Something rare happened last season in the NFL. For the first time in league history, rookies finished 1st and 2nd in rushing yards for the season. For as long as the NFL has been around, it is rare to come across a first-time event, but Ezekiel Elliott and Jordan Howard made it happen. Here is a look at some of the other rookie duos that came close to the 1-2 combo.
2012 – Alfred Morris (2) and Doug Martin (5)
Alfred Morris was an unexpected starter for the Redskins in 2012. He was a 6th round pick out of Florida Atlantic by the Washington Redskins and was competing for a roster spot with Roy Helu, Evan Royster, and Tim Hightower. Morris impressed during the preseason and won the starting job, to setup a dynamic rookie duo of himself and RG3. Morris finished the season with 1,613 rushing yards (now 4th all-time behind Elliott). Doug Martin, on the other hand, had more expectations going into his rookie season. Martin was selected with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 1st round pick in 2012 out of Boise State. He earned the starting job in preseason over LeGarrette Blount. Martin finished the season with 1,454 rushing yards and a trip to the Pro Bowl as an alternate.
1983 Eric Dickerson (1) and Curt Warner (3)
The 1983 draft is widely considered the greatest draft of all time, and these two names contribute as to why. Eric Dickerson not only still holds the record for the most rushing yards in a season, but also holds the record for most rushing yards in a season by a rookie. Dickerson was the 2nd overall pick out of SMU by the Los Angeles Rams. He made an immediate impact on the team, helping turn them around from a 2-7 team in the strike-shortened 1982 season, to 9-7 and a playoff berth in 1983. Dickerson finished the season with 1,808 yards and 18 touchdowns. The pick right after Dickerson by the Seattle Seahawks was Penn State’s Curt Warner. Warner finished the year with 1,449 yards, a trip to the Pro Bowl, and was named AFC Offensive Player of the Year. Only the Atlanta Falcons’ Williams Andrews (1,567) kept them from finishing the season 1 & 2 in rushing.
1957 – Jim Brown (1) and Don Bosseler (3)
Both these rookie rushers were 1st round picks in the 1957 draft. The man, that some would consider the greatest to play the game, who finished 1st was the 6th overall pick by the Cleveland Browns, Jim Brown. He made an immediate impact on the Browns, including running for a then NFL record 237 yards in a Week 9 matchup against the Rams. Brown finished the season with 942 yards and 9 touchdowns in the 12-game season. 3 picks later in the draft, the Washington Redskins selected FB Don Bosseler out of Miami. He finished the season with 673 yards and 7 touchdowns. Bosseler was just edged out for 2nd in rushing yards that season to the Chicago Bears’ Rick Casares (700).
1955 – Alan Ameche (1) and Ron Waller (4)
Alan Ameche was the 3rd overall pick by the Baltimore Colts coming from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ameche rushed for 961 yards and 9 touchdowns on the way to being named Rookie of the year, and the only rookie named to the All-Pro team. One pick before the Colts in the 2nd round, the Los Angeles Rams selected Ron Waller out of Maryland. Waller would go on to carry the ball 151 times for 716 yards and 7 touchdowns that season. Though Waller did not see the same sustained success as Ameche; his rookie stats amount for more than half his career totals.
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