Greatest Running Backs

They're some of the most versatile players, taking handoffs, serving as receivers, and blocking defenders. Although the gridiron has seen outstanding running backs throughout pro football history, only a handful of the greatest players have been enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Photo-driven and stat-filled, this middle-grade sports title for fans of the NFL showcases 11 halfbacks and fullbacks, ranked by induction year, from Steve Van Buren and Walter Payton to Emmitt Smith and LaDainian Tomlinson. Includes sidebars about the position's role and how it's changed over time.