will say that it was a valiant effort, although the ending was quite gruesome. He tried to make the play and it didn't work out, we've all been there. No shame in that...ok, not TOO MUCH shame in that.
But, from what I'm seeing from Chris Johnson this year reminds me of what Barry Sanders used to do to folks in the open field, that is...make them look really foolish and make folks want to retire immediately. Its bad enough that's he's the fastest person in the NFL (sorry, but Devin Hester's 100 speed on Madden needs to be transferred to #28 of the Titans.) but he's got THE NERVE to be able to cut on a dime and juke and hop step with the best of them? WTF! Plus, he's doing something that Purple Jesus is struggling mightily with right now.
He holds onto the football.
I think Adrian proved to us all that he could be a workhorse and plow his way to a remarkable season, however, for the long term everyone realizes that Brett Favre is the best thing that could've happen to "All Day". Less workload, more opportunities to be truly explosive. Chris Johnson this season has had NO help at all. With the resurgence of the ever mercurial Vince Young, you could argue that Johnson has made VY10 better, not the other way around with the QB/RB relationship.
So lets compare Chris Johnson's season thru 11 games compared to Adrian Peterson's season thru 11 games. I mean, AP had Gus Frerotte and Tavaris Jackson at his disposal so I'd say the sides were equal.
2008 Adrian Peterson (thru 11 games) - 4.8 yards/carry, 242 rushes/1180 rush yards/8 rush TDs, 16 recs/95 rec. yards, 5 fumbles/3 lost
2009 Chris Johnson (thru 11 games) - 6.4 yards/carry, 217 rushes/1396 rush yards/9 rush TDs, 33 recs/294 rec. yards/1 rec TD, 1 fumble/1 lost
Chris Johnson is on pace to run for 2,030 yards this season, which would would rank 4th all-time, behind Eric Dickerson (2,105), Jamal Lewis (2,066), and Barry Sanders (2,053). Plus, he's on pace for 2,457 yards from scrimmage (rushing & receiving) which would put him #1 all-time for a single season. Currently, Marshall Faulk ranks 1st with 2,429 yards from scrimmage in 1999. I need you to re-read those last two sentences and begin to realize the magnitude of the performance we're seeing from #28.
Put it another way, if you could re-draft your fantasy team and you owned the #1 pick, who would you select?
(Insert Your Team Name Here) will take Chris Johnson, Runningback, from the Tennessee Titans.
HAS ED GONE CRAZY? WHO IS THE BEST RUNNINGBACK IN THE NFL? PETERSON? JOHNSON? IS ANYONE ELSE IN THE RUNNING? MJD? LET US KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS!
-Ed.
www.edthesportsfan.com
Comments
23 Responses to "Chris Johnson is the best running back in football..."I agree 110%. People can had AD, I'll take Chris Johnson anyday. I became a believer last season when we played the Titans in the playoffs. The Ravens couldn't stop him and had he not been hurt in the 2nd half, they totally win that game.
Johnson holds the ball and he also has a style of run that can keep him around longer. Not only does Peterson fumble but he runs very high. I give him an NFL life span of 5 years because of it.
And Reggie who?! Child Please!
iDied @ "Purple Jesus"
But I agree wholeheartedly that CJ is the best RB in the league. I think his game, ability, style of play complement Vince Young in a way that allows him to succeed. They're both able to succeed at the same time, compared to one having a good game and the other suffering because of it.
In my fantasy draft, I managed to draft Adrian Peterson AND Chris Johnson with the 4th pick. Other players decided to pick QBs first. Needless to say, my squad is 10-1 lol.
Hard to argue with either players, but I definitely am onboard with Chris Johnson taking over the mantle from Peterson. Not only is he killing it in the run game and doesn't fumble, but he also is insane out of the backfield catching the ball, another part of Adrian's game that hasn't been showcased. Chris Johnson, on the other hand, is like a wide receiver out there.
The man is making a mockery of the league, and I won't doubt the man. With a rejuvenated VY and Chris Johnson leading the way, 10 straight isn't out of the question. Halfway there.
I like Chris Johnson a lot, so this isn't to say anything against his season and his impact. The man is playing like a monster, and he will break the 2,000 yard-barrier this season.
Peterson has always fumbled a lot, and anyone who's seen him ever play knows this. Honestly, he was never the best RB in football (IMO), simply because he has never been able to stop fumbling, and that's my dude!
CJ is the best right now, but I think that has a lot to do with the notion that there hasn't been a consistent "best RB in football" for the past year-and-a-half, so it's kinda like winning a vacant championship belt.
