The second installment of our NFL preview features the running backs. I’ve chosen to rank 32 RBs, but not necessarily one from each team. Also, this is not a fantasy football ranking. Fantasy football sucks, and I’m ranking guys based more on pure statistics.

1. Adrian Peterson, Vikings: Peterson is the total package. A world-class athlete with the strength to power through the line and break tackles as well as breakaway speed. Peterson set the NFL single-game rushing record…in only his eighth professional game. Yeah, he’s special. AD needs to work on staying healthy and pass blocking (so that he can be a true third-down threat) but will go down as one of the best ever.

2. Brian Westbrook, Eagles: Westbrook is a true dual-threat in the mold of Marshall Faulk with his pass-catching abilities. Last year he set career highs running the ball (1333 yards) and receiving (90 catches for 711 yards.) Not to mention his heads-up, unselfish play in the upset win over Dallas, where he dove to the ground at the one yard line and the Eagles ahead and just over two minutes to go. He sacrificed the touchdown and personal statistics so the team could kneel down and win the game (despite the technicality that an immediate Dallas penalty could’ve theoretically gotten them the ball back before the clock expired.)

3. LaDanian Tomlinson, Chargers: January 14, 2007. The Patriots beat San Diego, ending the Chargers’ dream season and crushing their Super Bowl hopes. LT steps up to the post-game microphone and calls out the Patriots for a (supposed) lack of class. Fast forward one year. The biggest game of his life. A chance for revenge. Tomlinson’s Chargers are in Foxborough for the AFC title game and can end the Patriots’ quest for perfection. Quoted as being “90%,” LT has a change to write his legacy by playing hurt. Where is Tomlinson? On the bench, in his parka, wearing his Darth Vader helmet while Philip Rivers guts it out on a torn ACL. That’s all you need to know about why LT is ranked #3.

Read the rest of the rankings…