Robert Smith Madden Career 1995-2000 - Peak 94 OVR

In February 2001, weeks after leading the NFC with 1,521 rushing yards, Robert Smith walked away from football at 28. He wanted his surgically repaired knees and his life after football intact, and he chose to pursue medicine over another contract.

Minnesota took him 21st overall in 1993 out of Ohio State, where he had once sat out a full season during a dispute over academics and playing time. Injuries shadowed his early years, but he broke through in 1997 with 1,266 yards and rarely slowed after that. He finished with 6,818 rushing yards, 32 touchdowns, and a 4.8 average, and he held the Vikings' career rushing record until Adrian Peterson passed him in 2012.

His two Madden appearances bracket the whole climb. He shows up as a modest 55 in the 1996 edition, still fighting to stay healthy, then jumps to a 90 in the 2000 game, which captured him as a true feature back right before he quit.