DeMarco Murray and LeVeon Bell had great seasons last year. Nobody who selected either of those guys regretted it. But considering the kind of yards those running backs piled up, they were mild disappointments as scorers.
In NFL history, only 23 running backs have gone over 2,200 yards from scrimmage (rushing and receiving). Murray and Bell are part of that group. But of said backs, the majority also scored 16-plus touchdowns. Murray and Bell both started all 16 games for division champion teams, but they scored only 13 and 11 touchdowns.
Only one running back ever (Marshall Faulk) has gone over 2,200 yards and scored under 10 touchdowns. Only three others have scored fewer than 13 – Tiki Barber, Adrian Peterson and Faulk a second time.
RUNNING BACKS WITH 2,200-PLUS YARDS | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Run | Rec | TD |
2006 | LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D. | 1815 | 508 | 31 |
2002 | Priest Holmes, K.C. | 1615 | 672 | 24 |
1975 | O.J. Simpson, Buff. | 1817 | 426 | 23 |
1998 | Terrell Davis, Den. | 2008 | 217 | 23 |
2003 | Ahman Green, G.B. | 1883 | 367 | 20 |
1983 | Eric Dickerson, Rams | 1808 | 404 | 20 |
2000 | Edgerrin James, Ind. | 1709 | 594 | 18 |
2010 | Arian Foster, Hou. | 1616 | 604 | 18 |
2003 | LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D. | 1645 | 725 | 17 |
2002 | Ricky Williams, Mia. | 1853 | 363 | 17 |
2009 | Chris Johnson, Tenn. | 2006 | 503 | 16 |
2006 | Steven Jackson, St.L. | 1528 | 806 | 16 |
1997 | Barry Sanders, Det. | 2053 | 305 | 14 |
1985 | Marcus Allen, Raiders | 1759 | 555 | 14 |
2003 | Jamal Lewis, Balt. | 2066 | 205 | 14 |
1984 | Eric Dickerson, Rams | 2105 | 139 | 14 |
2014 | DeMarco Murray, Dall. | 1845 | 416 | 13 |
1984 | James Wilder, T.B. | 1544 | 685 | 13 |
1999 | Marshall Faulk, St.L. | 1381 | 1048 | 12 |
2012 | Adrian Peterson, Minn. | 2097 | 217 | 12 |
2005 | Tiki Barber, NYG | 1860 | 530 | 11 |
2014 | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 1361 | 854 | 11 |
1998 | Marshall Faulk, Ind. | 1319 | 908 | 10 |
—Ian Allan