With the impressive outage Chiefs rookie running back, Kareem Hunt, had on Thursday, Leonard Fournette’s 100 yards for the Jags on Sunday, and with multiple other rookie running backs getting playing time, we wanted to take a look at some of the great rookie running back classes of years past. However, this is not a look at how many guys went on to Hall of Fame careers (like the 1952 draft), but how many made significant contributions to their teams in their rookie seasons. This will be a look at some of the great rookie running back seasons.
The Criteria
We decided to look at the rookie running backs who made significant contributions to their teams in terms of yardage. We set the cutoff at 1,000 yards from scrimmage (rushing + receiving yards). We will specifically look at years that had 4 or more rookie backs finish the season with over 1,000 yards from scrimmage, and put them in order by most combined yards from scrimmage
1980 – 5 RBs with 7,111 total yards from scrimmage
Billy Sims, Joe Cribbs, Earl Cooper, Gerry Ellis, Curtis Dickey
Only Sims and Cribbs rushed for over 1,000 yards this season. Sims was the first overall pick by the Lions, and finished just 76 yards shy of 2,000 yards from scrimmage. He would have 3 straight Pro Bowl years, before injuries cut his career short. Cribbs was the workhorse back for the Bills, while also returning punts. He would go on to rush for over 1,000 yards 2 more times for the Bills, earning a total of 3 trips to the Pro Bowl. Cooper was the primary fullback for the 49ers in Bill Walsh’s second season. He saw a lot of action catching the ball out of the backfield, finishing the season with 83 receptions for 567 yards and 4 TDs. He would end up making the transition to tight end 4 years into his career. Another fullback, Ellis was the most evenly used back, finishing with around 500 yards in both rushing and receiving. He finished a 7-year career with the Packers as their 5th all-time leading rusher. Dickey was the backup to Joe Washington in Baltimore, but with his size, saw most of the goal line carries, scoring 11 rushing TDs. He would go on to rush for over 1,000 yards once in his career, in 1983. The only other notable rookie from this season I could recognize was Charles White.
2008 – 4 RBs with 6,141 total yards from scrimmage
Steve Slaton, Matt Forte, Chris Johnson, Kevin Smith
The first 3 finished 6th, 7th, and 8th in rushing in 2008 respectively. Slaton was the top of the bunch, finishing with just under 1,300 rushing yards. However, he would never come close to that success again. Slaton would only rush for about another 600 yards for his career before exiting the league in 2011. Forte has not rushed for as many yards as he did in this rookie season, but did succeed in surpassing his total offensive yardage twice, becoming a very good receiver out of the backfield. He went on to a very successful career with the Bears, earning 2 trips to the Pro Bowl, and is currently in his second season with the Jets. Johnson would improve in his sophomore season, becoming the 6th 2,000-yard rusher in NFL history. He is currently a free agent after being cut from the Cardinals. Smith is the only one of the bunch that didn’t rush for 1,00 yards, falling just 24 yards short. He would start all 13 games he played in his sophomore season, but would be out of the league 3 years later. Some other notable rookies from this season were: Jonathan Stewart, Ray Rice, Jamaal Charles, Darren McFadden, Tim Hightower, Peyton Hillis, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Rashard Mendenhall, Mike Tolbert, Justin Forsett, Michael Bush.
1981 – 4 RBs with 6,134 yards from scrimmage
George Rogers, Joe Delaney, Tony Collins, Randy McMillan
Another number one overall pick, Rodgers took the league by storm in 1981. He finished 1st in the league in rushing attempts and yards (38 for 1,674) and 2nd in rushing TDs (13). Rogers would go on to a solid career with the Saints then the Redskins, where he rushed for 18 TDs in 1986. Delaney was the only other of the bunch to rush for over 1,000 yards. However, Delaney is one of the more tragic stories in NFL history. In the summer after being limited in the strike-shortened 1982 season recovering from a detached retina, Delaney drowned trying to save 3 children that were struggling in a pond in an amusement park in Monroe, Louisiana. Collins was the Patriots primary running back and kick returner in his rookie year. He was a serviceable back in his 8 years with the Patriots, rushing for over 1,000 yards and earning a trip to the pro bowl in 1983. McMillan was the starting fullback for 1980 Colts rookie sensation Curtis Dickey. McMillan was a well-rounded back, rushing for almost 600 yards and receiving for another 466. He would continue as the team’s fullback for his entire 6-year career. Some other notable rookies from this season were: Freeman McNeil, James Brooks, James Wilder, Stump Mitchell.