The best RB is Adrian Peterson, he led the NFC in rushing as a rookie, 2nd in the NFL and has led the NFL in rushing the last two years and until Chris Johnson does that, Adrian Peterson is the best RB in the NFL. Now if the question is who is the best RB in the NFL "this season" or "in the last five games", then the answer would be Chris Johnson.
Johnson is gaining yards because the opposing defense have one more thing to prepare for when they play the Titans, VINCE YOUNG and his ability to run as well, defenses stacked up on Chris Johnson because Kerry Collins was no real threat, Vince Young is. With the defense having to prepare for Young passing, Young running and Johnson running, it opens up alot more opportunities for Johnson.
I would like to see where Johnson's numbers would be if Kerry Collins was still starting...HMMMMM!!!
I will not crown Chris Johnson best RB in the league because he's on pace to break a record or he has had 5 great games this year, its not fair to Peterson and what he's done the last 3 years in the league.
Why wasn't this question raised when the Titans were 0-6? Wait I know why because the Vince Young is playing now and they are winning games. Where was Johnson when the Titans were 0-6? He wasn't the best RB in the NFL then, now all of a sudden people think he is now? No Way Jose!!!
#1 Adrian Peterson
#2 Chris Johnson
No questions asked.
Mkrob makes a solid point.
Fumbling is a problem. Purple Hayseus is starting to get his Tiki on too much for my liking.
Mkrob is blindly arguing that Peterson has had the greater career so far. However, rb is the one position where reputation is worthless year-to-year. What Peterson did as a rookie has no bearing on how good he is now. You have to perform. Chris Johnson has done that and is the best right now hands down.
Wait a minute...
One thing we don't do at ETSF is use stats as a barometer, because numbers lie. They don't tell the whole truth, and it's easy to become manipulated by them, but CLEARLY my partner-in-crime violated one of the cardinal rules of the site.
MKRob is being extremely reasonable in his argument. Lets be for real here: the Titans receiving core consists of Nathaniel Washington, Kenny Britt, and Justin Gage. No offense, because they are fine players, but they are no Sidney Rice, Bernard Berrian, and Percival Harvin. We don't even need to talk about QB play, because Lorenzo Favre is better than VY and Kerry Collins, put together. Once again, no disrespect to VY, because I love the brother, but he's no Favre. Chris Johnson is the ultimate weapon on the Titans, because, before VY came back in the picture, he was the only weapon they had.
It just amazes me that people can say "no doubt CJ's the best," when these same people didn't have him top-ten at the beginning of the season! What about SJ39, MJD, Portis, and DeAngelo Williams?
Like I said, numbers lie. They don't tell the whole truth, and shame on my brother for using them to try and silence his guilty conscience. Shame on him.
First off...lol, this is hilarious.
Now, Kenny is correct when we do make a point of saying that stats don't tell the whole story. That is correct. However, stats don't lie, but they can be manipulated for wrongdoing.
I didn't do that with this article. The numbers are mindblowing for what Chris Johnson is doing right now, but more importantly, we can SEE what he's doing is otherwordly.
Statistically, Michael Turner was the best RB in football last year, but I'd never put him #1. Because to me, he doesn't look like a #1 RB, he looks like a pretty good, not great back who had a great year, period.
When you are at 5 games to go, and you are taking aim at the single-season rushing record, that means something. Plus, more importantly, the biggest issue with Peterson is that he FUMBLES! That's the first thing you learn from playing tailback, secure the ball. Moreover, Chris Johnson's skill as a receiver is all the more impressive, this is something AP has definitely improved on, but he's not on Johnson's level.
Yes, I might've been skeptical after his rookie year, especially with LenDale getting off and getting 15 TDs, but think if LenDale wasn't there. He really ain't there now, and look how CJ28 is killing the league, and its not even close. Everyone knows he's getting the ball and they still can't stop him. Just like Peterson last year, Peterson went off last year and his numbers don't compare to Johnson.
That's not the numbers lying, that's the numbers telling the truth.
Thank you.
-Ed.
I guess the fact that Peterson led the NFC in rushing his rookie year means nothing and the fact that he's been leading rusher in the NFL the last two years means nothing either. If Peterson fumbles...he fumbles, no one's perfect. Don't replace a player like Peterson with Johnson because of 5 games. Why didnt this question come up in the beginning of the season? Because Chris Johnson wouldn't have been the answer and this answer comes after an incomplete 12 game season and no rushing titles in the AFC let alone the NFL for Johnson. What people say nowadays? No bueno? Yeah no bueno Chris Johnson, at least not right now.
