Bishop Sankey had a pretty unimpressive rookie season. The starting job was basically there for the taking -- he only had to beat out Shonn Greene -- but it was midseason before he got more than 10 carries in a game. And he didn't do a whole lot with those carries.
Since 2000, there have been 43 running backs drafted in the first two rounds, who then went on to put up at least 100 carries in their rookie seasons. Sankey averaged just 3.7 yards per carry on his 152 rushing attempts, better than only 10 of those 42 other backs.
On the other hand, a poor rookie season in that regard doesn't necessarily signal the death knell of a young back's career. LaDainian Tomlinson (3.6) and LeVeon Bell (3.5) were among the backs with worse yards per carry numbers as a rookie. So there's hope for Sankey yet.
Rookie year numbers of the 43 first- and second-round running backs (with at least 100 rushing attempts) since 2000, sorted by yards per carry, are presented below.
YPC, 1ST- AND 2ND-ROUND ROOKIES, 2000-2014 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Rd | Player | Team | Att | Yds | YPC |
2006 | 2 | Maurice Jones-Drew | Jac. | 166 | 941 | 5.7 |
2007 | 1 | Adrian Peterson | Minn. | 238 | 1341 | 5.6 |
2002 | 2 | Clinton Portis | Den. | 273 | 1508 | 5.5 |
2014 | 2 | Jeremy Hill | Cin. | 222 | 1124 | 5.1 |
2004 | 1 | Steven Jackson | St.L. | 134 | 673 | 5.0 |
2008 | 1 | Chris Johnson | Tenn. | 251 | 1228 | 4.9 |
2006 | 1 | Joseph Addai | Ind. | 226 | 1081 | 4.8 |
2004 | 1 | Kevin Jones | Det. | 241 | 1133 | 4.7 |
2013 | 2 | Montee Ball | Den. | 120 | 559 | 4.7 |
2012 | 1 | Doug Martin | T.B. | 319 | 1454 | 4.6 |
2008 | 1 | Jonathan Stewart | Car. | 184 | 836 | 4.5 |
2009 | 1 | Beanie Wells | Ariz. | 176 | 793 | 4.5 |
2008 | 1 | Darren McFadden | Oak. | 113 | 499 | 4.4 |
2000 | 1 | Jamal Lewis | Balt. | 309 | 1364 | 4.4 |
2005 | 1 | Ronnie Brown | Mia. | 207 | 907 | 4.4 |
2010 | 1 | Ryan Mathews | S.D. | 158 | 678 | 4.3 |
2006 | 1 | Laurence Maroney | N.E. | 175 | 745 | 4.3 |
2001 | 2 | Anthony Thomas | Chi. | 278 | 1183 | 4.3 |
2008 | 2 | Ray Rice | Balt. | 107 | 454 | 4.2 |
2004 | 2 | Julius Jones | Dall. | 197 | 819 | 4.2 |
2013 | 2 | Eddie Lacy | G.B. | 284 | 1178 | 4.1 |
2006 | 1 | DeAngelo Williams | Car. | 121 | 501 | 4.1 |
2009 | 2 | LeSean McCoy | Phil. | 155 | 637 | 4.1 |
2013 | 2 | Giovani Bernard | Cin. | 170 | 695 | 4.1 |
2005 | 1 | Cadillac Williams | T.B. | 290 | 1178 | 4.1 |
2007 | 1 | Marshawn Lynch | Buff. | 280 | 1115 | 4.0 |
2001 | 1 | Michael Bennett | Minn. | 172 | 682 | 4.0 |
2008 | 2 | Matt Forte | Chi. | 316 | 1238 | 3.9 |
2002 | 1 | T.J. Duckett | Atl. | 130 | 507 | 3.9 |
2011 | 1 | Mark Ingram | N.O. | 122 | 474 | 3.9 |
2009 | 1 | Knowshon Moreno | Den. | 247 | 947 | 3.8 |
2002 | 1 | William Green | Clev. | 243 | 887 | 3.7 |
2014 | 2 | Bishop Sankey | Tenn. | 152 | 569 | 3.7 |
2001 | 1 | LaDainian Tomlinson | S.D. | 339 | 1236 | 3.6 |
2006 | 1 | Reggie Bush | N.O. | 155 | 565 | 3.6 |
2012 | 1 | Trent Richardson | Clev. | 267 | 950 | 3.6 |
2013 | 2 | LeVeon Bell | Pitt. | 244 | 860 | 3.5 |
2011 | 2 | Daniel Thomas | Mia. | 165 | 581 | 3.5 |
2001 | 2 | Travis Henry | Buff. | 213 | 729 | 3.4 |
2000 | 1 | Ron Dayne | NYG | 228 | 770 | 3.4 |
2000 | 1 | Thomas Jones | Ariz. | 112 | 373 | 3.3 |
2005 | 2 | J.J. Arrington | Ariz. | 112 | 370 | 3.3 |
2010 | 1 | Jahvid Best | Det. | 171 | 555 | 3.2 |
--Andy Richardson