Who’s having the best season at running back in the SEC at midway point?

We ranked quarterbacks by team earlier this week, but the running back position’s a different animal. There’s one offense out West with more than one elite ballcarrier, so we’ve listed individual players instead of units by team.

This might be the first time ever an Alabama tailback’s not listed among the SEC’s top backfield players. T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry have both underperformed behind a struggling offensive line in Tuscaloosa. There’s plenty of time to right the ship, but it doesn’t appear that either player will hit the 1,000-yard barrier in the regular season.

As for the grades …

10. Braylon Heard, Kentucky — When he’s been healthy, the Nebraska transfer’s been the much-needed gamebreaker Kentucky’s offense has missed in recent years. He’s averaging 7.4 yards per carry alongside Jojo Kemp and the pair form a lethal combination in the Wildcat.

  • 100-yard games: 1
  • Stats: 38 carries, 282 yards, 4 TD

9. Russell Hansbrough, Mizzou — Feed this man the football! The junior from Arlington’s averaging 6.0 yards per carry in his first full season as a starter, but the Tigers have moved away from a balanced attack in recent weeks toward a more Maty Mauk-geared attack. Against South Carolina, Hansbrough scored a career-high three touchdowns including a 1-yard plunge on 4th-and-goal in the final minutes that upset the Gamecocks.

  • 100-yard games: 2
  • Stats: 75 carries, 450 yards, 6 TD

8. Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt — The only glimmer of hope for the Vanderbilt offense this season, Webb’s been a workhorse on a struggling unit with an effective 555 yards on 122 carries. He’s overtaken Jerron Seymour (14 TD in 2013) for the starting job and doesn’t appear to be relinquishing his spot anytime soon.

  • 100-yard games: 1
  • Stats: 122 carries, 555 yards, 2 TD

7. Mike Davis, South Carolina — The preseason Heisman candidate started slow for the Gamecocks thanks to nagging injuries, but he’s came on strong over his last two starts, tallying four touchdowns and 287 yards rushing. He’s on pace for another 1,000-yard, double-digit touchdown season and leads all running backs in this list with 14 receptions this season.

  • 100-yard games: 3
  • Stats: 103 carries, 551 yards, 6 TD

6. Leonard Fournette, LSU — Coming off a season-high 140 yards and two touchdowns at Florida, this kid’s well on his way to an impressive three-year career in Baton Rouge (yes, he’ll be an early NFL exit after the 2016 campaign). Pass-blocking is his only weakness at the moment, a player with the complete package athletically as a true freshman.

  • 100-yard games: 2
  • Stats: 93 carries, 504 yards, 6 TD

5. Cameron Artis-Payne, Auburn — The SEC’s leader in carries has produced in Tre Mason’s absense as the Tigers’ lead option in Gus Malzahn’s uptempo run game. He hasn’t scored a touchdown in two October games since Nick Marshall’s been Auburn’s primary yardage-gainer.

  • 100-yard games: 4
  • Stats: 126 carries, 664 yards, 5 TD

4. Alex Collins, Arkansas — Held out of the first quarter against Alabama after missing two workouts the previous week, Collins’ shot at taking the SEC’s rushing lead took a major hit against the Crimson Tide. He’s rushed for at least 131 yards three times this season, including a 212-yard explosion at Texas Tech. One of the league’s shiftiest backs, Collins’ vision is better than most.

  • 100-yard games: 3
  • Stats: 92 carries, 634 yards, 6 TD

3. Jonathan Williams, Arkansas — Teammate Alex Collins has more yards, but Williams has been a touchdown machine with a conference-best nine scores on the ground despite missing the win over Northern Illinois on Sept. 20. Williams has crossed the goal line in every game and is the Razorbacks’ lead short yardage option.

  • 100-yard games: 2
  • Stats: 86 carries, 569 yards, 9 TD

2. Josh Robinson, Mississippi State — Without this junior ballcarrier, the Bulldogs would not be unbeaten and ranked No. 1 at the halfway. Short and stocky, Robinson’s a missile when he hits the hole and rarely goes down on initial contact.

  • 100-yard games: 3
  • Stats: 98 carries, 689 yards, 8 TD

1. Todd Gurley, Georgia — The SEC’s rushing leader despite playing in just four full games plus the first quarter against Troy this season, Gurley’s looked unstoppable at full strength and has all but locked in a spot as a first-round pick in next year’s NFL Draft. Eligibility questions stemming from reported autograph sales have put his future in doubt, but the North Carolina native’s pro stock isn’t changing.

  • 100-yard games: 4
  • Stats: 94 carries, 773 yards, 8 TD