I wanted to wait until the end of this season to see who would retire, but then again, I had a few extra minutes to scratch something together, so here we are. I've put together a Top 5 Running Back compiled from all the stats I could dig through (on short notice). Sound off you've got another player to make a case.

#5. Ricky Grant - GBY 13,976 all purpose yards (including KRs), 40 TDs. Grant retired in 2024, the only player on this list who is currently inactive. He began his career with four consecutive 1000+ yard rushing seasons, 3,500 yards receiving, and 3,000 yards as a return man, to boot.

#4. John Hook - IRV 13,878 all purpose yards (including KR), 74 TDs. A true triple threat, John Hook has amassed over 4,000 yards each, in rushing, receiving, and returns...and he's only 28. His place could continue to improve throughout his career.

#3. Clarence Sorensen - ARK 13,728 APY, 83 TDs. Sorensen has two championships, a Super Bowl MVP, and five Super Bowl appearances to go along with over 8,000 rushing and 5,000 receiving yards. Sorensen has three 2000+ yard rushing/receiving seasons, and is currently on pace for another one this season at age 29.

#2. Karl Grizzard - HOU (LAX) 14,291 APY, 74 TDs. Grizzard has rushed for nearly 11,000 rushing yards in 8.5 seasons, a career 4.9 ypc stat, and tack on another 3,000 yards in receiving as well. Grizzard also has 3 Super Bowl Championships, which has to count for something as well, right?

#1. Scott Cosper - SFO 15,055 APY, 112 TDs. Cosper accumulated over 11,000 yards rushing in 7.5 seasons, has a career 5.7 ypc, is still only 29, and is the only RB to have double digits TDs for six consecutive seasons. Cosper has won a championship as well to go along with this stellar numbers.

So what do the Football Moguls say? Does someone else deserve a spot in the Running Back Pantheon?

I thought this would be a good time to update the running backs list as the Player Awards moved Clarence Sorensen to the All-League Team for Running Back. However, this pundit still doesn't quite agree that Sorensen is the top back of all time. Here's the amended list:

#5. Ricky Grant - GBY 13,976 all purpose yards (including KRs), 40 TDs. Grant retired in 2024. He began his career with four consecutive 1000+ yard rushing seasons, 3,500 yards receiving, and 3,000 yards as a return man, to boot. However, his legacy ends there as he only played in two post-season games.

#4. John Hook - IRV/FTS 16,785 all purpose yards (including KR), 84 TDs. A true triple threat and may well be the most versatile running back in Moguls history. What he lacks in championship pedigree, he is currently the leading all-purpose yards running back. He finished with 7,074 yards rushing, 5,179 yards receiving, and 4,524 yards in kick returns.

#3. Karl Grizzard - LAX/HOU 14,976 APY, 75 TDs. Grizzard retired in 2025 but not before he rushed for over 11,000 rushing yards in 9 seasons, a career 4.7 ypc stat, and tack on another 3,000 yards in receiving as well. Grizzard also has 3 Super Bowl Championships and amassed 2,300 yards and 10 TDs post-season.

#2. Clarence Sorensen - ARK 15,471 APY, 86 TDs. Sorensen has three championships, a Super Bowl MVP, and six Super Bowl appearances to go along with 9,310 rushing and 6,011 receiving yards. Sorensen has four 2000+ yard rushing/receiving seasons. Sorensen is the current post-season running back leader in total yards and TDs with 2,952 yards and 17 TDs.

#1. Scott Cosper - SFO 16,249 APY, 118 TDs. Cosper accumulated over 11,000 yards rushing in ONLY 8 seasons, had a career 5.6 ypc, and is the only RB to have double digits TDs for six consecutive seasons--a touchdown machine. Cosper won a championship and accumulated 1,089 yards and 6 TDs in the post-season. Cosper is the no-doubt GOAT at Running Back, one that may not soon be eclipsed.

I dug up this post from way back when and thought it would be a good time to amend and expand it.