2013 – 5 RBs with 6,062 total yards from scrimmage
Eddie Lacy, Le’Veon Bell, Giovani Bernard, Zac Stacy, Andre Ellington
Lacy is the only one of the bunch to rush for over 1,000 yards. He also finished with 11 rushing TDs, 2nd in the league, on his way to the Pro Bowl. Unfortunately, Lacy ate himself out of a job in Green Bay by his 4th year, and is now looking to resurrect his career in Seattle. Bell missed the first 3 games of the year dealing with a foot injury, but went on to rush for 860 yards, and catch for another 400, in the remaining 13. He followed up his rookie year with an All-Pro season and is currently considered one of the best backs in the league. Bernard came into the league as the 3rd down/change of pace back behind the Law Firm, BenJarvus Green-Ellis. He finished the year with 1,209 yards from scrimmage and 8 TDs. He is currently in a committee back field with Jeremey Hill and rookie Joe Mixon. Stacy was the next closest to rush for 1,000 yards, with 973. He struggled in 2014, leading to the Rams drafting Todd Gurley in 2015. Stacy requested a trade and was dealt to the Jets. He would go on to break his ankle in the 2015 season, and subsequently retire in 2017 because of injuries. Ellington was the Cardinals change of pace/3rd down back behind Rashard Mendenhall. He has been sitting at 3rd on the Cardinals depth chart for the past few seasons. Some other notable rookies from this season were: C.J. Anderson, Theo Riddick, Mike Gillislee, Spencer Ware, Rex Burkhead, Knile Davis, Christine Michael
2012 – 4 RBs with 6,062 total yards from scrimmage
Doug Martin, Alfred Morris, Trent Richardson, Mikel Leshoure*
Martin and Morris finish the season 5th and 2nd in the league in rushing respectively. They became the first rookie pair since 1983 to finish in the top 5. Martin finished the season 2nd in yards from scrimmage, with just shy of 2,000 yards, as the lead back for the Bucs after being picked in the 1st round. He has continued to be the Bucs lead back. Morris, on the other hand, fought hard in training camp and the preseason to win the starting job after being selecting in the 6th round by the Redskins. He, and then Rookie of the Year RG3, led the Redskins to the playoffs as a dynamic rookie backfield. Morris would rush for over 1,00 yards in each of his next 2 seasons, earning trips to the Pro Bowl in both as well. After a down 2015 season, Morris left the Redskins as their 5th all-time leading rusher, and signed a 2-year deal with the rival Cowboys. He has served as back-up to last year’s rookie sensation, Ezekiel Elliott. Despite contributing over 1,300 yards from scrimmage in his rookie year, Richardson is best known for being one of the biggest busts in draft history. The Browns traded up to get Richardson with the 3rd overall pick. His 3.56 yards per carry was the worst among all rookie running backs. 2 games into the 2013 season, the Browns traded Richardson to the Colts for a 1st round pick. His struggles continued in Indy, as he rushed for only 2.9 yards per carry. He was out of the league after the following season. Although technically not a rookie, as he was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2011 draft by the Lions, Leshoure made his NFL debut in 2012 after missing the entire 2011 season. He finished with the second worst yards per carry average with 3.7, but still managed just over 1,000 yards from scrimmage, despite being suspended for the first 2 games. Leshoure would only play in 3 more games for the Lions in his career before being cut. Some other notable rookies from this season were: Lamar Miller, Vick Ballard, Bernard Pierce, Ronnie Hillman, David Wilson, Chris Rainey, Matt Asiata, Travaris Cadet
1995 – 4 RBs with 5,561 total yards from scrimmage
Curtis Martin, Terrell Davis, Rodney Thomas, Rashaan Salaam
The only year on this list with 2 Hall of Famers. Martin was the best of the bunch, finishing the season 3rd in rushing with 1,487 yards and 14 TDs for the Patriots earning his 1st of 5 Pro Bowl appearances. Martin would go on to rush for over 1,000 yards in each of the next 9 season, on his way to the Hall of Fame. Davis was a 6th round pick by the Broncos and new head coach Mike Shanahan. He fought during training camp and preseason to earn the starting running back job. He rushed for over 1,100 yards in 14 games, which made him, at the time, the lowest drafted player to ever rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. Davis would go on to 3 straight 1st-team All-Pro seasons, including becoming only the 4th RB ever to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season. Thomas finished with the 2nd best rookie rushing season in Oilers’ history, with 947 yards. However, Thomas was regulated to back-up duty in the following season when the Oilers drafted Heisman trophy winner, Eddie George. He would continue to back-up George and the Titans for next 5 seasons. Salaam, the only 1st round pick of the bunch, rushed for just over 1,000 yards for the Bears, starting in 11 games. However, Salaam had real trouble holding onto the ball, fumbling 9 times in his rookie year. His problems with fumbles, as well as injuries and drug use, led to Salaam playing in only 17 more NFL games over the next 4 years. Some other notable rookies from this season were: James Stewart, Napoleon Kaufman, Tyrone Wheatley, Cory Schlesinger.
