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Factoid

150-Yard Running backs

Is running game on the decline? (Or on the rise?)

Are running backs disappearing from our game? Sometimes it seems that way. It seems like more teams are rotating their backs and splitting up the workload, and it seems like more teams are relying more on the pass. But other times you get out the numbers, take a look, and things aren’t as dire as you might think.

As far as splitting carries and running back by committee, that’s a topic I’ve addressed before. There’s nothing to it. It was just as popular in the ‘70s and ‘80s as it is today. Go back and check the numbers. When Miami went undefeated in 1972, it had both Larry Csonka an Mercury Morris going over 1,000 yards (and Jim Kiick going over 500). When John Riggins had his big touchdown season in 1983, Joe Washington also ran for 772 yards in that offense. It’s nothing new.

Rushing production is down relative to passing. That can be shown. But there are still plenty of good rushers. The number of 100- and 1,000-yard rushers hasn’t declined over the years.

For this year, consider special running games. That is, instances where running backs go for 150-plus yards. It’s happened eight times already this year.

In only one of the last 10 years have there been more 150-yard runners at this point in the season.

Just saying.

(Also not with these runners, by the way, that none of them are guys who were among the first 10 running backs selected in your league. At running back, you can find guys later on who’ll step up and produce.)

RUNNING BACKS GOING FOR 150-PLUS YARDS
YearPlayerOppScoreAttYdsAvgTD
2015Lamar Miller, MIAvs HOUW 44-261417512.51
2015Thomas Rawls, SEAat CINL 24-27231697.31
2015Carlos Hyde, SFvs MINW 20-3261686.52
2015Chris Ivory, NYJat MIAW 27-14291665.71
2015Todd Gurley, STLat GBL 10-24301595.30
2015Devonta Freeman, ATLvs WASW 25-19271535.71
2015Darren McFadden, DALat NYGL 20-27291525.21
2015Justin Forsett, BALat PITW 23-20271505.60
2014Rashad Jennings, NYGvs HOUW 30-17341765.21
2014DeMarco Murray, DALat TENW 26-10291675.81
2014Arian Foster, HOUat DALL 17-20231576.82
2013LeSean McCoy, PHIat WASW 33-27311845.91
2013DeMarco Murray, DALvs STLW 31-7261756.71
2013LeSean McCoy, PHIvs KCL 16-26201587.91
2013Frank Gore, SFat STLW 35-11201537.71
2012Jamaal Charles, KCat NOW 27-24332337.11
2012Ahmad Bradshaw, NYGvs CLEW 41-27302006.71
2012Chris Johnson, TENat BUFW 35-341819510.82
2012Maurice Jones-Drew, JACat INDW 22-17281776.31
2012Reggie Bush, MIAvs OAKW 35-13261726.62
2012C.J. Spiller, BUFat NYJL 28-481416912.11
2012Shonn Greene, NYJvs INDW 35-9321615.03
2012Adrian Peterson, MINvs ARIW 21-14231536.71
2012Arian Foster, HOUat NYJW 23-17291525.21
2012Stevan Ridley, NEvs DENW 31-21281515.41
2011DeMarco Murray, DALvs STLW 34-72525310.11
2011Matt Forte, CHIvs CARW 34-29252058.21
2011Adrian Peterson, MINvs GBL 27-33241757.31
2011Darren McFadden, OAKvs NYJW 34-24191719.02
2011Jahvid Best, DETvs CHIW 24-131216313.61
2011Arian Foster, HOUvs PITW 17-10301555.21
2011Darren McFadden, OAKat DENW 23-20221506.80
2010Arian Foster, HOUvs INDW 34-24332317.03
2010Matt Forte, CHIat CARW 23-6221667.52
2010Darren McFadden, OAKat DENW 59-141616510.33
2010Adrian Peterson, MINvs DETW 24-10231607.02
2010Chris Ivory, NOat TBW 31-61515810.50
2009Thomas Jones, NYJvs BUFL 13-16222109.51
2009Frank Gore, SFvs SEAW 23-101620712.92
2009Chris Johnson, TENvs HOUL 31-341619712.32
2009Cedric Benson, CINvs CHIW 45-10371895.11
2009Adrian Peterson, MINat CLEW 34-20251807.23
2009Rashard Mendenhall, PITvs SDW 38-28291655.72
2009Fred Jackson, BUFvs TBW 33-20281635.80
2009DeAngelo Williams, CARat TBW 28-21301525.12
2008Michael Turner, ATLvs DETW 34-212222010.02
2008Larry Johnson, KCvs DENW 33-19281987.12
2008Clinton Portis, WASvs CLEW 14-11271756.51
2008Chris Johnson, TENat KCW 34-10181689.31
2008Darren McFadden, OAKat KCW 23-8211647.81
2008Steven Jackson, STLvs DALW 34-14251606.43
2008Adrian Peterson, MINvs INDL 15-18291605.50
2008Thomas Jones, NYJat OAKL 13-16241596.60
2007Adrian Peterson, MINat CHIW 34-312022411.23
2007Jamal Lewis, CLEvs CINW 51-45272168.01
2007LaDainian Tomlinson, SDvs OAKW 28-14241988.34
2007Justin Fargas, OAKat MIAW 35-17221798.10
2007Chris Brown, TENat JACW 13-10191759.20
2007LaMont Jordan, OAKat DENL 20-23251596.40
2006Tiki Barber, NYGat ATLW 27-14261857.10
2006Travis Henry, TENat WASW 25-22321785.61
2006Chester Taylor, MINat SEAW 31-13261696.51
2006Willis McGahee, BUFvs NYJL 20-28261505.80
2005LaDainian Tomlinson, SDvs NYGW 45-23211929.13
2005Willie Parker, PITvs TENW 34-7221617.31
2005Cadillac Williams, TBat GBW 17-16371584.30
2005Warrick Dunn, ATLvs NYJW 27-14241556.50

—Ian Allan

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