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Factoid

PPR running backs

Receptions are key ingredient in grading running backs

If you play in a PPR format, and you want a good running back, he better be a guy who can catch some passes. That tends to be the key in that kind of format. In that format, even a lesser day can be prettied up with 4-5 dumpoff passes (where in PPR, you get the points not only for the 30-40 yards, but also for the catches themselves).

To have much of chance of being one of the top half-dozen backs, you want a guy who’ll catch 40-plus passes.

Below is the list of the top 100 PPR running backs of the last 10 years – about 10 per year. Some years have a few more backs in there, while others are a little short. But it’s fine for our purposes.

Of said backs, 72 percent caught at least 40 passes. Only 15 of these backs (in bold) caught fewer than 30 passes. Another 13 backs (with black dots) caught 30-39 passes.

But list is dominated by guys who are involved not only as runners but also in the passing game.

TOP 100 PPR RUNNING BACKS SINCE 2005
YearPlayerNoRecRun TDPPR
2006LaDainian Tomlinson565081,81531482.3
2006Steven Jackson908061,52816419.4
2009Chris Johnson505032,00616398.9
2010Arian Foster666041,61618396.0
2013Jamaal Charles706931,28719382.0
2005Shaun Alexander15781,88028378.8
2011Ray Rice767041,36415376.8
2006Larry Johnson414101,78919374.9
2007Brian Westbrook907711,33312372.4
2014LeVeon Bell838541,36111370.5
2005• Larry Johnson333431,75021368.3
2007LaDainian Tomlinson604751,47418366.9
2005LaDainian Tomlinson513701,46220366.2
2014DeMarco Murray574161,84513361.1
2005Tiki Barber545301,86011361.0
2012Adrian Peterson402172,09713351.4
2014Matt Forte1028081,03810350.6
2013Matt Forte745941,33912341.3
2006Brian Westbrook776991,21711334.6
2006Frank Gore614851,6959333.0
2009Adrian Peterson434361,38318332.9
2013LeSean McCoy525391,60711332.6
2011LeSean McCoy483151,30920330.4
2009Ray Rice787021,3398330.1
2009Maurice Jones-Drew533741,39116325.5
2012Doug Martin494721,45412313.6
2005Edgerrin James443371,50614312.3
2011Arian Foster536171,22412309.1
2008DeAngelo Williams221211,51520307.6
2011Maurice Jones-Drew433741,60611307.0
2008Matt Forte634771,23812306.5
2014• Marshawn Lynch373671,30617306.3
2012Arian Foster402171,42417306.1
2010Peyton Hillis614771,17713304.4
2006Tiki Barber584651,6625300.7
2010LeSean McCoy785921,0809299.2
2006• Willie Parker312221,49416298.6
2005LaMont Jordan705631,02511296.8
2013Knowshon Moreno605481,03813296.6
2010Jamaal Charles454681,4678286.5
2008Maurice Jones-Drew6256582414284.9
2012Ray Rice614781,14310283.1
2009Frank Gore524061,12013282.6
2007Clinton Portis473891,26211282.1
2008Michael Turner6411,69917282.0
2006Maurice Jones-Drew4643694116279.7
2010• Adrian Peterson363411,29813277.9
2008• Thomas Jones362071,31215277.9
2008LaDainian Tomlinson524261,11012277.6
2013• Marshawn Lynch363161,25714277.3
2014• Arian Foster383271,24613277.3
2011Darren Sproles8671060310277.3
2010Chris Johnson442451,36412276.9
2007Joseph Addai413641,07215276.6
2014Eddie Lacy424271,13913276.6
2010Ray Rice635561,2206276.6
2008Steve Slaton503771,28210275.9
2005• Clinton Portis302161,51611275.2
2012Marshawn Lynch231961,59012273.6
2010Darren McFadden475071,15710273.4
2006Reggie Bush887425659272.7
2008Brian Westbrook5440293614271.8
2008Adrian Peterson211251,76010269.5
2010Matt Forte515471,0699268.6
2012C.J. Spiller434591,2448261.3
2013DeMarco Murray533501,12110260.1
2012Alfred Morris11771,61313258.0
2007Adrian Peterson192681,34113257.9
2014Jamaal Charles402911,03314256.4
2012Trent Richardson5136795012254.7
2009• Ricky Williams352641,12113253.5
2008Clinton Portis282181,4879252.5
2010Ahmad Bradshaw473141,2358251.9
2008Chris Johnson432601,22810251.8
2007• Jamal Lewis302481,30411251.2
2005Rudi Johnson23901,45812249.8
2009Joseph Addai5133682813249.4
2009Steven Jackson513221,4164248.8
2011Marshawn Lynch282121,20413247.6
2013Reggie Bush545061,0067247.2
2014Justin Forsett442631,2668246.9
2012• Jamaal Charles352361,5096245.5
2010Rashard Mendenhall231671,27313245.0
2013• Eddie Lacy352571,17811244.5
2010Steven Jackson463831,2416244.4
2013Chris Johnson423451,07710244.2
2006Ladell Betts534451,1545242.9
2007Frank Gore534361,1026242.8
2007Marion Barber4428297512241.7
2011Ryan Mathews504551,0916240.6
2010• Maurice Jones-Drew343171,3247240.1
2009Thomas Jones10581,40214240.0
2005Steven Jackson433201,04610239.6
2013Adrian Peterson291711,26611238.7
2006Rudi Johnson231241,30912238.3
2009Jamaal Charles402971,1209237.7
2008Marion Barber524178859236.2
2009Ryan Grant251971,25311236.0
2007Willis McGahee432311,2078234.8
2013Fred Jackson4738789010234.7

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index