Best Minnesota Vikings Running Backs
To come up with the best list, we evaluated a variety of factors. We took a hard look at yards per carry, total yards, touchdowns scored, impact on the offence and team, and awards won. Some selections almost wrote themselves into the various positions, while other rankings were quite challenging. Let’s start at the top with everyone’s first selection, Adrian Peterson.
1.) Adrian Peterson – The Best Minnesota Vikings Running Back
Adrian Peterson – Vikings Statistics
Games Played: 123
Years Played: 2007-2016
Rushing Yards: 11,747
Attempts: 2,418
Rushing Touchdowns: 97
Average Rushing Yards Per Attempt: 4.9
Average Rushing Yards Per Game: 95.5
Career highlights
- Peterson is the Viking’s all-time rushing leader.
- In 2007 he won the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.
- He won the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award in 2012.
- Peterson also won the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award in 2012.
- During his rookie season, Peterson set the NFL record for most rushing yards in a single game with 296 yards.
- Played in seven Pro Bowls.
- 4-time First-Team All-Pro.
- Named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.
Adrian Peterson quotes
“Adversity makes me hungrier. I thrive on being able to make a way out of no way.”
“When you don’t give up, you cannot fail.”
“I dedicate myself and work hard in the weight room and treat every practice as if it were a game.”
“Resilience is what I’m all about. I run angry. Football allows me to take out some of my pain on the field.”
“If you don’t think that you’re the best, how do you become the best?”
“I would sacrifice 1,000 yards rushing to win a Super Bowl. But I want to be the first back to have back-to-back 2,000-yard seasons.”
“With trials, you become wiser. You learn more about yourself and the people surrounding you. Me personally, I’ve never been the type of person to judge anyone over wrongdoing, no matter what it is. I’m just not a judgmental person.”
“I want to win four or five championship rings. That’s how I dream. I dream big.”
2.) Robert Smith – Best Minnesota Vikings Running Backs
Robert Smith – Vikings Statistics
Games Played: 98
Years Played: 1993-2000
Rushing Yards: 6,818
Attempts: 1,411
Rushing Touchdowns: 32
Average Rushing Yards Per Attempt: 4.8
Average Rushing Yards Per Game: 69.6
Career highlights
- Smith was drafted 21st overall in the first round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.
- He led the NFC in rushing in 2000 with 1521 yards.
- Smith finished his relatively-short NFL career with four-straight 1,000+ yard seasons, including a 1,500+ yard season in his final year.
- He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1998 and 2000.
Robert Smith highlights video
Robert Smith quotes
“As a rookie in the NFL, it hit me like a flash of light that I finally could afford a telescope, so I bought my first and went nuts with it. That’s when astronomy became an obsession for me. I began reading Stephen Hawking books on cosmology and the origins of the universe, and learning more about deep space objects and star charts and buying Astronomy and Sky & Telescope Magazine.”
“The phrase that I used all the time is that it’s better to walk away early than to limp away late. Too many players do that and there’s nothing that’s worth that.”
“I might have had one or two more good years in me but it wouldn’t have been worth the price of playing.”
3.) Chuck Foreman – Best Minnesota Vikings Running Backs
Chuck Foreman – Vikings Statistics
Games Played: 93
Years Played: 1973-1979
Rushing Yards: 5,887
Attempts: 1,533
Rushing Touchdowns: 52
Average Rushing Yards Per Attempt: 3.8
Average Rushing Yards Per Game: 63.3
Career highlights
- Foreman played in the Pro Bowl five times.
- He was twice selected as a First-Team All-Pro.
- He won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in 1973.
- As a dual-threat back, Foreman was the NFL’s receptions leader in 1975. He finished his career with 3057 receiving yards with a 9.1 average yards per reception and 23 touchdowns through the air.
Chuck Foreman highlights video
Chuck Foreman quotes
“My rookie season against the Kansas City Chiefs. I met Buck Buchanan. It hurt.”
“My favorite play was probably 34-35 Outside. It was an option play designed for me. I could do what I wanted. I could pop it in or pop it out. Whatever I wanted to do.”
“I think my versatility defined my career more than one single play did. I could do things other guys couldn’t do. And, I could go out for a pass and catch the ball with one hand behind my head. Nobody else could do that. I was the first guy to be used out of the backfield as a receiving threat.”
4.) Darrin Nelson – Best Minnesota Vikings Running Backs
Darrin Nelson – Vikings Statistics
Games Played: 129
Years Played: 1982-1992
Rushing Yards: 4,231
Attempts: 981
Rushing Touchdowns: 18
Average Rushing Yards Per Attempt: 4.3
Average Rushing Yards Per Game: 32.8
Career highlights
- Darrin Nelson was the seventh overall pick by the Vikings in the first round of the 1982 NFL Draft out of Stanford.
- The shifty running back was adept at catching passes too. He finished his career with 2,202 receiving yards with an 8.8 average per catch and 5 touchdowns.