#10. Ricky Grant - GBY 13,976 all purpose yards (including KRs), 40 TDs. Grant retired in 2024. He began his career with four consecutive 1000+ yard rushing seasons, 3,500 yards receiving, and 3,000 yards as a return man, to boot. However, his legacy ends there as he only played in two post-season games.

#9. Robert Salazar - Kayfabe / IDY, 15,668 all purpose yards 40 TDs. Salazar had five 1000 rushing yards seasons in 11 total seasons. He accumulate 9,724 yards rushing over that time. His biggest knock was being in a franchise that never saw the post season.

#8. James Young - FTS, 15,879 all purpose yards, 67 TDs. Young is still active with the Sharks, but he has logged three 1000 yard rushing seasons for 7,331 yards total. He's also contributed 6,541 yards receiving and 1,667 yards in the return game.

#7. Randal Meyer - CHI, 13,668 all purpose yards (including KRs), 103 TDs. Meyer has only seen rushing action in 5 seasons, and one of those he rushed for over 1,400 yards. He was primarily used as a WR, but in his time, he helped Chicago get to three league championships (winning one) pounding the rock.

#6. Donald Carmean - CLE/SBR, 17,404 all purpose yards (including KR) 51 TDs. It's a shame Carmean only played 9 seasons because his rank could be a little higher. He crossed the 1000 yard rushing threshold three times in his career. He also added over 4,300 yards on kick returns as well, making him a dangerous triple threat player.

#5. John Hook - IRV/FTS 16,785 all purpose yards (including KR), 84 TDs. One of the most versatile running back in Moguls history, he finished with 7,074 yards rushing, 5,179 yards receiving, and 4,524 yards in kick returns. For icing on the cake, he also added 10 TDs on Kick Returns.

#4. Martin Deskins - ARZ, 19,063 all purpose yards (including KRs), 51 TDs. Deskins played for 12 seasons, retiring in 2033. He rushed for 10,015 yards, caught 655 passes for 4,407 yards, and returned 4,623 yards from kicks and punts. Pity he played in the NFC West with rivals, Xtreme, Demons, and Seahawks, or he could have had more a spotlight.

#3. Karl Grizzard - LAX/HOU 14,976 APY, 75 TDs. Grizzard retired in 2025 but not before he rushed for over 11,000 rushing yards in 9 seasons, a career 4.7 ypc stat, and tack on another 3,000 yards in receiving as well. Grizzard also has 3 Super Bowl Championships and amassed 2,300 yards and 10 TDs post-season.

#2. Clarence Sorensen - ARK 15,471 APY, 86 TDs. Sorensen retired in 2026 with three championships, a Super Bowl MVP, and six Super Bowl appearances to go along with 9,310 rushing and 6,011 receiving yards. In addition, Sorensen had four 2000+ yard rushing/receiving seasons. Sorensen still leads all running backs in post-season yards and TDs with 2,952 yards and 17 TDs.

#1. Scott Cosper - SFO 16,249 APY, 118 TDs. Cosper accumulated over 11,000 yards rushing in ONLY 8 seasons, had a career 5.6 ypc, and is the only RB to have double digits TDs for six consecutive seasons--a touchdown machine. Cosper won a championship and accumulated 1,089 yards and 6 TDs in the post-season. Cosper is the no-doubt GOAT at Running Back, one that may not soon be eclipsed.

Most of these guys were before my time in Moguls, but an interesting read on league history. Cosper put up some real video game numbers in his career. Oh wait.

I wonder what this guy thinks about this list?

I’m guessing Edmond Johnson slides into the top 10 after this season. Too much of living in Cosper’s shadow.

Looks like Cosper was the Jim Brown or Barry Sanders of Moguls - show up, dominate, ride off into the sunset.

He was too small to take the pounding. He was originally a WR, one of the first WR to RBs in our league. But years of getting pounded into the ground took a toll on him I guess, leading to early retirement.

It's true, for all the talent Edmond Johnson has, he could never escape the shadow of Cosper. Sequels are rarely better than the original. But I still love my children equally!

