People like to toss around the idea that running backs will carry the ball 20-25 times per game, but that just doesn’t happen often.
In the last 10 years, only three running backs have averaged 25 carries per game. Only one did it while playing in all 16 games – Larry Johnson in 2006.
Only 64 players in the last 10 years have averaged at least 20 carries per season and also started at least half of the games. Only one player did it last year – Zac Stacy of the Rams. St. Louis turned to him a month into the season, and he averaged almost 21 carries in the final 12 games of the season.
RUNNING BACKS AVERAGING 20 CARRIES PER GAME | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Tm | Player | St | Att | Yards |
2005 | K.C. | Larry Johnson | 9 | 29.0 | 150.1 |
2006 | K.C. | Larry Johnson | 16 | 26.0 | 111.8 |
2006 | Sea. | Shaun Alexander | 10 | 25.2 | 89.6 |
2004 | K.C. | Priest Holmes | 8 | 24.5 | 111.5 |
2004 | Buff. | Willis McGahee | 11 | 24.1 | 96.2 |
2005 | Ind. | Edgerrin James | 15 | 24.0 | 100.4 |
2004 | Car. | Nick Goings | 8 | 23.8 | 91.6 |
2008 | Atl. | Michael Turner | 16 | 23.5 | 106.2 |
2004 | NYJ | Curtis Martin | 16 | 23.2 | 106.1 |
2009 | Cin. | Cedric Benson | 13 | 23.2 | 96.2 |
2005 | Sea. | Shaun Alexander | 16 | 23.1 | 117.5 |
2004 | N.E. | Corey Dillon | 15 | 23.0 | 109.0 |
2004 | Den. | Clinton Portis | 15 | 22.9 | 87.7 |
2008 | Minn. | Adrian Peterson | 16 | 22.7 | 110.0 |
2004 | S.D. | LaDainian Tomlinson | 15 | 22.6 | 89.0 |
2004 | Cin. | Rudi Johnson | 16 | 22.6 | 90.9 |
2009 | Tenn. | Chris Johnson | 16 | 22.4 | 125.4 |
2005 | NYG | Tiki Barber | 16 | 22.3 | 116.3 |
2004 | Ind. | Edgerrin James | 15 | 22.2 | 103.3 |
2004 | Den. | Reuben Droughns | 12 | 22.1 | 100.8 |
2004 | Sea. | Shaun Alexander | 16 | 22.1 | 106.0 |
2005 | Wash. | Clinton Portis | 16 | 22.0 | 94.8 |
2012 | Hou. | Arian Foster | 16 | 21.9 | 89.0 |
2011 | Oak. | Michael Bush | 9 | 21.8 | 82.2 |
2012 | Minn. | Adrian Peterson | 16 | 21.8 | 131.1 |
2006 | S.D. | LaDainian Tomlinson | 16 | 21.8 | 113.4 |
2006 | Wash. | Ladell Betts | 8 | 21.8 | 103.5 |
2006 | St.L. | Steven Jackson | 16 | 21.6 | 95.5 |
2009 | St.L. | Steven Jackson | 15 | 21.6 | 94.4 |
2007 | Buff. | Marshawn Lynch | 13 | 21.5 | 85.8 |
2011 | Jac. | Maurice Jones-Drew | 16 | 21.4 | 100.4 |
2007 | Pitt. | Willie Parker | 15 | 21.4 | 87.7 |
2011 | Hou. | Arian Foster | 13 | 21.4 | 94.2 |
2008 | Wash. | Clinton Portis | 16 | 21.4 | 92.9 |
2010 | Jac. | Maurice Jones-Drew | 14 | 21.4 | 94.6 |
2006 | Cin. | Rudi Johnson | 16 | 21.3 | 81.8 |
2005 | S.D. | LaDainian Tomlinson | 16 | 21.2 | 91.4 |
2008 | St.L. | Steven Jackson | 12 | 21.1 | 86.8 |
2005 | Cin. | Rudi Johnson | 16 | 21.1 | 91.1 |
2006 | Ind. | Edgerrin James | 16 | 21.1 | 72.4 |
2006 | Pitt. | Willie Parker | 16 | 21.1 | 93.4 |
2012 | Wash. | Alfred Morris | 16 | 20.9 | 100.8 |
2005 | Chi. | Thomas Jones | 15 | 20.9 | 89.0 |
2005 | Hou. | Domanick Davis | 11 | 20.9 | 88.7 |
2010 | Atl. | Michael Turner | 16 | 20.9 | 85.7 |
2005 | Dall. | Julius Jones | 12 | 20.8 | 81.4 |
2013 | St.L. | Zac Stacy | 12 | 20.8 | 80.8 |
2005 | T.B. | Cadillac Williams | 14 | 20.7 | 84.1 |
2009 | NYJ | Thomas Jones | 16 | 20.7 | 87.6 |
2010 | St.L. | Steven Jackson | 16 | 20.6 | 77.6 |
2010 | Hou. | Arian Foster | 16 | 20.4 | 101.0 |
2006 | NYG | Tiki Barber | 16 | 20.4 | 103.9 |
2005 | Buff. | Willis McGahee | 16 | 20.3 | 77.9 |
2007 | Wash. | Clinton Portis | 16 | 20.3 | 78.9 |
2007 | Ariz. | Edgerrin James | 16 | 20.3 | 76.4 |
2010 | Pitt. | Rashard Mendenhall | 16 | 20.3 | 79.6 |
2006 | Minn. | Chester Taylor | 15 | 20.2 | 81.1 |
2004 | Hou. | Domanick Davis | 15 | 20.1 | 79.2 |
2004 | NYG | Tiki Barber | 16 | 20.1 | 94.9 |
2010 | T.B. | LeGarrette Blount | 10 | 20.1 | 100.7 |
2006 | Tenn. | Travis Henry | 13 | 20.1 | 91.5 |
2010 | Cin. | Cedric Benson | 16 | 20.1 | 69.4 |
2008 | Cin. | Cedric Benson | 10 | 20.0 | 71.1 |
2004 | Tenn. | Chris Brown | 11 | 20.0 | 97.0 |
—Ian Allan