1999 Hall of Fame inductee Eric Dickerson set the record for most rushing yards in a season with the Los Angeles Rams in 1984.
This record has stood for 24 years, longer than any other rushing record. He rushed for 1,800 yards or more three of his first four seasons.
The 2,000-yard rushing mark has been achieved by only five players. They are:
Jamal Lewis: 2,066 yards in 2003
Terrell Davis: 2,008 yards in 1998
Barry Sanders: 2,053 yards in 1997
Eric Dickerson: 2,105 yards in 1984
O. J. Simpson: 2,003 yards in 1973
All of these guys proved that the 2,000-yard barrier could be broken in one season but no one has amassed 2,106 yards.
LaDanian Tomlinson is arguably the league's best running back. He rushed for 1,815 yards in 2006, his best season yet. He led the league in 2007, rushing for 1,474 yards.
Larry Johnson amassed 1,789 yards on an amazing 416 attempts in 2006.
Adrian Peterson, the seventh-overall pick took the league by storm. He was the 2007 Rookie of the Year and the Pro Bowl MVP. He ran for 1,341 yards, which included rushing for more than 200 yards on two occasions.
He also broke the NFL single-game rushing mark by running all over the Chargers for 296 yards, despite playing in only 14 games.
In 2007, the four best per-game rushing averages were held by Adrian Peterson, who averaged 95.8 yards per game, LaDanian Tomlinson averaged 92.1 yards per game, Brandon Jacobs averaged 91.7 yards per game, and Brian Westbrook, who averaged 88.9 yards per game.
All four are worthy candidates, amongst others, to have great seasons and break the record. But to topple the mark, a running back would have to average 132 yards rushing per game.
In today’s game, I don’t think it will happen.
When Eric Dickerson set the record back in 1984, the NFL was more of a rushing league. The teams that put a lot of points on the board did so via the passing game.
The Los Angeles Rams weren’t one of the top-10 scoring teams in the league that year. The Rams, as a team, scored a total of 346 points and passed for 2,142 yards. The Rams had a very competitive team, but they were one dimensional.
In today’s NFL, your points still come from passing game, due to the fact you need to acquire big chunks of yardage, also known as big plays, to be in position to score points.
We are in the age of the two-running-back system, and for one player to average 132 yards per game for 16 weeks is almost impossible.
The running game will remain important, and if the team has the lead, it will use the running game to control the clock in the fourth quarter. The 2,000-yard rushing mark has been achieved by only five players. They are:
Jamal Lewis: 2,066 yards in 2003
Terrell Davis: 2,008 yards in 1998
Barry Sanders: 2,053 yards in 1997
Eric Dickerson: 2,105 yards in 1984
O. J. Simpson: 2,003 yards in 1973
All of these guys proved that the 2,000-yard barrier could be broken in one season but no one has amassed 2,106 yards.
LaDanian Tomlinson is arguably the league's best running back. He rushed for 1,815 yards in 2006, his best season yet. He led the league in 2007, rushing for 1,474 yards.
Larry Johnson amassed 1,789 yards on an amazing 416 attempts in 2006.
Adrian Peterson, the seventh-overall pick took the league by storm. He was the 2007 Rookie of the Year and the Pro Bowl MVP. He ran for 1,341 yards, which included rushing for more than 200 yards on two occasions.
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He also broke the NFL single-game rushing mark by running all over the Chargers for 296 yards, despite playing in only 14 games.
In 2007, the four best per-game rushing averages were held by Adrian Peterson, who averaged 95.8 yards per game, LaDanian Tomlinson averaged 92.1 yards per game, Brandon Jacobs averaged 91.7 yards per game, and Brian Westbrook, who averaged 88.9 yards per game.
All four are worthy candidates, amongst others, to have great seasons and break the record. But to topple the mark, a running back would have to average 132 yards rushing per game.
In today’s game, I don’t think it will happen.
When Eric Dickerson set the record back in 1984, the NFL was more of a rushing league. The teams that put a lot of points on the board did so via the passing game.
The Los Angeles Rams weren’t one of the top-10 scoring teams in the league that year. The Rams, as a team, scored a total of 346 points and passed for 2,142 yards. The Rams had a very competitive team, but they were one dimensional.
In today’s NFL, your points still come from passing game, due to the fact you need to acquire big chunks of yardage, also known as big plays, to be in position to score points.
We are in the age of the two-running-back system, and for one player to average 132 yards per game for 16 weeks is almost impossible.
If I was posed the question, “Which running back will break Eric Dickerson’s’ record this year?”
My answer would be no one. Although, if both remain healthy, LaDanian Tomlinson and Adrian Peterson have the best chances to accomplish the feat.
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about 1 month ago
Oh what a great article! I agree it's also so hard to play well game in and game out with improved defenses. All players are so much faster now that it's hard to rush well consistently.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for the comments and compliments, Jack.
about 1 month ago
Interesting article, for several reasons. You're trying to look at a great record, and see if anyone can take the shot at it. Secondly, you're trying to put the present and future Running Backs on the clock, to see if any of our guys have the mettle to do so.
