Factoid
There were three running backs selected in the second round of last weekend's NFL draft: Toby Gerhart, Ben Tate, and Montario Hardesty. (We're leaving out Dexter McCluster, who Kansas City lists as a wide receiver.) If history is any indication, those running backs won't be average players. They'll either be stars -- or flops.
Over the last decade, there have been 20 running backs selected with second-round picks. By the end of their second seasons in the league, 9 of those running backs had at least one season where they'd put up 1,000 total yards, and all had at least one season with 7 or more TDs.
The other 10 (leaving out LeSean McCoy, who put up 945 total yards as a rookie and is a strong candidate to join the first group) failed to total even 650 yards in either of their first two seasons. None scored more than 4 TDs in either of their first two seasons. Clearly, then, it's a boom or bust round for running backs.
The 20 running backs, sorted by their best yardage total in their first two seasons, are presented below. Note: Tatum Bell's presence in the first group proves it's not a perfect system.
Draft TYds TD Player
2008 2041 8 Ray Rice
2002 1905 17 Clinton Portis
2001 1747 14 Travis Henry
2008 1715 12 Matt Forte
2006 1377 16 Maurice Jones-Drew
2001 1361 7 Anthony Thomas
2006 1224 7 LenDale White
2004 1211 7 Julius Jones
2004 1025 8 Tatum Bell
2009 945 4 LeSean McCoy
2004 640 4 Greg Jones
2002 636 2 DeShaun Foster
2005 509 2 J.J. Arrington
2001 476 3 LaMont Jordan
2002 461 2 Ladell Betts
2007 433 1 Brandon Jackson
2002 271 1 Maurice Morris
2007 172 2 Chris Henry
2005 29 0 Eric Shelton
2007 0 0 Kenny Irons
--Andy Richardson
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