Remember when running backs used to be good? Because of altered rules, teams are passing more nowadays, and the superstar running back has become an endangered species. Teams are running for fewer yards and touchdowns.
The days of being able to use a first-round pick on a running back, with some confidence of landing a player who’d score double-digit touchdowns appears to be over. Only seven running backs scored 10-plus touchdowns last year, and only three of those scored 12-plus. Devonta Freeman scored 14, David Johnson scored 13 and Jeremy Hill finished with 12.
The rushing touchdowns just aren’t coming like they did in the past. Ten years ago, we were finishing a four-year streak of at least 12 double-digit touchdown backs each year. In 2008, there were 17 of those players.
| Backs with 10-plus TDs | |
|---|---|
| Year | No |
| 2000 | 13 |
| 2001 | 11 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 12 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 17 |
| 2009 | 12 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 12 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 7 |
—Ian Allan