EA SportsAdrian Peterson will run by the virtual defense all day in "Madden 12."

From Barry Sanders and Marshall Faulk to Chris Johnson and Adrian Peterson, the "Madden" video game franchise has long been dominated by running backs. And while plenty of gamers still prefer to throw deep on every play to a tall wide receiver who can out-jump the corner, to me, the real action is pitching to your back, making a tackler miss, maybe even running over a safety, as you then high-step down the field for the electrifying run. That's what you call stick skills right there, and here are the five backs in "Madden 12" that do it the best.

Adrian Peterson: 97

Adrian Peterson in "Madden" is about as close as you get to Bo Jackson in "Tecmo Bowl." What else can you say about a back with 97 speed, 97 acceleration, 98 agility, 96 stamina, 97 elusiveness, 99 ball carrier vision, 97 stiff arm, 95 spin, 98 juke, and 90 trucking. The most fun character you can control in this year's game without being cheap (I'm looking at you, Mike Vick).

Chris Johnson: 96

EA SportsChris Johnson is a blur with that 99 speed.

99 speed, 99 acceleration. Life's just not fair for a defense trying to tackle Chris Johnson. In fact, CJ2K runs so fast across the virtual field, I almost expect it to catch on fire, and then when you add 97 spin and 98 juke to the mix, all you're left with are a bunch of linebackers tackling air.

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