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Factoid

First-round running backs / yards per carry

Where Gurley, Gordon fit with recent picks

First-round running backs Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon were both up over 7.0 yards per carry in their final college seasons, an impressive performance. But based on the last 20 years of first-rounders, it doesn't necessarily say much about whether they'll be great pros or not.

Since 1995, there have been 57 running backs drafted in the first round. Scrolling through the names, it appears there have been just as many hits from the backs over 6.0 yards per carry as ones under that total. The bottom group of backs in that regard (Deuce McAllister, Shaun Alexander, Jamal Lewis and Steven Jackson) all turned out pretty well. Some of the best (Felix Jones, Ki-Jana Carter, Lawrence Phillips) certainly wouldn't be drafted in the first round again.

We're on board with both rookies being good backs, but those college numbers don't necessarily mean much. Lots of backs turned out just fine with ordinary rushing performances in college.

First-rounders from the last 20 years, sorted by yards per carry their final year of college, are presented below.

FIRST-ROUND RUNNING BACKS, 1995-PRESENT
YearPickPlayerTeamAttYardsYPC
200822Felix JonesCowboys13311628.7
20062Reggie BushSaints20017408.7
19951Ki-Jana CarterBengals19815397.8
200327Larry JohnsonKansas City27120877.7
201515Melvin GordonChargers34325877.5
19966Lawrence PhillipsRams967127.4
201510Todd GurleyRams1239117.4
199521Rashaan SalaamBears29820556.9
201012Ryan MathewsChargers27618086.6
200823Rashard MendenhallSteelers26216816.4
200627DeAngelo WilliamsPanthers31019646.3
200031Trung CanidateRams25316026.3
199712Warrick DunnBuccaneers18911796.2
200323Willis McGaheeBills28217536.2
19968Tim BiakabutukaPanthers27917246.2
200813Jonathan StewartPanthers28017226.2
201030Jahvid BestLions1418676.1
199723Antowain SmithBills20212396.1
200712Marshawn LynchBills22313566.1
200011Ron DayneGiants30318346.1
199519James StewartJaguars17010286.0
19989Fred TaylorJaguars21412926.0
200824Chris JohnsonTitans23614236.0
199614Eddie GeorgeOilers30318266.0
19985Curtis EnisBears22813636.0
20052Ronnie BrownDolphins1539136.0
20123Trent RichardsonBrowns28316795.9
201232David WilsonGiants29017095.9
19995Ricky WilliamsSaints36121245.9
200216William GreenBrowns26515595.9
200430Kevin JonesLions28116475.9
19994Edgerrin JamesColts24214165.9
20015LaDainian TomlinsonChargers36921585.8
200931Beanie Wells Cardinals20711975.8
200927Donald Brown Colts36720835.7
20084Darren McFaddenRaiders32518305.6
20054Cedric BensonBears32618345.6
20109C.J. SpillerBills21612125.6
200912Knowshon Moreno Broncos25014005.6
201128Mark IngramSaints1588755.5
199818Robert EdwardsPatriots1659085.5
199518Napoleon KaufmanRaiders25313905.5
199517Tyrone WheatleyGiants19410645.5
200127Michael BennettVikings29415985.4
20007Thomas JonesCardinals33417985.4
20077Adrian PetersonVikings18810125.4
200218T.J. DuckettFalcons23612365.2
200621Laurence MaroneyPatriots28114645.2
199829John AveryDolphins1668625.2
200426Chris PerryBengals33816745.0
201231Doug MartinBuccaneers26312994.9
20055Cadillac WilliamsBucs23911654.9
200630Joseph AddaiColts1879114.9
200123Deuce McAllisterSaints1597674.8
200019Shaun AlexanderSeahawks30213834.6
20005Jamal LewisRavens1828174.5
200424Steven JacksonRams35015454.4

--Andy Richardson

Fantasy Index