5.) Bill Brown – Best Minnesota Vikings Running Backs
Bill Brown – Vikings Statistics
Games Played: 180
Years Played: 1962-1974
Rushing Yards: 5,757
Attempts: 1,627
Rushing Touchdowns: 52
Average Rushing Yards Per Attempt: 3.5
Average Rushing Yards Per Game: 32.0
Career highlights
- Bill Brown played a key role on the 1969 NFL Championship team, led by Joe Kapp and the defense known as the Purple People Eaters.
- His very appropriate nickname is ‘Boom Boom’ Brown.
- Known as a tough-running back, Brown also totaled 3177 receiving yards over his career. He averaged 11.2 yards per catch and 23 touchdowns through the air.
- He was a 4-time Pro Bowl selection.
- Member of the 50 Greatest Vikings in 2010 and the Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor.
6.) Michael Bennett – Best Minnesota Vikings Running Backs
Michael Bennett – Vikings Statistics
Games Played: 64
Years Played: 2001-2005
Rushing Yards: 3,174
Attempts: 713
Rushing Touchdowns: 12
Average Rushing Yards Per Attempt: 4.5
Average Rushing Yards Per Game: 49.6
Career highlights
- The speedy running back was selected to the 2002 Pro Bowl
- After his stint with the Vikings, Bennett played for five other NFL teams including the Saints, Chiefs, Buccaneers, Chargers, and Raiders.
7.) Chester Taylor – Best Minnesota Vikings Running Backs
Chester Taylor – Vikings Statistics
Games Played: 61
Years Played: 2006-2009
Rushing Yards: 2,797
Attempts: 655
Rushing Touchdowns: 18
Average Rushing Yards Per Attempt: 4.3
Average Rushing Yards Per Game: 45.9
Career highlights
- Taylor was originally drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL Draft.
- His 95-yard touchdown run in 2006 was the longest run from scrimmage, setting a franchise record.
8.) Tommy Mason – Best Minnesota Vikings Running Backs
Tommy Mason – Vikings Statistics
Games Played: 70
Years Played: 1961-1966
Rushing Yards: 3,252
Attempts: 761
Rushing Touchdowns: 28
Average Rushing Yards Per Attempt: 4.3
Average Rushing Yards Per Game: 46.5
Career highlights
- Tommy Mason was a 3-time Pro Bowl selection from 1962-1964.
- He made First-Team All-Pro in 1963.
9.) Ted Brown – Best Minnesota Vikings Running Backs
Ted Brown – Vikings Statistics
Games Played: 104
Years Played: 1979-1986
Rushing Yards: 4,546
Attempts: 1,117
Rushing Touchdowns: 40
Average Rushing Yards Per Attempt: 4.1
Average Rushing Yards Per Game: 43.7
Career highlights
- Ted Brown was a first-round pick in the 1979 NFL Draft, selected 16th overall by the Minnesota Vikings.
- He showed his versatility beyond his rushing skills by tallying 2850 receiving yards for an 8.4-yard average and 13 touchdowns over his career.
10.) Dave Osborn – Best Minnesota Vikings Running Backs
Dave Osborn – Vikings Statistics
Games Played: 137
Years Played: 1965-1975
Rushing Yards: 4,320
Attempts: 1,173
Rushing Touchdowns: 29
Average Rushing Yards Per Attempt: 3.7
Average Rushing Yards Per Game: 31.5
Career highlights
- Dave Osborn was a member of the NFL Championship team of 1969.
- He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1970.
- All-Pro in 1967.
Rising Star Award: Dalvin Cook
Dalvin Cook Statistics
Games Played: 29 (through the 2019 season)
Years Played: 2017-current
Rushing Yards: 2,104
Attempts: 457
Rushing Touchdowns: 17
Average Rushing Yards Per Attempt: 4.6
Average Rushing Yards Per Game: 72.6
Career highlights
- Dalvin Cook is widely regarded as one of the top running backs in the NFL.
- If he can stay healthy and avoid injury, Cook has the skills and talent to eventually climb to the top of this list and become one of the best Vikings running backs of all time.
Dalvin Cook quotes
“We run inside and outside, and that was something that I did in college – that’s why I enjoy doing it. They are letting me catch the ball out of the backfield (too). In college, my vision, they put me in the place to make the places. As long as I keep getting better every day and working on my craft, I will continue to make those plays. I think that’s why the organization brought me in. I think my vision is the key to everything.”
“The things I do coming out of the backfield, the things I do in between the tackles, I block, I pretty much do it all. I don’t have to come off the field. I think some guys just don’t do as much as I do, and I think that’s why I’m today’s (top) back.”
“I’m working on catching some balls out of the backfield, getting at the receiver position, lining up out wide. I can catch more than 53 balls and 500 yards. I could get probably about 800 yards receiving, about 300 more yards rushing.”
“I’m definitely capable. I’ve got the tools that I need. I’ve just got to keep working. My game is still evolving, and I’m still growing mentally and physically.”
There you have it! The top 10 running backs in Vikings’ history, plus one who has the potential to lower the rankings of many – if not all – of the other star players. Skol Vikings!