This list needed a major overhaul.

*denotes an active player

Honorable Mentions
Ricky Grant, GBY - 13,976 APY, 40 TD
*Carlos Emery, IDY - 14,234 APY, 78 TD
Bruce Shook, WAS/KMN - 14,530 APY, 52 TD
*Brian Reynolds, IRV - 15,801 APY, 37 TD
Robert Salazar - Kayfabe / IDY, 15,668 APY, 40 TD

The List

#10. James Young - FTS/RMB, 16,860 all purpose yards, 70 TDs. Young retired in 2034 with the Sharks, but he logged three 1000 yard rushing seasons for 7,561 yards total. He's also contributed 6,777 yards receiving and 2,121 yards in the return game.

#9. Randal Meyer - CHI, 14.089 all purpose yards (including KRs), 105 TDs. Meyer rushed minimally in 6 seasons, but one of those seasons he rushed for over 1,400 yards. He was primarily used as a WR, but in his time, he helped Chicago get to three league championships (winning one), pounding the rock.

#8. Donald Carmean - CLE/SBR, 17,404 all purpose yards (including KR) 51 TDs. It's a shame Carmean only played 9 seasons because his rank could be a little higher. He crossed the 1000 yard rushing threshold three times in his career. He also added over 4,300 yards on kick returns as well, making him a dangerous triple threat player.

#7. John Hook - IRV/FTS 16,785 all purpose yards (including KR), 84 TDs. One of the most versatile running back in Moguls history, he finished with 7,074 yards rushing, 5,179 yards receiving, and 4,524 yards in kick returns. For icing on the cake, he also added 10 TDs on Kick Returns.

#6. Martin Deskins - ARZ, 19,063 all purpose yards (including KRs), 51 TDs. Deskins played for 12 seasons, retiring in 2033. He rushed for 10,015 yards, caught 655 passes for 4,407 yards, and returned 4,623 yards from kicks and punts. Pity he played in the NFC West with rivals, Xtreme, Demons, and Seahawks, or he could have had more a spotlight.

#5. Karl Grizzard - LAX/HOU 14,976 APY, 75 TDs. Grizzard retired in 2025 but not before he rushed for over 11,000 rushing yards in 9 seasons, a career 4.7 ypc stat, and tack on another 3,000 yards in receiving as well. Grizzard also has 3 Super Bowl Championships and amassed 2,300 yards and 10 TDs post-season.

#4. Clarence Sorensen - ARK 15,471 APY, 86 TDs. Sorensen retired in 2026 with three championships, a Super Bowl MVP, and six Super Bowl appearances to go along with 9,310 rushing and 6,011 receiving yards. In addition, Sorensen had four 2000+ yard rushing/receiving seasons. Sorensen still leads all running backs in post-season yards and TDs with 2,952 yards and 17 TDs.

#3. Scott Cosper - SFO 16,249 APY, 118 TDs. Cosper accumulated over 11,000 yards rushing in 8 seasons, had a career 5.6 ypc, and is the only RB to have double digits TDs for six consecutive seasons--a touchdown machine. Cosper won a championship and accumulated 1,089 yards and 6 TDs in the post-season. Cosper's records were thought to never be broken...until they were.

#2. Edmond Johnson* - SFO 23,089 APY, 102 TDs. Can there be a 1A and 1B? After the blatant disrespect Johnson got after the publication of this last edition, he rocketed up the list to supplant everyone including his former teammate, Scott Cosper. If Johnson can get a measly 68 yards, he'd become the only player in history to have at least 10,000 rushing yards and 10,000 receiving yards. In addition, Johnson helped the demons to two championship games, winning one.

#1. William Holmes* - LAX 18,793 APY, 119 TDs. No one ever thought that Cosper's 118 TD record would ever be broken, but it has...and Holmes is still playing into year 12 which could solidify his legacy even further. Holmes rushed for 8-1,000 yard seasons and has averaged 5.4 yards per carry at age 32! Holmes has won one championship and been to two Super Bowls with the Xtreme.