DeMarco Murray led the league in rushing last year, and he may be headed for free agency. Both he and Dez Bryant are due to be free agents, and the Cowboys might not be able to afford to re-sign both of them. And should Dallas even try to re-sign Murray.
Murray stayed healthy last year, but he has an extensive history of injuries, dating back to his days at Oklahoma, and the attrition rate tends to be pretty high with heavily used running backs anyway.
In the last 20 years, 34 running backs have carried the ball at least 350 times in a season. Almost half of those running backs (16) had at least 60 fewer carries the next season.
Only five of those heavily used running backs had EVEN MORE carries the next year. Only six finished with more yards, and only seven scored more touchdowns. Over two thirds of said running backs (25) averaged more yards per carry.
NFL teams and fantasy GMs should be aware that it’s tough staying on top at the running back position.
Here are those 34 running backs, with their rushing stats for the season after they carried the ball over 350 times.
RUNNING BACKS WITH 350-PLUS CARRIES (the next year) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Att | Yards | Avg | TD |
1995 | Emmitt Smith | 377 | 1773 | 4.70 | 25 |
1996 | Curtis Martin | 316 | 1152 | 3.65 | 14 |
1996 | Emmitt Smith | 327 | 1204 | 3.68 | 12 |
1997 | Ricky Watters | 285 | 1110 | 3.90 | 7 |
1998 | Terrell Davis | 392 | 2008 | 5.10 | 21 |
1998 | Eddie George | 348 | 1294 | 3.70 | 5 |
1998 | Jerome Bettis | 316 | 1185 | 3.80 | 3 |
1999 | Curtis Martin | 367 | 1464 | 4.00 | 5 |
1999 | Jamal Anderson | 19 | 59 | 3.10 | 0 |
1999 | Terrell Davis | 67 | 211 | 3.10 | 2 |
2000 | Curtis Martin | 316 | 1204 | 3.80 | 9 |
2000 | Edgerrin James | 387 | 1709 | 4.40 | 13 |
2001 | Jerome Bettis | 225 | 1072 | 4.80 | 4 |
2001 | Eddie George | 315 | 939 | 3.00 | 5 |
2001 | Edgerrin James | 151 | 662 | 4.40 | 3 |
2002 | Stephen Davis | 207 | 820 | 4.00 | 7 |
2003 | LaDainian Tomlinson | 313 | 1645 | 5.25 | 13 |
2003 | Ricky Williams | 392 | 1372 | 3.50 | 9 |
2004 | Deuce McAllister | 269 | 1074 | 3.99 | 9 |
2004 | Jamal Lewis | 235 | 1006 | 4.28 | 7 |
2004 | Ahman Green | 259 | 1163 | 4.49 | 7 |
2004 | Ricky Williams | 0 | 0 | .00 | 0 |
2005 | Shaun Alexander | 370 | 1880 | 5.10 | 27 |
2005 | Rudi Johnson | 337 | 1458 | 4.30 | 12 |
2005 | Curtis Martin | 220 | 735 | 3.30 | 5 |
2006 | Tiki Barber | 327 | 1662 | 5.10 | 5 |
2006 | Clinton Portis | 127 | 523 | 4.10 | 7 |
2006 | Edgerrin James | 337 | 1159 | 3.40 | 6 |
2006 | Shaun Alexander | 252 | 896 | 3.60 | 7 |
2007 | Larry Johnson | 158 | 559 | 3.50 | 3 |
2009 | Adrian Peterson | 314 | 1383 | 4.40 | 18 |
2009 | Michael Turner | 178 | 871 | 4.90 | 10 |
2010 | Chris Johnson | 316 | 1364 | 4.30 | 11 |
2013 | Arian Foster | 121 | 542 | 4.47 | 1 |
2015 | DeMarco Murray | ? | ? | ? | ? |
—Ian Allan