This is a two-part study that takes a look at running backs that carry the load for their team. It breaks down how running backs have done over the past twenty seasons when they average a certain number of carries per game. The study starts at 17.5 carries per game that translates into a 280-carry season for a running back and goes up to 25 carries per game. The majority of the study takes place between 17.5 carries per game and 21.9 carries per game (280 to 350 carries).

Here are some of the highlights this article will cover

• Which current running backs have managed to hit certain targets (i.e. - 17.5 carries per game)?
• How many fantasy points running backs reach based on carries per game?
• How many rushing yards is reached based on carries?
• How many players since 2000 have reached a tier compared to the previous 16 years>

This study is based on the past twenty seasons.

Minimum 12 games played (9 in strike shortened 1987)

Fantasy points based on the following

• 1 pt every 10 yards rushing
• 1 pt every 10 yards receiving
• Touchdown worth 6 pts

General Facts (1984 to 2003)

• 2228 RB have played in 12 or more games over the past twenty years
• 209 of them carried the ball at least 17.5 times per game (280 carries over a 16 game season)
• 160 of them carried the ball at least 18.8 times per game (300 carries over a 16 game season)
• 107 of them carried the ball at least 20 times per game (320 carries over a 16 game season)
• 52 of them carried the ball at least 21.9 times per game (350 carries over a 16 game season)
• 22 of them carried the ball 23.8 times per game (380 carries over a 16 game season)
• 5 of them carried the ball 25 times per game (400 carries over a 16 game season)

17.5 carries per game running backs (209 running backs)

• 59 players reached this tier from 2000 to 2003 (14.8 per season)
• 150 players reached this tier from 1984 to 1999 (9.4 per season)
  
  
• 200 rushed for at least 62.5 yards per game (a 1,000 yard rushing season)
• 154 rushed for at least 75.0 yards per game (a 1,200 yard rushing season)
• 85 rushed for at least 87.5 yards per game (a 1400 yard rushing season)
• 32 rushed for at least 100.0 yards per game (a 1600 yard rushing season)
• 12 rushed for at least 112.5 yards per game (a 1800 yard rushing season)
• 4 rushed for at least 125 yards per game (a 2000 yard rushing season)
  
  
• 146 averaged 12.5 fantasy points per game (200 fantasy points on the season)
• 73 averaged 15.6 fantasy points per game (250 fantasy points on the season)
• 24 averaged 18.8 fantasy points per game (300 fantasy points on the season)
• 6 averaged 21.9 fantasy points per game (350 fantasy points on the season)

Current players who have hit 17.5 carries per game in three or more seasons

• 10 times
  Emmitt Smith (1991-96, 1998-2001)



• 8 times
  Eddie George (1996-2003)
  Curtis Martin (1995-2001, 2003)



• 7 times
  Jerome Bettis (1993-94, 1996-2000)



• 5 times
  Corey Dillon (1998-2002)
  Marshall Faulk (1994-95, 1998, 2000-1)



• 4 times
  Stephen Davis (1999-2001, 2003)
  Edgerrin James (1999,2000, 2002-03)
  Fred Taylor (1998, 2000, 2002-03)
  Ricky Williams (1999, 2001-03)



• 3 times
  Shaun Alexander (2001-03)
  Ahman Green (2001-03)
  Garrison Hearst (1995, 1997-98)
  Priest Holmes (2001-03)
  Jamal Lewis (2000, 2002-03)
  Anthony Thomas (2001-03)
  LaDainian Tomlinson (2001-03)

20.0 carries per game running backs (107 running backs)

• 32 players reached this tier from 2000 to 2003 (8.0 per season)
• 75 players reached this tier from 1984 to 1999 (4.7 per season)
  
  
• All 107 players rushed for at least 62.5 yards per game (a 1,000 yard rushing season)
• 103 rushed for at least 75.0 yards per game (a 1,200 yard rushing season)
• 69 rushed for at least 87.5 yards per game (a 1400 yard rushing season)
• 31 rushed for at least 100.0 yards per game (a 1600 yard rushing season)
• 12 rushed for at least 112.5 yards per game (a 1800 yard rushing season)
• 4 rushed for at least 125 yards per game (a 2000 yard rushing season)
  
  
• 93 averaged 12.5 fantasy points per game (200 fantasy points on the season)
• 52 averaged 15.6 fantasy points per game (250 fantasy points on the season)
• 21 averaged 18.8 fantasy points per game (300 fantasy points on the season)
• 4 averaged 21.9 fantasy points per game (350 fantasy points on the season)

Current players who have hit 20.0 carries per game in three or more seasons

7 times
Emmitt Smith (1991-96, 1999)

6 times
Eddie George (1996-2000, 2002)
Curtis Martin (1995, 1997-99, 2001, 2003)

4 times
Jerome Bettis (1996-98, 2000)
Stephen Davis (1999-2001, 2003)

3 times
Priest Holmes (2001-03)
Edgerrin James (1999-2000, 2003)
Ricky Williams (1999, 2002-03)

