It's Week 17, a time when some playoff teams will rest starters, and eliminated teams with injured veteran might showcase youngsters or backups. No. 2 running backs like Malcolm Brown (Rams) or Charcandrick West (Kansas City) will show up as one-week possibilities to have good numbers for their teams. But will they deliver?
I pulled the top Week 17 rushing performances from the last three seasons. Every running back who reached at least 70 yards in that week from 2014-2016 is listed. In bold are the guys who were backup players elevated into the starting lineup either due to injuries to starters, or because teams were holding out key veterans as they prepared for the playoffs.
| WEEK 17 RUSHING (2014-2016) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Opp | Att | Yds | TD |
| 2014 | Lamar Miller, Mia. | vs NYJ | 19 | 178 | 1 |
| 2015 | Rashad Jennings, NYG | vs PHI | 27 | 170 | 1 |
| 2016 | Isaiah Crowell, Clev. | @ PIT | 19 | 152 | 0 |
| 2014 | Frank Gore, S.F. | vs ARI | 25 | 144 | 0 |
| 2016 | Jordan Howard, Chi. | @ MIN | 23 | 135 | 0 |
| 2016 | Corey Grant, Jax. | @ IND | 18 | 122 | 1 |
| 2016 | Bilal Powell, NYJ | vs BUF | 22 | 122 | 0 |
| 2016 | Rex Burkhead, Cin. | vs BAL | 27 | 119 | 2 |
| 2014 | Justin Forsett, Balt. | vs CLE | 17 | 119 | 0 |
| 2015 | Ronnie Hillman, Den. | vs S.D. | 15 | 117 | 1 |
| 2014 | Doug Martin, T.B. | vs N.O. | 19 | 108 | 0 |
| 2016 | Mark Ingram, N.O. | @ ATL | 20 | 103 | 1 |
| 2016 | Paul Perkins, NYG | @ WAS | 21 | 102 | 0 |
| 2015 | Alfred Blue, Hou. | vs JAC | 21 | 102 | 0 |
| 2015 | Christine Michael, Sea. | @ ARI | 17 | 102 | 0 |
| 2015 | Alfred Morris, Wash. | @ DAL | 19 | 100 | 0 |
| 2014 | Jeremy Hill, Cin. | @ PIT | 23 | 100 | 0 |
| 2014 | Eddie Lacy, G.B. | vs DET | 26 | 100 | 0 |
| 2014 | DeMarco Murray, Dall. | @ WAS | 20 | 100 | 1 |
| 2014 | LeSean McCoy, Phil. | @ NYG | 17 | 99 | 0 |
| 2016 | Devonta Freeman, Atl. | vs N.O. | 12 | 96 | 1 |
| 2015 | Jeremy Hill, Cin. | vs BAL | 16 | 96 | 1 |
| 2015 | C.J. Anderson, Den. | vs S.D. | 15 | 95 | 1 |
| 2014 | Shonn Greene, Tenn. | vs IND | 11 | 94 | 0 |
| 2014 | Terrance West, Clev. | @ BAL | 18 | 94 | 1 |
| 2015 | Darren McFadden, Dall. | vs WAS | 12 | 92 | 0 |
| 2014 | Matt Asiata, Minn. | vs CHI | 19 | 91 | 0 |
| 2016 | Justin Forsett, Den. | vs OAK | 22 | 90 | 0 |
| 2016 | Jerick McKinnon, Minn. | vs CHI | 16 | 89 | 1 |
| 2016 | Andre Williams, S.D. | vs K.C. | 18 | 87 | 0 |
| 2014 | C.J. Anderson, Den. | vs OAK | 13 | 87 | 3 |
| 2015 | Donald Brown, S.D. | @ DEN | 21 | 81 | 0 |
| 2015 | Chris Ivory, NYJ | @ BUF | 6 | 81 | 0 |
| 2015 | Matt Forte, Chi. | vs DET | 17 | 76 | 0 |
| 2015 | Devonta Freeman, Atl. | vs N.O. | 25 | 76 | 0 |
| 2015 | Frank Gore, Ind. | vs TEN | 19 | 76 | 0 |
| 2015 | Spencer Ware, K.C. | vs OAK | 16 | 76 | 1 |
| 2016 | Jacquizz Rodgers, T.B. | vs CAR | 17 | 75 | 0 |
| 2015 | David Cobb, Tenn. | @ IND | 19 | 73 | 1 |
| 2014 | Branden Oliver, S.D. | @ K.C. | 14 | 71 | 1 |
There might be a couple of non-bolded players that fit the profile. Justin Forsett in Denver, a year ago (though he'd been starting for a couple of weeks with C.J. Anderson on IR).
A couple of the noteworthy standouts are Rex Burkhead in Cincinnati, who might have parlayed his big Week 17 into a contract with New England, and Corey Grant in Jacksonville (Chris Ivory had been starting all season). Those are players you can look at and say, They took advantage of a Week 17 opportunity. Maybe this year it will be Malcolm Brown with that kind of game.
But in general, there haven't been a lot of backups who have come through with big Week 17 performances.
--Andy Richardson