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Factoid

Running on empty

League rushing production has declined

Teams aren’t running the ball like they used to. We’re not seeing as many rushing ards and touchdowns as in the past. The game has changed.

This is probably largely dictated by rules changes. Coaches don’t get as much access to players anymore, and there are restrictions on padded practices. This makes it harder to develop an offensive line, and for those units to jell. In trying to make the game safer, the league also eliminated the chop block prior to the 2016 season – that blocking technique has been used to help running games.

Whatever the reason, if you take the last 10 years and look at the least productive rushing offenses, seven of the worst 43 (out of 320 teams) came from the 2017 season. That’s using standard fantasy scoring (6 points for touchdowns and 1 for every 10 yards).

When Adam Gase was running Chicago’s offense a few years back, their running backs tied for first in the league in rushing attempts – they had it going really well. And that was before Jordan Howard – with Matt Forte and Jeremy Langford. In Gase’s offense, Jay Ajayi went over 200 rushing yards three times in 2016.

But the Miami running game pretty much ground to a halt last year. Compared to other teams over the last 10 years, we could find only three that finished with overall worse rushing production.

The Bengals traditionally like to run the ball, but they were done in by an underwhelming offensive line, with Joe Mixon finishing far below expectations.

Arizona, Detroit, Seattle and the Giants also struggled.

WORST RUSHING SEASONS, LAST 10 YEARS
YearTeamAttYardsAvgTDPoints
2014Oakland Raiders3371,2403.74148.0
2015San Diego Chargers3931,3583.54159.8
2013Cleveland Browns3481,3834.04162.3
2017Miami Dolphins3601,3883.94162.8
2012Oakland Raiders3761,4203.84166.0
2014Arizona Cardinals3971,3083.36166.8
2012Jacksonville Jaguars3581,3693.85166.9
2013Jacksonville Jaguars3781,2603.37168.0
2012San Diego Chargers4111,4613.64170.1
2017Cincinnati Bengals3771,3663.66172.6
2014San Diego Chargers3981,3673.46172.7
2012Dallas Cowboys3551,2653.68174.5
2016Minnesota Vikings3801,2053.29174.5
2017Arizona Cardinals4091,3863.46174.6
2013Baltimore Ravens4231,3283.17174.8
2015Detroit Lions3541,3353.87175.5
2011Cleveland Browns4151,5313.74177.1
2016New York Giants3981,4123.56177.2
2015Jacksonville Jaguars3541,4734.25177.3
2016Los Angeles Rams3751,2523.39179.2
2014Tampa Bay Buccaneers3531,3753.97179.5
2015Indianapolis Colts3961,4383.66179.8
2012Arizona Cardinals3521,2043.410180.4
2014Tennessee Titans3561,4474.16180.7
2017Detroit Lions3631,2213.410182.1
2015Cleveland Browns3801,5294.05182.9
2016Detroit Lions3501,3103.79185.0
2009Chicago Bears3731,4924.06185.2
2017Seattle Seahawks4091,6294.04186.9
2015Oakland Raiders3701,4573.97187.7
2008Cincinnati Bengals4201,5203.66188.0
2014Buffalo Bills4021,4823.77190.2
2013Atlanta Falcons3211,2473.911190.7
2015New York Giants4031,6094.05190.9
2017New York Giants3941,5493.96190.9
2011Tennessee Titans3761,4383.88191.8
2013Miami Dolphins3491,4404.18192.0
2014Chicago Bears3551,4414.18192.1
2013Pittsburgh Steelers3941,3833.59192.3
2009Tampa Bay Buccaneers4041,6274.05192.7
2010Arizona Cardinals3201,3884.39192.8
2017Tampa Bay Buccaneers3891,4503.78193.0
2008Detroit Lions3521,3323.810193.2
2015Baltimore Ravens3831,4783.98195.8
2015San Francisco 49ers3901,5444.07196.4
2008Cleveland Browns4091,6053.96196.5
2013Tampa Bay Buccaneers4201,6123.86197.2
2009Seattle Seahawks3951,5664.07198.6
2009Washington 3911,5103.98199.0

If you instead look at the best rushing seasons of the last 10 years, three teams crack the top 50 – Saints, Jaguars, Cowboys. But no team made the top 25 (out of 320 teams).

BEST RUSHING SEASONS, LAST 10 YEARS
YearTeamAttYardsAvgTDPoints
2016Buffalo Bills4922,6305.329437.0
2008Carolina Panthers5042,4374.830423.7
2012Washington 5192,7095.222402.9
2009New York Jets6072,7564.521401.6
2011Carolina Panthers4452,4085.426396.8
2014Seattle Seahawks5252,7625.320396.2
2016Dallas Cowboys4992,3964.824383.6
2008Atlanta Falcons5602,4434.423382.3
2009Tennessee Titans4992,5925.219373.2
2013Philadelphia Eagles5002,5665.119370.6
2012New England Patriots5232,1844.225368.4
2008New York Giants5022,5185.019365.8
2008Tennessee Titans5082,1994.324363.9
2010Oakland Raiders5042,4944.919363.4
2012Minnesota Vikings4862,6345.416359.4
2009Carolina Panthers5252,4984.818357.8
2008Baltimore Ravens5922,3764.020357.6
2015Buffalo Bills5092,4324.819357.2
2009Miami Dolphins5092,2314.422355.1
2012Seattle Seahawks5362,5794.816353.9
2008New England Patriots5132,2784.421353.8
2011Houston Texans5462,4484.518352.8
2009Baltimore Ravens4682,2004.722352.0
2012San Francisco 49ers4922,4915.117351.1
2011Philadelphia Eagles4502,2765.120347.6
2013Minnesota Vikings4232,0814.923346.1
2017New Orleans Saints4442,0704.723345.0
2015Carolina Panthers5262,2824.319342.2
2010Kansas City5562,6274.713340.7
2010Philadelphia Eagles4282,3245.418340.4
2011Minnesota Vikings4482,3185.218339.8
2009New Orleans Saints4682,1064.521336.6
2012Carolina Panthers4622,0884.521334.8
2017Jacksonville Jaguars5272,2624.318334.2
2014Dallas Cowboys5082,3544.616331.4
2011Denver Broncos5462,6324.811329.2
2015Minnesota Vikings4742,2114.718329.1
2014Cincinnati Bengals4922,1474.419328.7
2013San Francisco 49ers5052,2014.418328.1
2012Houston Texans5082,1234.219326.3
2017Dallas Cowboys4802,1704.518325.0
2010Houston Texans4232,0424.820324.2
2010Jacksonville Jaguars5122,3954.714323.5
2008Minnesota Vikings5192,3324.515323.2
2010New York Giants4802,2004.617322.0
2010New York Jets5342,3744.414321.4
2013Buffalo Bills5462,3074.215320.7
2013New England Patriots4702,0654.419320.5
2008New York Jets4222,0044.720320.4
2015Kansas City4362,0444.719318.4

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index