Quote:I haven't seen too much of him, though I suspect now that Calvin Johnson has retired, Stafford will rely more heavily on him.

 

For some reason, I'm drawing a blank on a lot of NFC North guys who might fit on this list.

 

Because I am excluding starters, good receiving backs like Payton, Chuck Foreman and Dorsey Levens can't be considered.  Can you think of any from the NFCN/NFC Central?

 

Just as I posed this question, though he is not in the NFCN, somehow Mosi Tatupu popped into my head.  I know he was a good special teamer, but I'm not sure if he'd qualify.

 

  With Calvin Johnson no longer playing,  a strong case can be made that Theo Riddick is the Lions most differential player on Offense.  This, when comparing him to players at his position vs. the comparison of his Offensive teammates to players at their respective positions.

 

  Two former NFC Central 3rd down type of backs that come to mind are from the 1980's;   Darrin Nelson ( Vikings )  and Gerry Ellis  ( Packers ).  Nelson is probably most known for the drop at the goalline late in the 1987 season NFC Championship game that prevented the Vikings from tying the Redskins and sending the game to OT.    Overall though,  Nelson warrants consideration for the list you put together.   Gerry Ellis wasn't on Nelson's level but was an asset for the Packers as a receiver out of the backfield on teams that were average or worse.  

 

  Brian Mitchell  ( Redskins )  and Fred Jackson ( Bills ) probably warrant consideration for the list.    Bruce Harper  ( Jets )  probably wasn't a top ten 3rd Down RB but was one of the best players in that role in his era.     Andre Reed is likely the most well known NFL player from Kutztown St.  but Harper is the player from Kutztown St.  that helped put the school on the football map.

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