1993 – 4 RBs with 5,326 total yards from scrimmage
Jerome Bettis, Terry Kirby, Reggie Brooks, Ronald Moore
Bettis tops this group finishing 2nd overall in rushing yards, just 57 yards behind league MVP Emmitt Smith. He earned 1st-team All-Pro honors and a trip to the Pro Bowl. After another Pro Bowl season, Bettis’ production dropped after the Rams implemented a more pass oriented offseason. The Rams traded Bettis and a 3rd round pick to the Steelers for a 2nd and 4th round pick. Bettis would make an immediate impact, earning 1st-team All-Pro honors in his first year with the Steelers, and go on to a Hall of Fame career. Kirby is one of the more interesting names on this list because he only rushed for 390 yards. It was his 75 receptions for 874 yards that brought him over the 1,000 yards from scrimmage mark for the Dolphins. He would go on to a serviceable career as a 3rd down/receiving back for the 49ers, Browns, and Raiders over his 10-year career. Brooks earned himself the starting job on a bad, 4-12 Redskins team, over guys like Earnest Byner and Brian Mitchell. He went on to rush for over 1,000 yards. However, that is about the extent of Brooks’ career, as he would play in only 14 more games with the Redskins over the next 2 season, and finished with 1 season with the Bucs. Moore earned the starting job for the Cardinals after fellow rookie, and 1st round pick, Garrison Hearst go hurt. He went on to rush for just over 1,000 yards and 9 TDs. This led to Moore earning the starting job over Hearst in 1994. Moore did not see the same success and signed with the Jets in 1995. He would be used sparingly over the next 4 years with 4 different teams. Some other notable rookies from this season were: Robert Smith, Lorenzo Neal, Richie Anderson, Garrison Hearst, Natrone Means.
Years with 3 RBs with over 1,000 yards from scrimmage (sorted by most total yardage)
2006 – Joseph Addai, Maurice Jones-Drew, Reggie Bush
1983 – Eric Dickerson, Curt Warner, Roger Craig
1989 – Barry Sanders, Bobby Humphrey, Eric Metcalf
1960 – Abner Hayes, Paul Lowe, Wray Carlton
2001 – LaDainian Tomlinson, Anthony Thomas, Dominic Rhodes
1964 – Charley Taylor, Matt Snell, Sid Blanks
1999 – Edgerrin James, Olandis Gary, Ricky Williams
2007 – Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, Ryan Grant
1997 – Warrick Dunn, Corey Dillon, Antowain Smith
1971 – John Brockinton, Vic Washington, John Riggins
1994 – Marshall Faulk, Errict Rhett, Bam Morris
1969 – Larry Brown, Calvin Hill, O.J. Simpson
2015 – Todd Gurley, David Johnson, T.J. Yeldon
1988 – John Stephens, Ickey Woods, Thurman Thomas
1968 – Paul Robinson, Robert Holmes, Jim Kiick
2011 – DeMarco Murray, Ben Tate, Roy Helu
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