I don't think LT can do it, and before the Charger fans fry me for it, I'll explain: Last year, they had the Fullback to keep the holes on the line open.....once the chargers switched from an offensive package that was 90 percent LT and 10 percent Rivers, this record was lost. Also, LT's time window is narrowing down. If you go through that list, most of those players, with the exception of maybe Sanders, were relatively young, so putting a massive season today, would need to be done early.
Adrian Peterson, is a double edged sword. He might, later in his career in a year or two, but he's also come off a season where he got injured. True, when healthy he's a force to be reckoned with, but to do so, he'd need to stay healthy all year long.
Larry Johnson, as we all now realize, is a good example why you don't overload your RB...and keep your line healthy. After LJ's great year, he missed a good portion of the year due to injury, and the jury is still out if he'll be able to come back in the same form from his past.
Westbrook, is probably the best Runner you've never heard of, unless he's on your fantasy squads, and even then, until the last two years, has garnered attention.
His advantage, is he can both run and catch, the former being the primary thing that helps him here....but I don't think Westbrook has a chance at the record...the numbers just don't support the idea.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for the comments and compliments, Raider Card! You have gotten my point that to achieve the mark a runner needs to stay healthy and play well in every game which is tough to do. I haven't forgotten about Brian Westbrook. I agree with your take on LT until proven otherwise plus he is in a more diverse offense now.
I still say that Adrian Peterson has the best chance to do it but averaging 132 yards per game for the season will be tough.
about 1 month ago
Jeff great article. I just have to say, maybe just maybe peterson might have a chance to reach it but if he stays healthy, i say about 3 or 4 years he might. For the other rbs there great but i dont think it will happen to them.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for the comments and compliments, David. I agree with your take.
about 1 month ago
Great read. I would love to see someone break the record BUT... in todays game it's getting harder and harder for running backs to run away from linebackers much less the entire team. The game and its players are much faster now that alone would make it hard for anyone to break the record. And for a more valid and educated point the fact that the two running back system is here is going to prevent even the biggest of studs like Adrian Peterson from reaching the milestone. The fact that running back are such a big part of the passing game these days really racks up the all-purpose yards but doesnt shatter rushing records. So LT is out. And simply put, without a strong enough supporting cast LJ is gonna have to be out too. They're all great but 2100 yards is a looong way to go these days
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for the comments and compliments, Cory!
26 days ago
I think it all boils down to one crucial point... the NFL is shifting more and more towards a RB by committe approach to prevent wear and tear on their star runners and to diversify offenses, so it's doubtful that a running back will get enough carries to break the record in the future. For example, AP is without a doubt the focal point of Minnesota's offense but some of his carries are going to Chester Taylor.
If someone is going to break this record it's going to have to be a guy on a team with weak depth at the RB position, a run oriented system, and a quarterback who is accurate and careful with the football, but won't take too many shots downfield. Which is why I think that the best possibility in the league today, provided he stays healthy, is Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown.
His only backup is Rickey Williams and I doubt he'll get very many carries (Chatman went to the Jets). Chad Pennington has a career 65% completion percentage and he doesn't turn the ball over, and a team coached by a Parcells disciple is sure to run the ball a lot every game. Brown was leading the league in rushing before his injury and he definitely has the talent to do great things, and Tony Sparano is a line coach by trade. Their O-line may not be amazing but they've brought in Jake Long and Justin Smiley so far so they are off to a good start. I don't think Brown's going to do it, but he's in a perfect situation for it in my opinion. (I'm a pats fan so if anything I'm somewhat biased against the dolphins.)
from 24 days ago
Thanks for commenting, Max. Interesting thought but as stated in the article the answer to the question is a resounding no.
I have to disagree with your take. A team with weak depth at the running back position wouldn't be in the conversation at all. It would take a team that is one-dimensional and has a better rushing game than their passing game.
When speaking of running the football It all boils down to the offensive line. The Dolphins will be better but not record breaking not even close.
from 24 days ago
yeah... I don't think they'll do it this year (or any year for that matter) but you know as well as I do that the Tuna builds his team around the lines and has a propensity for running the ball, if it's gonna be anyone, it'll probably be Peterson, if Brown can stay healthy I think he'll rack up some solid numbers (1300-1500 yard range) but he'd have to have himself a miracle of a season to hit 2000. I suppose the depth idea was a reach on my part, although to a certain extent a team with a deep enough RB corps could theoretically turn to a 2 back system, similarly to what Dallas, Minnesota et al employs now. The idea I meant to convey is that Miami has a definite, clear-cut #1 who will likely not lose many carries to his backups. It'll take 3-4 years for Parcells to build a contender in Miami but by the time he does Brown will be in his prime and I think they'll have a formidable O-line. But in the end, you're probably right, it ain't gonna happen, the NFL is becoming a pass first, 2 back league so any runner, no matter how talented, will have to get a lot of help and luck to even sniff the record in the future. TThe NFL's general philosophy may change in the future, but barring a reversal in tendancies from NFL coaches, Dickerson's record is pretty safe. Good article by the way.
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