Fantasy Index

Factoid

Running backs

Postseason was short on productive runners

I noticed in the postseason that the running backs didn’t play much of a role. Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch weren’t big factors, and just one 100-yard game overall (when Jonathan Stewart was helped along by busting a 59-yard run on the first play of the Seattle game). Gone, it seems, are the days of teams grinding out wins with bellcow backs handling the ball 25 times.

The solitary 100-yard rushing day in the postseason was the lowest of the postseason. Usually in the playoffs, there tends to be 4-5 of those games.

Since 2000, 53 running backs have run for more yards in a playoff game than anybody ran for in the postseason this year.

The game has changed.

100-YARD RUSHING GAMES IN POSTSEASON
YearPlayerOppAttYardsAvgTD
2000Lamar Smith, MIAvs. IND402095.22
2007Ryan Grant, GBvs. SEA272017.43
2012Colin Kaepernick, SFvs. GB1618111.32
2003Priest Holmes, KCvs. IND241767.32
2013LeGarrette Blount, NEvs. IND241666.94
2001Marshall Faulk, STLvs. PHI311595.12
2001Charlie Garner, OAKvs. NYJ1515810.51
2014Marshawn Lynch, SEAvs. GB251576.31
2003Ahman Green, GBat PHI251566.20
2011Arian Foster, HOUvs. CIN241536.42
2005DeShaun Foster, CARat NYG271515.60
2014LeGarrette Blount, NEvs. IND301484.93
2008Willie Parker, PITvs. SD271465.42
2004Corey Dillon, NEvs. IND231446.30
2006Deuce McAllister, NOvs. PHI211436.81
2004Warrick Dunn, ATLvs. STL171428.42
2006Brian Westbrook, PHIvs. NYG201417.11
2013Marshawn Lynch, SEAvs. NO281405.02
2012Arian Foster, HOUvs. CIN321404.41
2006Tiki Barber, NYGat PHI261375.30
2012Marshawn Lynch, SEAat WAS201326.61
2011Arian Foster, HOUat BAL271324.91
2005Shaun Alexander, SEAvs. CAR341323.92
2012Ray Rice, BALat DEN301314.41
2010Marshawn Lynch, SEAvs. NO191316.91
2013Colin Kaepernick, SFat SEA1113011.80
2014Justin Forsett, BALat NE241295.40
2007Marion Barber, DALvs. NYG271294.81
2003Edgerrin James, INDat KC261254.82
2002Michael Pittman, TBvs. OAK291244.30
2014DeMarco Murray, DALat GB251234.91
2010James Starks, GBat PHI231235.30
2014Jonathan Stewart, CARvs. ARI241235.11
2006Thomas Jones, CHIvs. NO191236.52
2006LaDainian Tomlinson, SDvs. NE231235.32
2007Laurence Maroney, NEvs. SD251224.91
2007Laurence Maroney, NEvs. JAC221225.51
2006Joseph Addai, INDvs. KC251224.91
2011Isaac Redman, PITat DEN171217.10
2010Rashard Mendenhall, PITvs. NYJ271214.51
2012Frank Gore, SFvs. GB231195.21
2004Michael Vick, ATLvs. STL811914.90
2006Brian Westbrook, PHIat NO131168.92
2002Tiki Barber, NYGat SF261154.41
2006Dominic Rhodes, INDat CHI211135.41
2006Julius Jones, DALat SEA221125.10
2006Thomas Jones, CHIvs. IND151127.50
2012Frank Gore, SFvs. BAL191105.81
2000Jamal Lewis, BALvs. DEN301103.72
2001Terry Allen, BALat MIA251094.41
2013Marshawn Lynch, SEAvs. SF221095.01
2006Shaun Alexander, SEAat CHI261084.22
2000Edgerrin James, INDat MIA211075.10
2003Donovan McNabb, PHIvs. GB111079.70
2001Curtis Martin, NYJat OAK161066.60
2015Jonathan Stewart, CARvs. SEA191065.62
2008Darren Sproles, SDvs. IND221054.82
2003Stephen Davis, CARvs. DAL261044.01
2012Bernard Pierce, BALvs. IND131037.90
2000Jamal Lewis, BALat NYG271023.81
2014Marshawn Lynch, SEAvs. NE241024.30
2002LaMont Jordan, NYJvs. IND201025.12
2014Eddie Lacy, GBvs. DAL191015.30
2004Jerome Bettis, PITvs. NYJ271013.71
2003Antowain Smith, NEvs. IND221004.50

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index