Todd Gurley got paid yesterday, a four-year, $60 million deal that's in the neighborhood of what the Steelers offered LeVeon Bell (reportedly) before the sides were unable to reach an agreement. It's a reward for what was one of the decade's very best seasons by a running back.
Gurley averaged 21.6 fantasy points per game last year (1 point for every 10 rushing or receiving yards, 6 for touchdowns). The only better season in the last 10 years was Chris Johnson in 2009. That's the year he rushed for 2,000 yards.
TOP RB FANTASY SEASONS, 2008-2017 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | St | Run | Rec | TD | Curr |
2009 | Chris Johnson, Tenn. | 16 | 2006 | 503 | 16 | 21.7 |
2017 | Todd Gurley, LAR | 15 | 1305 | 788 | 19 | 21.6 |
2013 | Jamaal Charles, K.C. | 15 | 1287 | 693 | 19 | 20.8 |
2016 | David Johnson, Ariz. | 16 | 1239 | 879 | 20 | 20.7 |
2010 | Arian Foster, Hou. | 16 | 1616 | 604 | 18 | 20.6 |
2016 | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 12 | 1268 | 616 | 9 | 20.2 |
2011 | Arian Foster, Hou. | 13 | 1224 | 617 | 12 | 19.7 |
2016 | Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 15 | 1631 | 363 | 16 | 19.7 |
2012 | Adrian Peterson, Minn. | 16 | 2097 | 217 | 13 | 19.3 |
2009 | Jamaal Charles, K.C. | 9 | 1004 | 177 | 9 | 19.1 |
2014 | DeMarco Murray, Dall. | 16 | 1845 | 416 | 13 | 19.0 |
2011 | LeSean McCoy, Phil. | 15 | 1309 | 315 | 20 | 18.8 |
2011 | Ray Rice, Balt. | 16 | 1364 | 704 | 15 | 18.6 |
2009 | Adrian Peterson, Minn. | 16 | 1383 | 436 | 18 | 18.1 |
2014 | Arian Foster, Hou. | 13 | 1246 | 327 | 13 | 18.1 |
2014 | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 16 | 1361 | 854 | 11 | 18.0 |
2017 | Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 10 | 983 | 269 | 9 | 17.9 |
2015 | DeAngelo Williams, Pitt. | 10 | 801 | 320 | 11 | 17.8 |
2015 | Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 13 | 1013 | 515 | 13 | 17.8 |
2008 | DeAngelo Williams, Car. | 16 | 1515 | 121 | 20 | 17.7 |
2013 | LeSean McCoy, Phil. | 16 | 1607 | 539 | 11 | 17.5 |
2010 | Darren McFadden, Oak. | 13 | 1157 | 507 | 10 | 17.4 |
2017 | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 15 | 1291 | 655 | 11 | 17.4 |
2011 | Fred Jackson, Buff. | 10 | 934 | 442 | 6 | 17.4 |
2008 | Michael Turner, Atl. | 16 | 1699 | 41 | 17 | 17.3 |
2009 | Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac. | 16 | 1391 | 374 | 16 | 17.0 |
2017 | Alvin Kamara (C), N.O. | 13 | 670 | 750 | 13 | 16.9 |
2014 | Marshawn Lynch, Sea. | 16 | 1306 | 367 | 17 | 16.8 |
2012 | Arian Foster, Hou. | 16 | 1424 | 217 | 17 | 16.6 |
2013 | Matt Forte, Chi. | 16 | 1339 | 594 | 12 | 16.6 |
2012 | Doug Martin, T.B. | 16 | 1454 | 472 | 12 | 16.5 |
2011 | Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac. | 16 | 1606 | 374 | 11 | 16.5 |
2009 | Frank Gore, S.F. | 14 | 1120 | 406 | 13 | 16.5 |
2016 | Melvin Gordon, S.D. | 13 | 997 | 419 | 12 | 16.4 |
2016 | LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 15 | 1267 | 356 | 14 | 16.4 |
2010 | Adrian Peterson, Minn. | 15 | 1298 | 341 | 13 | 16.1 |
Now all Gurley needs to do is stay healthy. If he does, that contract will be the template for big paydays for Bell, David Johnson, and top running backs to come.
If not, teams will likely nod and say, this is why we don't give running backs huge deals.
Johnson and Gurley's seasons, by the way, sneak them into the top 1o for this century. Here are the eight seasons that were better than theirs since 2000. (Per-game; note that a couple of these were actually half-seasons.)
TOP RB FANTASY SEASONS, 2000-2017 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | St | Run | Rec | TD | Curr |
2005 | Larry Johnson, K.C. | 9 | 1351 | 276 | 17 | 29.4 |
2000 | Marshall Faulk, St.L. | 14 | 1359 | 830 | 26 | 26.8 |
2002 | Priest Holmes, K.C. | 14 | 1615 | 672 | 24 | 26.6 |
2006 | LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D. | 16 | 1815 | 508 | 31 | 26.1 |
2004 | Priest Holmes, K.C. | 8 | 892 | 187 | 15 | 24.7 |
2001 | Marshall Faulk, St.L. | 14 | 1382 | 765 | 21 | 24.5 |
2003 | Priest Holmes, K.C. | 16 | 1420 | 690 | 27 | 23.3 |
2005 | Shaun Alexander, Sea. | 16 | 1880 | 78 | 28 | 22.7 |
--Andy Richardson