When you have no offensive line and 11 men are running after you, let's see how well any other running back would do in that situation. Sanders was alone on that field against 11 guys and he could not be stopped.
Problem is he'd go in on a 3rd and 1 when a runner is supposed to jam forward move the pile and move the chains, instead there's Sanders cutting back and forth trying to find a hole big enough to break a huge run and instead getting tackled 5 yards behind the line forcing his team to punt. Plenty of runningbacks do very well in that situation because they do what they're supposed to do: hit the line and move the freaking chains.
When Sanders got the kind of hole he wanted he was amazing to watch, but he was too hot for the big play and too unwilling to get dirty making the important plays teams need RBs to make. Thus not the best ever, the best RBs ever know when to not worry about the glory and just get the first down.
Don't forget to add in the Lions play caaling for 6 years:
Barry Left on 1st down.
Barry left on 2nd down.
Middle screen to Barry on 3rd down.
Punt.
The defense tends to focus quickly.