I reference this stat a lot in my Fantasy Football articles. Running backs who carry the ball 380 or more times in a season tend to disappoint the following year.
Let’s take a look at every running back who has led the league in carries the past 20 years. As you’ll see, except for THREE real instances (two of which were by the most durable running back of all time), they’ve disappointed their fantasy owners.
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1988.
Eric Dickerson, Rams Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
1988 |
388 |
1,659 |
4.3 |
15 |
1989 |
314 |
1,311 |
4.2 |
8 |
1989.
Christian Okoye, Chiefs Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
1989 |
370 |
1,480 |
4.0 |
12 |
1990 |
245 |
805 |
3.3 |
7 |
1990.
Earnest Bynar, Redskins Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
1990 |
297 |
1,219 |
4.1 |
7 |
1991 |
274 |
1,048 |
3.8 |
5 |
1991.
Emmitt Smith*, Cowboys Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
1991 |
365 |
1,563 |
4.3 |
13 |
1992 |
373 |
1,713 |
4.6 |
19 |
* – One of three real exceptions to the rule.
1992.
Bananas Foster, Steelers Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
1992 |
390 |
1,690 |
4.3 |
11 |
1993 |
177 |
711 |
4.0 |
9 |
1993.
Thurman Thomas, Bills Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
1993 |
355 |
1,315 |
3.7 |
6 |
1994 |
287 |
1,093 |
3.8 |
9 |
1994.
Emmitt Smith*, Cowboys Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
1994 |
368 |
1,484 |
4.0 |
22 |
1995 |
377 |
1,773 |
4.7 |
25 |
* – One of three real exceptions to the rule.
1995.
Emmitt Smith, Cowboys Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
1995 |
377 |
1,773 |
4.7 |
25 |
1996 |
327 |
1,204 |
3.7 |
15 |
1996.
Ricky Watters, Eagles Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
1996 |
353 |
1,411 |
4.0 |
13 |
1997 |
285 |
1,110 |
3.9 |
7 |
1997.
Jerome Bettis, Steelers Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
1997 |
375 |
1,665 |
4.4 |
9 |
1998 |
316 |
1,185 |
3.8 |
3 |
1998.
Jamal Anderson, Falcons Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
1998 |
410 |
1,846 |
4.5 |
16 |
1999 |
19 |
59 |
3.1 |
0 |
1999.
Edgerrin James*, Colts Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
1999 |
369 |
1,553 |
4.2 |
17 |
2000 |
387 |
1,709 |
4.4 |
18 |
* – One of three real exceptions to the rule.
2000.
Eddie George, Titans Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
2000 |
403 |
1,509 |
3.7 |
16 |
2001 |
315 |
939 |
3.0 |
5 |
2001.
Stephen Davis, Redskins Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
2001 |
356 |
1,432 |
4.0 |
5 |
2002 |
207 |
820 |
4.0 |
8 |
2002.
Ricky Williams, Dolphins Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
2002 |
383 |
1,853 |
4.8 |
17 |
2003 |
393 |
1,372 |
3.5 |
10 |
2003.
Jamal Lewis*, Ravens Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
2003 |
387 |
2,066 |
5.3 |
14 |
2004 |
235 |
1,006 |
4.3 |
7 |
* – Ricky Williams led the 2003 running backs in carries (392), but left the NFL in 2004 to tour with Lenny Kravitz.
2004.
Curtis Martin, Jets Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
2004 |
371 |
1,697 |
4.6 |
14 |
2005 |
220 |
735 |
3.3 |
5 |
2005.
Shaun Alexander, Seahawks Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
2005 |
370 |
1,880 |
5.1 |
28 |
2006 |
252 |
896 |
3.6 |
7 |
2006.
Larry Johnson, Chiefs Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
2006 |
416 |
1,789 |
4.3 |
19 |
2007 |
158 |
559 |
3.5 |
4 |
2007.
Clinton Portis*, Redskins Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
2007 |
325 |
1,262 |
3.9 |
11 |
2008 |
342 |
1,487 |
4.3 |
9 |
* – Not enough carries to warrant concern
2008.
Michael Turner, Falcons Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
2008 |
363 |
1,760 |
4.5 |
17 |
2009 |
178 |
871 |
4.9 |
10 |
2009.
Chris Johnson, Titans Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
2009 |
358 |
2,006 |
5.6 |
16 |
2010 |
316 |
1,364 |
4.3 |
11 |
2010.
Michael Turner, Falcons Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
2010 |
334 |
1,371 |
4.1 |
12 |
2011 |
301 |
1,340* |
4.5* |
11* |
* – Michael Turner started the year extremely well, but killed his fantasy owners down the stretch. He averaged 3.6 YPC or worse in six of his final seven games, and he scored only two touchdowns between Weeks 10-16.
2011.
Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
2011 |
343 |
1,606 |
4.7 |
11 |
2012 |
86 |
414 |
4.8 |
2 |
2012.
Arian Foster, Texans Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
2012 |
351 |
1,424 |
4.1 |
17 |
2013 |
121 |
542 |
4.5 |
1 |
2013.
LeSean McCoy, Eagles Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
2013 |
335 |
1,607 |
5.1 |
11 |
2014 |
312 |
1,319 |
4.2 |
5 |
2014.
DeMarco Murray, Cowboys/Eagles Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
2014 |
436 |
2,043 |
4.7 |
15 |
2015 |
193 |
702 |
3.6 |
6 |
2015.
Adrian Peterson, Vikings Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
2015 |
327 |
1,485 |
4.5 |
11 |
2016 |
37 |
72 |
1.9 |
0 |
2016.
Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
2016 |
322 |
1,631 |
5.1 |
15 |
2017 |
242 |
983 |
4.1 |
7 |
2017.
Le’Veon Bell, Steelers Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
2017 |
321 |
1,291 |
4.0 |
9 |
2018 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2018.
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
2018 |
304 |
1,434 |
4.7 |
6 |
2019 |
301 |
1,357 |
4.5 |
12 |
2019.
Derrick Henry, RB, Titans Year |
Carries |
Rush Yards |
YPC |
Touchdowns |
2019 |
303 |
1,540 |
5.1 |
16 |
2020 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
More 2018 Fantasy Football Articles:
Fantasy Football Rankings
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 8/21 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 8/21 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 8/21 (Walt)
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2018 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 9/1 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/30 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/27 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/23 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/22 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/16 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/9 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/2 (Walt)
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Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 7/26 (Walt)
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2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 PPR - 9/5 (Walt)
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2018 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Preseason Games - 8/31 (Walt)
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2018 Fantasy Football Quarterback Preseason Targets Tracker - 8/30 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football D/ST Drafting - 8/28 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football ADP Values: Running Backs - 8/16 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy Guide - 8/15 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football ADP Values: Quarterbacks - 8/15 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Tight Ends to Target - 8/9 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football - PPR Draft Strategy: Rounds 1 and 2 - 7/27 (Chet)
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2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Tight Ends - 7/11 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Wide Receivers - 7/6 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Running Backs - 7/5 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Quarterbacks - 7/4 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Tight Ends Better Than ADP - 6/29 (Chet)
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2018 Fantasy Football Target Shares - 6/22 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Points Per Game - 6/13 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator - 6/2
2018 Fantasy Football Value Players - 5/25 (Chet)
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