LOL at the guy claiming CJ had 5 good games and would be doing nothing with Collins at QB. He had nearly 300 yards week 2 against Houston, 105 yards against the Jets in week 3, 94 yards against Jacksonville in week 4, and 128 yards against New England in week 6. This, while maintaining a 6.3 YPC average with him being the only threat on the team, so teams were just able to put 8-9 in the box to try to stop him.
lol ok to mkrob.whatever.... what in the world are u talking about? when kerry was starting chris johnson still stood out among all runningbacks. hes led since week one. it doesnt matter what QB is in. because chris johnson is focused on running the ball. he's doing his job, he doesnt care whos in at QB. yes VY being makes us better morally. only because hes more aggressive and more of a leader than kerry collins. and u contradicted yourself btw. because vikings have one of the best if not the best QB's in the league. and yet adrian still cant perform any where close as good as CJ. CJ is consistant, unlike adrian. not taking anything away from adrian, great runningback. but id rather have a runningback thats consistant, rather than inconsistant. am i wrong? or would someone like to correct me?
Everyone thats saying that AP has led the the league in rushing the past couple years and until johnson does that he cant be better than him need to remember johnson has only been in the league for two years this being his second and last year he split a lot of carries with lendal white...also this year johnson is the only real offensive threat teams have to prepare for and he still putting up BEAST numbers AP has favre and which opens up the run game for him some more but he isnt producing like johnson...its understandable when ESPN and other networks have been telling the public that AP is the best back in the leauge for a couple years now that many people are unwilling to change their minds because its been basically shoved down our throats...but truth is he's not hes very good but he isnt the best in the league right now its ok people change is good sometimes
People are making this a lot more complicated than it has to be.
Right now, Chris Johnson has had fewer rushing attempts than Peterson, and he leads him by more than 300 yards.
Johnson is averaging a ridiculous 126 yards per game...about 15% better than the best season of AP's career.
There are absolutely no weaknesses in Chris Johnson's game whatsoever. None. The same cannot be said for Peterson.
What Peterson did in his first couple years was fantastic. But right now, Johnson is doing stuff that has never been done before by any player in the history of the game....and he still has five games left in the season.
Right now, a lot of people are talking about the whole "CJ vs. AP" argument. By season's end, there will no longer be any discussion.
AP is a great back and no disrespect to him. But if we could put CJ on the Vikings, he could rush for 2300 yards the way he is playing right now. MKRob's argument does not hold up.
MKrob
CJ has led the league i rushing this year from week 2 on. With Collins, with VInce.
CJ just broke the nfl record for yards in a month.
AP is more injury prone, fumbles more, and doesn't catch the ball that well. he's often a liability on 3rd and long.
CJ is a necessity on 3rd down, has about 10% of the fumbles of AP and is healthy every week.
CJ will easily have more rushing yards, recieving yards, rushing TD's, receiving TD's, Higher yards per carry, less fumbles, less carries, and less games missed... than AP did his first 2 years in the league... all with a weaker supporting class and while getting touches/TD's swiped by Lendale White.
AD/AP is a badass but...
CJ is in a league of his own.
oh yeah... and CJ also leads the league in Yards after contact and Broken/missed tackles.
you'd think AP would be tops in those... gues CJ is more physical than people want to believe.
MKRob, how many 85+ yard TD runs does AP have? Because CJ has had three of them.
russ, where did you see that CJ leads the league in yards after contact and broken/missed tackles? Is it on some website? I wanna make sure thats a true stat before I brag to my friend who says AP is better.
anonymous
broken/missed tackles
profootballfocus.com its the stat labeled "mt" in the by position/rb section
yards after contact - can't find a stat site right now but footballsfuture had an article about it. if you google: "chris johnson""yards after contact" there are 2-3 articles on the first page and 3-4 on the second page.
most of what i found was before the houston game but considering he led all rushers tha last 2 weeks as well as breaking off an 85 yarder where he was touched at the LOS i'm pretty sure he's still in the lead.
alright sweet, thanks. CJ > AP
ADRIAN WHO????? =)
ADRIAN=ok
CJ=Phenom
CJ in NFL is like Reggie bush in college. hands down.
CJ in NFL is like CJ in college.
He led the nation in all purpose yards as a senior at ECU and he had 2 fumbles all year. The guy is a machine and Skip Holtz told everyone from day one that he was once in a lifetime player but people don't believe smaller schools can produce talent like that but look at the all time greats and hardly ANY of them played big time college ball. Brett Favre = S Miss Jerry Rice = MV state and the list goes on.
Post a Comment
Drop a line folks...no anonymous commenters!