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Factoid

DeMarco Murray

Dallas running back on all-time pace

DeMarco Murray had the big game at Chicago. He’s now within realistic range of 2,000 yards, and that should be an individual and team priority in the final three weeks of the season. Murray wants 2,000, and they team would like to get him there.

How else to explain why Murray was carrying the ball when there were 89 seconds left in a game the Cowboys were leading by 13 points? Murray had already handled the ball 41 times at that points. He’s playing for numbers right now.

I think he’ll reach the 2,000-yard mark, but Eric Dickerson’s record (2,105) is a little out of range for him.

The TOTAL YARDS record, however, is one that could be attainable. Murray is also catching plenty of passes (including 9 last week). So for total yards, he’s currently on pace to finish with 2,459. That would sneak in ahead of Marshall Faulk to rank No. 2 on the all-time list, behind only Chris Johnson (2009).

Here’s the all-time top 10 for total yards from scrimmage. (For Murray, those are projected totals – where he’ll end up if he keeps playing like he’s been playing.)

MOST TOTAL YARDS BY RUNNING BACKS
YearRunning backRunRecTotal
2009Chris Johnson, Tenn.2,0065032,509
2014DeMarco Murray, Dall.1,9774822,459
1999Marshall Faulk, St.L.1,3811,0482,429
2005Tiki Barber, NYG1,8605302,390
2003LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.1,6457252,370
1997Barry Sanders, Det.2,0533052,358
2006Steven Jackson, St.L.1,5288062,334
2006LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.1,8155082,323
1985Marcus Allen, Raiders1,7595552,314
2012Adrian Peterson, Minn.2,0972172,314
2000Edgerrin James, Ind.1,7095942,303
2002Priest Holmes, K.C.1,6156722,287
2003Jamal Lewis, Balt.2,0662052,271
2003Ahman Green, G.B.1,8833672,250
1984Eric Dickerson, Rams2,1051392,244
1975O.J. Simpson, Buff.1,8174262,243
1984James Wilder, T.B.1,5446852,229
1998Marshall Faulk, Ind.1,3199082,227
1998Terrell Davis, Den.2,0082172,225
2010Arian Foster, Hou.1,6166042,220

Murray is also on pace to finish the season with 459 combined runs and catches. This would be No. 2 all time. No way is he catching James Wilder, who finished 8 touches short of 500.

Wilder, by the way, was the first running back I selected in a fantasy football league. He was a second-round draft pick of the Lewiston Cattle Prods in 1986.

MOST TOUCHES BY RUNNING BACKS
YearRunning backRunRecTotal
1984James Wilder, T.B.40785492
2014DeMarco Murray, Dall.39465459
2006Larry Johnson, K.C.41641457
2000Eddie George, Tenn.40350453
2002LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.37279451
2000Edgerrin James, Ind.38763450
1985Marcus Allen, Raiders38067447
2003Ricky Williams, Mia.39250442
1983Eric Dickerson, Rams39051441
1995Emmitt Smith, Dall.37762439
1998Jamal Anderson, Atl.41027437
2006Steven Jackson, St.L.34690436
1992Emmitt Smith, Dall.37359432
1999Edgerrin James, Ind.36962431
2002Ricky Williams, Mia.38347430
1986Eric Dickerson, Rams40426430
1985Gerald Riggs, Atl.39733430
1984Walter Payton, Chi.38145426
1992Barry Foster, Pitt.39036426
1988Eric Dickerson, Ind.38836424

—Ian Allan

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