It’s unusual to get great pass-catching production out of a running back that also excels as a runner. Last year, there were two of them – not only good but operating at an all-time level. LeVeon Bell and Matt Forte.
Both were good as runners (Bell was great), and both hauled in a ton of passes, going over 800 receiving yards each. They finished over 300 receiving yards ahead of every other running back in the league.
What these guys did was rare. In NFL history, only 13 other running backs have run for over 1,000 yards and also finished with over 700 receiving yards in the same season. Only two such backs finished with more receiving yards than these guys last year: Marshall Faulk (multiple times) and Roger Craig.
MOST RECEIVING YARDS BY 1,000-YARD RUSHERS | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Rec | Run | Total |
1999 | Marshall Faulk | 1048 | 1381 | 2429 |
1985 | Roger Craig | 1016 | 1050 | 2066 |
1998 | Marshall Faulk | 908 | 1319 | 2227 |
2014 | LeVeon Bell | 854 | 1361 | 2215 |
2000 | Marshall Faulk | 830 | 1359 | 2189 |
2014 | Matt Forte | 808 | 1038 | 1846 |
2006 | Steven Jackson | 806 | 1528 | 2334 |
2007 | Brian Westbrook | 771 | 1333 | 2104 |
2001 | Marshall Faulk | 765 | 1382 | 2147 |
1984 | Marcus Allen | 758 | 1168 | 1926 |
1981 | William Andrews | 735 | 1301 | 2036 |
2003 | LaDainian Tomlinson | 725 | 1645 | 2370 |
2000 | Tiki Barber | 719 | 1006 | 1725 |
2011 | Ray Rice | 704 | 1364 | 2068 |
2009 | Ray Rice | 702 | 1339 | 2041 |
—Ian Allan