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 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Running back | Run | Rec | Total |
2009 | Chris Johnson, Tenn. | 2,006 | 503 | 2,509 |
2014 | DeMarco Murray, Dall. | 1,977 | 482 | 2,459 |
1999 | Marshall Faulk, St.L. | 1,381 | 1,048 | 2,429 |
2005 | Tiki Barber, NYG | 1,860 | 530 | 2,390 |
2003 | LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D. | 1,645 | 725 | 2,370 |
1997 | Barry Sanders, Det. | 2,053 | 305 | 2,358 |
2006 | Steven Jackson, St.L. | 1,528 | 806 | 2,334 |
2006 | LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D. | 1,815 | 508 | 2,323 |
1985 | Marcus Allen, Raiders | 1,759 | 555 | 2,314 |
2012 | Adrian Peterson, Minn. | 2,097 | 217 | 2,314 |
2000 | Edgerrin James, Ind. | 1,709 | 594 | 2,303 |
2002 | Priest Holmes, K.C. | 1,615 | 672 | 2,287 |
2003 | Jamal Lewis, Balt. | 2,066 | 205 | 2,271 |
2003 | Ahman Green, G.B. | 1,883 | 367 | 2,250 |
1984 | Eric Dickerson, Rams | 2,105 | 139 | 2,244 |
1975 | O.J. Simpson, Buff. | 1,817 | 426 | 2,243 |
1984 | James Wilder, T.B. | 1,544 | 685 | 2,229 |
1998 | Marshall Faulk, Ind. | 1,319 | 908 | 2,227 |
1998 | Terrell Davis, Den. | 2,008 | 217 | 2,225 |
2010 | Arian Foster, Hou. | 1,616 | 604 | 2,220 |
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 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Running back | Run | Rec | Total |
1984 | James Wilder, T.B. | 407 | 85 | 492 |
2014 | DeMarco Murray, Dall. | 394 | 65 | 459 |
2006 | Larry Johnson, K.C. | 416 | 41 | 457 |
2000 | Eddie George, Tenn. | 403 | 50 | 453 |
2002 | LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D. | 372 | 79 | 451 |
2000 | Edgerrin James, Ind. | 387 | 63 | 450 |
1985 | Marcus Allen, Raiders | 380 | 67 | 447 |
2003 | Ricky Williams, Mia. | 392 | 50 | 442 |
1983 | Eric Dickerson, Rams | 390 | 51 | 441 |
1995 | Emmitt Smith, Dall. | 377 | 62 | 439 |
1998 | Jamal Anderson, Atl. | 410 | 27 | 437 |
2006 | Steven Jackson, St.L. | 346 | 90 | 436 |
1992 | Emmitt Smith, Dall. | 373 | 59 | 432 |
1999 | Edgerrin James, Ind. | 369 | 62 | 431 |
2002 | Ricky Williams, Mia. | 383 | 47 | 430 |
1986 | Eric Dickerson, Rams | 404 | 26 | 430 |
1985 | Gerald Riggs, Atl. | 397 | 33 | 430 |
1984 | Walter Payton, Chi. | 381 | 45 | 426 |
1992 | Barry Foster, Pitt. | 390 | 36 | 426 |
1988 | Eric Dickerson, Ind. | 388 | 36 | 424 |
—Ian Allan