Fantasy Index

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Factoid

Running games stuck in neutral

Teams couldn't run the ball in Week 1

If you thought the running games were pretty feeble in Week 1, you’re not wrong. Teams averaged under 93 rushing yards. In the last 15 years, that’s never happened before. I don’t have the numbers from earlier seasons handy, but that might have been the least productive running weekend in the modern history of the league – not worst Week 1, but the worst week period.

Part of this (I think) can be attributed to new restrictions on how much teams are allowed to practice – especially with pads on. I think those kind of practices might be helpful in developing a truly great running game.

It’s also early in the year, and that’s a factor. Defenses tend to be ahead of offenses right now. This can be confirmed by looking at previous seasons. Look at the last 225 weeks of regular-season play. (And here, I’m bending “weeks” into “games” so there are 32-team chunks in each group – with the exception of just 30 teams last week).

Of the 50 most productive running weeks, they include the opening weeks of 12 different seasons.

50 WORST RUSHING WEEKS SINCE 2003
YearWeekYards
2017• Game 192.9
2013Game 193.1
2015Game 1196.7
2005Game 597.3
2011Game 397.9
2012Game 198.5
2015Game 398.5
2007Game 998.8
2013Game 798.8
2014Game 999.2
2016Game 299.4
2008Game 799.8
2009Game 199.9
2007Game 1099.9
2016Game 499.9
2005Game 2100.2
2003Game 1100.5
2016Game 1100.8
2008Game 5102.1
2014Game 6102.3
2016Game 10102.3
2016Game 5102.4
2015Game 9102.4
2007Game 11103.8
2016Game 11103.8
2013Game 2103.8
2005Game 1103.9
2010Game 2104.5
2011Game 10104.6
2016Game 8105.0
2005Game 12105.2
2010Game 8105.2
2011Game 1105.3
2015Game 1105.3
2015Game 10105.5
2010Game 1105.6
2014Game 14105.6
2007Game 7105.7
2008Game 8105.9
2006Game 6106.3
2004Game 3106.4
2008Game 11106.6
2009Game 5107.1
2007Game 13107.1
2003Game 6107.3
2009Game 4107.3
2005Game 10107.5
2012Game 6107.5
2006Game 1107.7
2007Game 3107.8

If you want to see the big rushing performances, those tend to come late in the year. Of the 50 most productive rushing weeks of the last 15 years, only one game in the opening week of a season.

50 BEST RUSHING WEEKS SINCE 2003
YearWeekYards
2008Game 16136.3
2006Game 13133.7
2005Game 6131.5
2006Game 16130.8
2009Game 7129.8
2003Game 15128.8
2011Game 7128.5
2003Game 13128.4
2006Game 15128.4
2004Game 9127.9
2003Game 14127.8
2008Game 15127.3
2011Game 15127.2
2008Game 10127.2
2010Game 13127.1
2009Game 16126.8
2006Game 12126.6
2012Game 12126.5
2003Game 11126.1
2013Game 8125.7
2009Game 2125.4
2003Game 7124.5
2012Game 5124.2
2010Game 12124.0
2013Game 13123.9
2008Game 6123.6
2011Game 14123.5
2011Game 16123.4
2004Game 4123.2
2003Game 9122.8
2012Game 13122.4
2011Game 4122.3
2011Game 9122.1
2012Game 16122.1
2007Game 15122.0
2004Game 12122.0
2013Game 3121.9
2008Game 1121.4
2005Game 14121.4
2014Game 16121.4
2009Game 9121.3
2006Game 7121.2
2013Game 15121.1
2011Game 11121.1
2012Game 7120.7
2008Game 12120.6
2009Game 15120.6
2012Game 14120.5
2016Game 15120.5
2004Game 15120.2

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index