Fantasy Index

Factoid

Age and running backs

Old running backs are pretty similar to young ones

Will you draft a 30-year-old running back? The way guys work out nowadays, they’re putting up better numbers than they have in the past – they do a better job of taking care of their bodies.

In this century (that is, since 2000) 24 running backs who were 30 or more on opening day finished the season with at least 1,200 yards. That’s total yards – rushing and receiving.

That’s pretty similar to the number of backs under 23 who have done the same. There have been 30 backs who were 21 or 22 on opening day who finished that season with at least 1,200 yards.

RUNNING BACKS OVER 30
YearAgePlayerRecRunTotal
201332Fred Jackson3878901277
200932Ricky Williams26411211385
200431Curtis Martin24516971942
200031Emmitt Smith7912031282
200731Fred Taylor5812021260
200231Garrison Hearst3179721289
201031LaDainian Tomlinson3689141282
200531Mike Anderson21210141226
200031Ricky Watters61312421855
200931Thomas Jones5814021460
200631Tiki Barber46516622127
200631Warrick Dunn17011401310
200230Antowain Smith2439821225
200230Charlie Garner9419621903
200330Curtis Martin26213081570
201330Frank Gore14111281269
201130Fred Jackson4429341376
200630Fred Taylor24211461388
200130Garrison Hearst34712061553
200230James Stewart33310211354
200130Lamar Smith2349681202
200830Thomas Jones20713121519
200530Tiki Barber53018602390
200530Warrick Dunn22014161636
RUNNING BACKS UNDER 23
YearAgePlayerRecRunTotal
200722Adrian Peterson26813411609
200822Chris Johnson26012281488
200422Clinton Portis23513151550
200322Domanick Davis35110311382
200122Dominic Rhodes22411041328
200022Edgerrin James59417092303
200922Jamaal Charles29711201417
200922Jonathan Stewart13911331272
200422Kevin Jones18011331313
200122LaDainian Tomlinson36712361603
200722LenDale White11411101224
201022LeSean McCoy59210801672
200822Marshawn Lynch30010361336
200822Matt Forte47712381715
200922Rashard Mendenhall26111081369
200922Ray Rice70213392041
200822Steve Slaton37712821659
200522Steven Jackson32010461366
200222Travis Henry30914381747
201222Trent Richardson3679501317
200422Willis McGahee16911281297
200322Clinton Portis31415911905
201321Giovani Bernard5146951209
200021Jamal Lewis29613641660
200821Kevin Smith2869761262
201321LeVeon Bell3998601259
200721Marshawn Lynch18411151299
200621Maurice Jones-Drew4369411377
200621Reggie Bush7425651307
200221Clinton Portis36415081872

—Ian Allan

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