Factoid
I think Arian Foster should be the No. 1 pick in drafts. I think he’s good, and I think he’ll carry a big workload in that Houston offense. He not only led the league in rushing yards and touchdowns last year, he also caught 66 passes for an additional 604 yards.
But in the fantasy football world, what goes up must come down, and he’s set the bar awfully high. He gained 2,220 total yards and scored 18 touchdowns last year, and it will be extremely tough for him to match either of those figures.
Check out the chart below, which shows all running backs who’ve gained over 2,000 yards in the last 20 years. Of those 38 backs, only eight game back the next season and gained even more yards. (The eight who actually improved are in bold.)
RUNNING BACKS GOING OVER 2,000 YARDS, LAST 20 YEARS
Next
Total Year Diff Year
2038 2113 75 1991 Thurman Thomas, Buff.
2034 928 -1106 1992 Barry Foster, Pitt.
2113 1702 -411 1992 Thurman Thomas, Buff.
2048 1900 -148 1992 Emmitt Smith, Dall.
2166 1898 -268 1994 Barry Sanders, Det.
2148 1453 -695 1995 Emmitt Smith, Dall.
2358 1780 -578 1997 Barry Sanders, Det.
2037 2225 188 1997 Terrell Davis, Den.
2105 0 -2105 1998 Garrison Hearst, S.F.
2165 93 -2072 1998 Jamal Anderson, Atl.
2225 237 -1988 1998 Terrell Davis, Den.
2227 2429 202 1998 Marshall Faulk, Ind.
2429 2189 -240 1999 Marshall Faulk, St.L.
2139 2303 164 1999 Edgerrin James, Ind.
2303 855 -1448 2000 Edgerrin James, Ind.
2189 2147 -42 2000 Marshall Faulk, St.L.
2147 1490 -657 2001 Marshall Faulk, St.L.
2169 2287 118 2001 Priest Holmes, K.C.
2216 1723 -493 2002 Ricky Williams, Mia.
2287 2110 -177 2002 Priest Holmes, K.C.
2172 2370 198 2002 LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.
2271 1122 -1149 2003 Jamal Lewis, Balt.
2110 1079 -1031 2003 Priest Holmes, K.C.
2157 1302 -855 2003 Deuce McAllister, N.O.
2250 1438 -812 2003 Ahman Green, G.B.
2370 1776 -594 2003 LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.
2031 1958 -73 2004 Edgerrin James, Ind.
2096 2390 294 2004 Tiki Barber, NYG
2390 2127 -263 2005 Tiki Barber, NYG
2093 2199 106 2005 Larry Johnson, K.C.
2127 0 -2127 2006 Tiki Barber, NYG
2199 745 -1454 2006 Larry Johnson, K.C.
2334 1273 -1061 2006 Steven Jackson, St.L.
2180 1538 -642 2006 Frank Gore, S.F.
2323 1863 -460 2006 LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.
2104 1338 -766 2007 Brian Westbrook, Phil.
2509 1609 -900 2009 Chris Johnson, Tenn.
2041 1776 -265 2009 Ray Rice, Balt.
2220 -- -- 2010 Arian Foster, Hou.
—Ian Allan
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Posted by DAVID DIGREGORIO | Jul. 16 at 02:26 AM
It looks like,baring injury, those runners usually followed up with worthy years. Foster is, my #1 pick as well. AP and CJ will be playing with rookie QBs who had no training camp, lesser OLs and lesser total offense compared to Foster in Houston.