Factoid
Two running backs went over 2,000 total yards last year – Chris Johnson and Ray Rice. We’re talking total yards here – both rushing and receiving.
What, then, are the chances that either of those guys goes over 2,000 this year?
The historical record indicates that it’s not very good.
Since the NFL went the 16-game season in 1978, 51 running backs have gone over 2,000 yards. Of that group, less than a third (15) went over 2,000 again the following season. Fewer than half even reached 1,550.
Various reasons. Injuries, holdouts, new offenses and a lesser supporting cast.
But it’s simply not easy cranking out big seasons at the NFL level.
2,000-YARD RUNNING BACKS – THE NEXT SEASON
Total yards for running backs the year after they went over 2,000 yards (since the league went to a 16-game schedule in 1978):
Yards Year
2429 1998 Marshall Faulk
2390 2004 Tiki Barber
2370 2002 LaDainian Tomlinson
2303 1999 Edgerrin James
2287 2001 Priest Holmes
2244 1983 Eric Dickerson
2225 1997 Terrell Davis
2199 2005 Larry Johnson
2189 1999 Marshall Faulk
2147 2000 Marshall Faulk
2127 2005 Tiki Barber
2113 1991 Thurman Thomas
2110 2002 Priest Holmes
2052 1983 Walter Payton
2034 1984 Walter Payton
1958 2004 Edgerrin James
1900 1992 Emmitt Smith
1898 1994 Barry Sanders
1863 2006 LaDainian Tomlinson
1780 1997 Barry Sanders
1776 2003 LaDainian Tomlinson
1723 2002 Ricky Williams
1715 1985 Walter Payton
1702 1992 Thurman Thomas
1641 1984 James Wilder
1538 2006 Frank Gore
1527 1988 Roger Craig
1522 1988 Eric Dickerson
1490 2001 Marshall Faulk
1459 1986 Eric Dickerson
1454 1985 Roger Craig
1453 1995 Emmitt Smith
1438 2003 Ahman Green
1360 1984 Eric Dickerson
1338 2007 Brian Westbrook
1338 1988 Herschel Walker
1302 2003 Deuce McAllister
1273 2006 Steven Jackson
1212 1985 Marcus Allen
1185 1979 Wilbert Montgomery
1122 2003 Jamal Lewis
1079 2003 Priest Holmes
1076 1981 William Andrews
928 1992 Barry Foster
855 2000 Edgerrin James
745 2006 Larry Johnson
237 1998 Terrell Davis
93 1998 Jamal Anderson
0 2006 Tiki Barber
0 1998 Garrison Hearst
0 1983 William Andrews
—Ian Allan
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