Running backs are supposed to slow down and break down as they get older. That's long been the rule, anyway. But then there's Marshawn Lynch, and it seems the rules don't apply to him. And we're not just talking about meeting with the media.
Lynch is having another excellent postseason, and he's doing it while coming off his best fantasy season. His best four fantasy seasons, in fact, have come in the last four years, while his four worst fantasy seasons came in his first four years. That's using a scoring system that gives 1 point for every 10 rushing or receiving yards and 6 points for touchdowns.
And it's not just in terms of fantasy numbers. Lynch's two best seasons in terms of yards per carry, by far, have come in the last two years -- more than half a yard better than in any of his first six seasons. He also missed 1-3 games in each of his first five seasons, but hasn't missed any in each of his last three.
Lynch can be a headache off the field and has a big contract for the 2015 season, but it's pretty much unthinkable at this point that the Seahawks will let him get away. It won't continue indefinitely, but right now he's getting better with age.
Lynch's career year-by-year numbers, ordered by fantasy points per game, are presented below.
| MARSHAWN LYNCH, 2007-2014 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | Games | RuYds | YPC | ReYds | Yds (Tot) | TD (Tot) | FF Pts/G |
| 2014 | Seattle | 16 | 1,306 | 4.7 | 367 | 1,673 | 17 | 16.8 |
| 2012 | Seattle | 16 | 1,590 | 5.0 | 196 | 1,786 | 12 | 15.7 |
| 2013 | Seattle | 16 | 1,257 | 4.2 | 316 | 1,573 | 14 | 15.1 |
| 2011 | Seattle | 15 | 1,204 | 4.2 | 212 | 1,416 | 13 | 14.6 |
| 2007 | Buffalo | 13 | 1,115 | 4.0 | 184 | 1,299 | 7 | 13.2 |
| 2008 | Buffalo | 15 | 1,036 | 4.1 | 300 | 1,336 | 9 | 12.5 |
| 2010 | Buff./Sea. | 16 | 737 | 3.6 | 145 | 882 | 6 | 7.8 |
| 2009 | Buffalo | 13 | 450 | 3.8 | 179 | 629 | 2 | 5.8 |
--Andy Richardson