Factoid
Chris Johnson and Ray Rice both went over 2,000 total yards last year. That’s great.
Johnson gained 2,509 yards for the Titans, breaking Marshall Faulk’s record. And Ray Rice excelled as both a runner and receiver for the Ravens.
But going over 2,000 yards is tough. Doing it once is no guarantee it will happen again. Players need to be heavily utilized, and they also have to steer clear of injuries.
Looking at the historical numbers, 55 other backs have managed to hit the 2K mark, but only about a quarter of those – 15 – managed to do it again the next season. Forty of the backs finished with less than 2,000 yards in their followup seasons.
BACKS WHO WENT OVER 2,000 YARDS TWO STRAIGHT YEARS
Yds Nxt Yr Year
2028 2052 1983 Walter Payton, Chi.
2212 2244 1983 Eric Dickerson, Rams
2052 2034 1984 Walter Payton, Chi.
2038 2113 1991 Thurman Thomas, Buff.
2037 2225 1997 Terrell Davis, Den.
2227 2429 1998 Marshall Faulk, Ind.
2139 2303 1999 Edgerrin James, Ind.
2429 2189 1999 Marshall Faulk, St.L.
2189 2147 2000 Marshall Faulk, St.L.
2169 2287 2001 Priest Holmes, K.C.
2172 2370 2002 LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.
2287 2110 2002 Priest Holmes, K.C.
2096 2390 2004 Tiki Barber, NYG
2093 2199 2005 Larry Johnson, K.C.
2390 2127 2005 Tiki Barber, NYG
2,000-YARD BACKS WHO FELL SHORT OF 2,000 THE NEXT YEAR
Yds Nxt Yr Year
2131 1786 1963 Jim Brown, Clev.
2073 1314 1973 O.J. Simpson, Buff.
2243 1762 1975 O.J. Simpson, Buff.
2121 1839 1977 Walter Payton, Chi.
2006 1185 1979 Wilbert Montgomery, Phi.
2036 1076 1981 William Andrews, Atl.
2176 0 1983 William Andrews, Atl.
2229 1641 1984 James Wilder, T.B.
2244 1360 1984 Eric Dickerson, Rams
2034 1715 1985 Walter Payton, Chi.
2066 1454 1985 Roger Craig, S.F.
2314 1212 1985 Marcus Allen, Raiders
2026 1459 1986 Eric Dickerson, Rams
2036 1527 1988 Roger Craig, S.F.
2036 1522 1988 Eric Dickerson, Ind.
2019 1338 1988 Herschel Walker, Dall.
2048 1900 1992 Emmitt Smith, Dall.
2113 1702 1992 Thurman Thomas, Buff.
2034 928 1992 Barry Foster, Pitt.
2166 1898 1994 Barry Sanders, Det.
2148 1453 1995 Emmitt Smith, Dall.
2358 1780 1997 Barry Sanders, Det.
2225 237 1998 Terrell Davis, Den.
2165 93 1998 Jamal Anderson, Atl.
2105 0 1998 Garrison Hearst, S.F.
2303 855 2000 Edgerrin James, Ind.
2147 1490 2001 Marshall Faulk, St.L.
2216 1723 2002 Ricky Williams, Mia.
2370 1776 2003 LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.
2250 1438 2003 Ahman Green, G.B.
2157 1302 2003 Deuce McAllister, N.O.
2271 1122 2003 Jamal Lewis, Balt.
2110 1079 2003 Priest Holmes, K.C.
2031 1958 2004 Edgerrin James, Ind.
2323 1863 2006 LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.
2180 1538 2006 Frank Gore, S.F.
2334 1273 2006 Steven Jackson, St.L.
2199 745 2006 Larry Johnson, K.C.
2127 0 2006 Tiki Barber, NYG
2104 1338 2007 Brian Westbrook, Phil.
—Ian Allan
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