Ian Allan

Adrian Peterson is one of the players who’ll have to be considered with the No. 1 pick overall. Durability is certainly an issue, and he won’t be as productive as a receiver as the other backs at the top of the board.

But Peterson is darn explosive. Maybe the best big-play guy since Barry Sanders.

Up until December, Peterson was on pace to set the league record for yards per carry. Then he didn’t do as well in his final four games. Whether that was because teams keyed on him or because he wasn’t quite 100 percent after suffering a knee injury earlier in the year, I’m not sure. But he’s definitely an explosive, talented back.

Peterson finished last season at an average of 5.6 yards per carry. That’s the best ever by a rookie running back (just edging Franco Harris from 1972). The below chart shows how Peterson compares (in terms of yards per carry) to the other 46 running backs who’ve gone over 1,000 rushing yards since the league moved to a 16-game season in 1978,

Another 2007 running back, by the way, is on this list – Marshawn Lynch, who appears at 4.0 yards per carry.


Att Yards Avg TD
238 1341 5.6 13 Adrian Peterson, Minn. (2007)
273 1508 5.5 17 Clinton Portis, Den. (2002)
203 1066 5.3 15 Ickey Woods, Cin. (1988)
280 1470 5.3 14 Barry Sanders, Det. (1989)
297 1487 5.0 15 Mike Anderson, Den. (2000)
222 1104 5.0 10 Kevin Mack, Clev. (1985)
294 1429 4.9 7 Jerome Bettis, Rams (1993)
331 1605 4.8 10 Ottis Anderson, St.L. (1979)
233 1129 4.8 10 Corey Dillon, Cin. (1997)
302 1450 4.8 13 Earl Campbell, Hou. (1978)
234 1121 4.8 3 Joe Delaney, K.C. (1981)
226 1081 4.8 8 Joseph Addai, Ind. (2006)
223 1063 4.8 3 Reggie Brooks, Wash. (1993)
233 1104 4.7 10 Dominic Rhodes, Ind. (2001)
286 1353 4.7 8 Rueben Mayes, N.O. (1986)
237 1117 4.7 8 Terrell Davis, Den. (1995)
241 1133 4.7 6 Kevin Jones, Det. (2004)
390 1808 4.6 20 Eric Dickerson, Rams (1983)
264 1223 4.6 17 Fred Taylor, Jac. (1998)
238 1060 4.5 7 Terry Miller, Buff. (1978)
378 1674 4.4 13 George Rogers, N.O. (1981)
309 1364 4.4 6 Jamal Lewis, Balt. (2000)
238 1031 4.3 8 Domanick Davis, Hou. (2003)
335 1449 4.3 14 Curt Warner, Sea. (1983)
239 1023 4.3 5 William Andrews, Atl. (1979)
278 1183 4.3 7 Anthony Thomas, Chi. (2001)
369 1553 4.2 17 Edgerrin James, Ind. (1999)
276 1159 4.2 7 Olandis Gary, Den. (1999)
262 1100 4.2 8 Greg Bell, Buff. (1984)
313 1303 4.2 16 Billy Sims, Det. (1980)
335 1368 4.1 8 Eddie George, Tenn. (1996)
314 1282 4.1 12 Marshall Faulk, Ind. (1994)
290 1178 4.1 6 Cadillac Williams, T.B. (2005)
368 1487 4.0 15 Curtis Martin, N.E. (1995)
280 1115 4.0 7 Marshawn Lynch, Buff. (2007)
297 1168 3.9 15 John Stephens, N.E. (1988)
294 1151 3.9 8 Bobby Humphrey, Den. (1989)
306 1185 3.9 12 Joe Cribbs, Buff. (1980)
263 1018 3.9 9 Ron Moore, Ariz. (1993)
291 1115 3.8 12 Robert Edwards, N.E. (1998)
339 1236 3.6 10 LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D. (2001)
307 1116 3.6 11 Karim Abdul-Jabbar, Mia. (1996)
296 1074 3.6 10 Rashaan Salaam, Chi. (1995)
284 1011 3.6 7 Errict Rhett, T.B. (1994)

Note: touchdowns include rushing, receiving and kick-return scores.

—Ian Allan

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