21.9 carries per game running backs (52 running backs)

• 17 players reached this tier from 2000 to 2003 (4.3 per season)
• 35 players reached this tier from 1984 to 1999 (2.2 per season)
  
  
• All 52 players rushed for at least 62.5 yards per game (a 1,000 yard rushing season)
• All 52 rushed for at least 75.0 yards per game (a 1,200 yard rushing season)
• 45 rushed for at least 87.5 yards per game (a 1400 yard rushing season)
• 26 rushed for at least 100.0 yards per game (a 1600 yard rushing season)
• 10 rushed for at least 112.5 yards per game (a 1800 yard rushing season)
• 3 rushed for at least 125 yards per game (a 2000 yard rushing season)
  
  
• 48 averaged 12.5 fantasy points per game (200 fantasy points on the season)
• 33 averaged 15.6 fantasy points per game (250 fantasy points on the season)
• 19 averaged 18.8 fantasy points per game (300 fantasy points on the season)
• 3 averaged 21.9 fantasy points per game (350 fantasy points on the season)

Current players who have hit 21.9 carries per game in three or more seasons

5 times
Emmitt Smith (1991-92, 1994-95, 99)

3 times
Stephen Davis (2000-01, 2003)
Edgerrin James (1999-2000, 2003)
Curtis Martin (1995, 1998-99)

Conclusions (rushing yardage)

# 1 Over a 16 game season, carrying the ball 320+ times will net a running back 1000 rushing yards 100.0% of the time

• Percentage of time running backs that carry the ball 17.5 times per game average 62.5 rushing yards per game: 95.7%



• Percentage of time running backs that carry the ball 20.0 times per game average 62.5 rushing yards per game: 100.0%



• Percentage of time running backs that carry the ball 21.9 times per game average 62.5 rushing yards per game: 100.0%

# 2 Over a 16 game season, carrying the ball 320+ times will net a running back 1400 rushing yards 64.5 % of the time

• Percentage of time running backs that carry the ball 17.5 times per game average 87.5 rushing yards per game: 40.7%



• Percentage of time running backs that carry the ball 20.0 times per game average 87.5 rushing yards per game: 64.5%



• Percentage of time running backs that carry the ball 21.9 times per game average 87.5 rushing yards per game: 86.5%

# 3 Over a 16 game season, carrying the ball 320+ times will net a running back 1600 rushing yards only 29 % of the time

• Percentage of time running backs that carry the ball 17.5 times per game average 100 rushing yards per game: 15.3%



• Percentage of time running backs that carry the ball 20.0 times per game average 100 rushing yards per game: 29.0%



• Percentage of time running backs that carry the ball 21.9 times per game average 100 rushing yards per game: 50.0%

Conclusions (fantasy points)

#1 Over a 16 game season, carrying the ball 320+ times will result in at least 200 fantasy points 86.7% of the time

• Percentage of time running backs that carry the ball 17.5 times per game average 12.5 fantasy points per game: 70.0%



• Percentage of time running backs that carry the ball 20.0 times per game average 12.5 fantasy points per game: 86.7%



• Percentage of time running backs that carry the ball 21.9 times per game average 12.5 fantasy points per game: 92.3%

#2 Over a 16 game season, carrying the ball 320+ times will result in at least 250 fantasy points 48.6% of the time

• Percentage of time running backs that carry the ball 17.5 times per game average 15.6 fantasy points per game: 34.9%



• Percentage of time running backs that carry the ball 20.0 times per game average 15.6 fantasy points per game: 48.6%



• Percentage of time running backs that carry the ball 21.9 times per game average 15.6 fantasy points per game: 63.5%

#3 Over a 16 game season, carrying the ball 320+ times will result in at least 300 fantasy points 19.6% of the time

• Percentage of time running backs that carry the ball 17.5 times per game average 18.8 fantasy points per game: 11.5%



• Percentage of time running backs that carry the ball 20.0 times per game average 18.8 fantasy points per game: 19.6%



• Percentage of time running backs that carry the ball 21.9 times per game average 18.8 fantasy points per game: 36.5%

Conclusions (General thoughts)

• Running backs that are durable and get lots of carries are consistent fantasy performers



• There are more running backs in today's NFL getting the bulk of the work than at any time in the last twenty years



• Almost two of out every three running backs that carrying the ball 350 times get a minimum of 250 fantasy points



• In this scoring system, it is extremely difficult to get 300 fantasy points unless you get a minimum of 350 carries



• Emmitt Smith has not only been a stud throughout his NFL career, but a consistent one as well (ten times with at least 280 carries)



• It is very hard to consistently reach 350 carries as only four players have managed to reach it three or more times
  • Emmitt Smith (5 times)
  • Stephen Davis (3 times)
  • Curtis Martin (3 times)
  • Edgerrin James (3 times)


• All but one of the top seventy-three rushing yardage totals since 1984 had at least 18.4 carries per game
  • The lone exception is Clinton Portis in 2002 when he gained 1508 rushing yards on only 273 carries