Minnesota Vikings: Top 10 backup running backs of all time

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ST. LOUIS – OCTOBER 11: Chester Taylor #29 of the Minnesota Vikings runs for yardage against the St. Louis Rams during their NFL game at the Edward Jones Dome on October 11, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Vikings defeated the Rams 38-10. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

2. Dave Osborn (1965–1975)

11 seasons
36 touchdowns
4,320 yards
3.7 yards/att

Dave Osborn played 11 of his 12 seasons with the Vikings. A 13th-round draft pick in 1965 from North Dakota, Osborn started 68 of 137 games played in Minnesota. His career started by sharing the backfield with Bill Brown and Oscar Reed, and ended as part of a stable of running backs that included Chuck Foreman and Brent McClanahan.

In an era when it was common to start two running backs, Osborn started all 14 games in 1967 and 1969 alongside Brown who started 14 and 12 respectively. In 1969 he led the Vikings with 643 yards rushing and seven touchdowns. His 11 seasons with Vikings are the most of any running back in this ranking. His 137 games with the Viking is the second-most among running backs behind Brown (180). Osborn ranks sixth in career rushing yardage for the Vikings.

1. Chester Taylor (2006–2009)

4 seasons
21 touchdowns
2,797 yards
4.3 yards/att

A sixth-round draft pick in 2002, Chester Taylor backed up Jamal Lewis for four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. Never starting more than four games in a season, he signed with the Vikings in 2006 and amassed a career-best 1,216 yards in 15 starts for Minnesota.

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Unfortunately, his starting role was short lived as the Vikings drafted Adrian Peterson in the first round in 2007. Over the next three seasons, he rushed for 1,581 yards and 12 touchdowns making only nine starts. Taylor’s 21 touchdowns are the fourth-most in this ranking and his 2,797 yards places him 10th for career rushing yards in Minnesota Vikings franchise history.

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