In an effort to track the SEC’s best running backs, we’ll release a running top 10 each Monday. The criteria will involve a mix of talent, recent past performance, 2015 production and outlook.

There will be some deserving snubs, or at least omitted players for which one can build a credible argument. But for now, outside of Texas A&M’s Tra Carson, there aren’t many deserving players falling outside this top 10.

After Week 2, here are the SEC’s 10 best running backs.

Dropped Out: Keith Marshall, Georgia; Russell Hansbrough, Missouri

10. Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt: His efficiency is suffering within Vanderbilt’s offense (3.2 yards per carry). He’s not the most explosive player, but he’s better than that. The Commodores aren’t as gosh-awful on that side of the ball as they were last season. But with Andrew Jelks and C.J. Duncan out for the year, and tight end Steven Scheu’s hands becoming suspect all of a sudden, there isn’t much to distract defenses from Webb. Vandy did a nice job getting him some pass targets against Georgia as a way to free him a bit.

This Week: 25 carries, 68 yards; 7 receptions, 57 yards
Season: 43 carries, 138 yards; 10 receptions, 84 yards

9. Brandon Wilds, South Carolina: Asked why the Gamecocks struggled to score touchdowns in the red zone in the second half, Wilds responded, “I didn’t get the ball.” It’s hard to argue with his production against a mediocre Kentucky defense. With quarterback Connor Mitch likely out for the season due to a shoulder injury, expect South Carolina to lean even more on the running back, who has emerged ahead of Shon Carson and David Williams as the team’s best ground option.

This Week: 16 carries, 106 yards; 2 receptions, 22 yards
Season: 30 carries, 157 yards; 6 receptions, 66 yards

8. Kenyan Drake, Alabama: “Poor man’s Reggie Bush” is turning out to be an accurate depiction of Drake, who just may threaten to lead the Tide in receptions within coordinator Lane Kiffin’s offense. He rushed for a 43-yard score against Wisconsin and notched a 69-yard catch against Middle Tennessee State, providing Alabama with a big-play threat. When Drake and Derrick Henry both occupy the field at once, defenses must make some unenviable choices.

This Week: 6 carries, 40 yards; 5 receptions, 91 yards, 1 touchdown
Season: 16 carries, 117 yards, 1 touchdown; 7 receptions, 139 yards, 1 touchdown

7. Peyton Barber, Auburn: There’s always a chance my eye is deceiving me. But Barber isn’t as explosive as Tre Mason (2013) or Cameron Artis-Payne (2014), the SEC rushing leaders the last two seasons. In a vacuum, he has no business starting ahead of Roc Thomas and Jovon Robinson. More than anyone on this list, though, I love what Barber has accomplished early in the season and it’s fun watching him run. He’s a no-nonsense player who never stops churning for extra yards and doesn’t do much dancing. He gets downfield and takes what he can. Not much else has worked for Auburn’s offense in the first two weeks, but Barber has been steady.

This Week: 23 carries, 125 yards, 1 touchdown; 1 reception, 9 yards
Season: 47 carries, 240 yards, 1 touchdown; 2 receptions, 24 yards

6. Alex Collins, Arkansas: Ranked fourth on this list last week, Collins avoided a steeper tumble for two reasons. He’s a proven commodity, having rushed for more than 1,000 yards in his first two college seasons. That’s something no one else on this list can say. Second, Collins didn’t practice much this week due to an infection that sent him to the hospital for treatment at one point. So he may have a legitimate reason for sputtering against Toledo.

This Week: 20 carries, 54 yards, 1 touchdown; 2 receptions, 9 yards
Season: 32 carries, 181 yards, 2 touchdowns; 2 receptions, 9 yards

5. Jalen Hurd, Tennessee: Against a good Oklahoma team, Alvin Kamara vanished and the Vols backfield became a one-man show once again. Hurd fought his way to 106 yards on 4.4 yards per carry. The only concern is that coach Butch Jones didn’t trust Hurd on fourth-and-goal inside the 1-yard line early in the game. Why? Hurd now claims a modest streak of three consecutive 100-yard games.

This Week: 24 carries, 106 yards, 1 touchdown
Season: 47 carries, 229 yards, 4 touchdowns

4. Boom Williams, Kentucky: With players like Collins and Missouri’s Russell Hansbrough sliding on this list early in the year, Williams is the biggest beneficiary. The only question is, even in an Air Raid offense, why does the true sophomore average just 8.2 carries per game for the Wildcats? He’s reached the 100-yard milestone four times in his last five games — despite getting 15 carries just once. Thus far in his Kentucky career, Williams averages 7.4 yards per carry.

This Week: 14 carries, 107 yards; 4 receptions, 23 yards
Season: 24 carries, 242 yards, 1 touchdown; 4 receptions, 23 yards

3. Leonard Fournette, LSU: If Fournette had an opportunity to steamroll McNeese State for a half, he could be challenging Chubb for No. 1 on this list right now. It’s difficult to judge his performance against Mississippi State. The Bulldogs could be a diminished team this year, especially at the line of scrimmage. On the other hand, LSU’s play-calling essentially broadcast running plays with a bullhorn pre-snap. Speaking of bull, that’s exactly how Fournette ran Saturday. If he starts tapping into his speed and agility at times rather than relying on brute strength, he could be the nation’s best.

This Week: 28 carries, 159 yards, 3 touchdowns
Season: 28 carries, 159 yards, 3 touchdowns

2. Derrick Henry, Alabama: Back-to-back three-touchdown games is nice, and if he can average one score per game the rest of the season, he’ll probably lead the SEC in rushing scores. But look beyond the stats: Henry is the most trusted player within the Crimson Tide offense. Coach Nick Saban and the rest of the Bama staff essentially put the game in his hands against Wisconsin in Week 1, and I expect something similar this week against Ole Miss.

This Week: 18 carries, 96 yards, 3 touchdowns
Season: 31 carries, 243 yards, 6 touchdowns; 2 receptions, 12 yards

1. Nick Chubb, Georgia: His failure to reach the end zone against Vanderbilt may dock him in the Heisman Trophy straw polls, but not here. Chubb entered the season as the consensus No. 1 running back in the SEC and has done nothing to dispel that notion. His 10th consecutive game with at least 100 rushing yards also doubled as his fourth game with at least 200 yards of total offense. It’s difficult to argue with Chubb’s consistency.

This Week: 19 carries, 189 yards; 2 receptions, 13 yards
Season: 35 carries, 309 yards, 2 touchdowns; 2 receptions, 13 yards