Fantasy Index

Factoid

Ezekiel Elliott

Rookie running backs in debut games

When a running back is selected in the top 10, it’s always tempting to put him in your lineup right away. Often times, these guys are transcendent players. It’s clear from their first couple of carries that the landscape of the league has changed. As a kid, I recall seeing Billy Sims, Earl Campbell and Curt Warner do great things in their very first games.

Playing behind that offensive line, Ezekiel Elliott could be one of those kind of players, running for about 120 yards and 2 TDs in his first day out. Todd Gurley had that kind of impact last year, but with a slight delay. After a ho-hum debut against the Steelers, he went over 125 yards in his next four games.

Reality nowadays, however, is that more running backs tend to start slowly. Of the last 18 running backs selected with top-10 picks, only four game out and really shook up the world in their first game.

TOP-10 RUNNING BACKS IN FIRST GAMES
YearPlayerOppAttRunNoRecTD
1996Lawrence Phillips, St.L.Cin.2146002
1996Tim Biakabutuka, Car.Atl.2669000
1998Curtis Enis, Chi.Jac.1277170
1998Fred Taylor, Jac.at Chi.12000
1999Edgerrin James, Ind.Buff.261124141
1999Ricky Williams, N.O.Car.1040000
2000Thomas Jones, Ariz.at NYG12164180
2000Jamal Lewis, Balt.at Pit.516000
2001LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.Wash.361131122
2005Ronnie Brown, Mia.Den.2257140
2005Cadillac Williams, T.B.at Min.21148001
2005Cedric Benson, Chi.at Was.310000
2006Reggie Bush, N.O.at Cle.15677520
2007Adrian Peterson, Minn.Atl.191031601
2008Darren McFadden, Oak.Den.9461110
2010C.J. Spiller, Buff.Mia.76480
2012Trent Richardson, Clev.Phil.1939150
2015Todd Gurley, St.L.Pitt.69150
2016• Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.NYG?????

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index