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Right now, three of the top 20 running backs in career receptions are active: Matt Forte, Darren Sproles, and Reggie Bush. Note that for these purposes, players like Bobby Mitchell, Charley Taylor, and Eric Metcalf — who all entered the league as running backs but then converted to wide receiver — were excluded.

Games Rushing Receiving
Rk Player From To Draft G GS Att Yds Y/A TD Y/G Tgt Rec
Yds Y/R TD Y/G Ctch% Y/Tgt
1 Larry Centers 1990 2003 5-115 198 108 615 2188 3.56 14 11.1 1044 827 6797 8.22 28 34.3 6.51
2 Marshall Faulk* 1994 2005 1-2 176 156 2836 12279 4.33 100 69.8 1013 767 6875 8.96 36 39.1 75.7% 6.79
3 LaDainian Tomlinson 2001 2011 1-5 170 155 3174 13684 4.31 145 80.5 868 624 4772 7.65 17 28.1 71.9% 5.50
4 Keith Byars 1986 1998 1-10 189 160 865 3109 3.59 23 16.4 428 610 5661 9.28 31 30.0 13.23
5 Marcus Allen* 1982 1997 1-10 222 168 3022 12243 4.05 123 55.1 241 587 5411 9.22 21 24.4 22.45
6 Tiki Barber 1997 2006 2-36 154 109 2217 10449 4.71 55 67.9 814 586 5183 8.84 12 33.7 72.0% 6.37
7 Ronnie Harmon 1986 1997 1-16 181 27 615 2774 4.51 10 15.3 462 582 6076 10.44 24 33.6 13.15
8 Roger Craig 1983 1993 2-49 165 133 1991 8189 4.11 56 49.6 62 566 4911 8.68 17 29.8 79.21
9 John Williams 1986 1995 1-15 149 133 1245 5006 4.02 18 33.6 316 546 4656 8.53 19 31.2 14.73
10 Eric Metcalf 1989 2002 1-13 179 77 630 2392 3.80 12 13.4 635 541 5572 10.30 31 31.1 8.77
11 Herschel Walker 1986 1997 5-114 187 137 1954 8225 4.21 61 44.0 296 512 4859 9.49 21 26.0 16.42
11 Earnest Byner 1984 1997 10-280 211 131 2095 8261 3.94 56 39.2 275 512 4605 8.99 15 21.8 16.75
13 Warrick Dunn 1997 2008 1-12 181 154 2669 10967 4.11 49 60.6 710 510 4339 8.51 15 24.0 71.8% 6.11
14 Walter Payton* 1975 1987 1-4 190 184 3838 16726 4.36 110 88.0 492 4538 9.22 15 23.9
15 Tony Galbreath 1976 1987 2-32 170 73 1031 4072 3.95 34 24.0 490 4066 8.30 9 23.9
16 Matt Forte 2008 2015 2-44 120 120 2035 8602 4.23 45 71.7 636 487 4116 8.45 19 34.3 76.6% 6.47
17 Curtis Martin* 1995 2005 3-74 168 166 3518 14101 4.01 90 83.9 606 484 3329 6.88 10 19.8 79.9% 5.49
18 Darren Sproles 2005 2015 4-130 153 23 577 2867 4.97 20 18.7 631 473 4156 8.79 28 27.2 75.0% 6.59
19 Thurman Thomas* 1988 2000 2-40 182 160 2877 12074 4.20 65 66.3 416 472 4458 9.44 23 24.5 10.72
20 Reggie Bush 2006 2015 1-2 121 96 1274 5493 4.31 35 45.4 652 470 3508 7.46 18 29.0 72.1% 5.38

Sproles just turned 33, and entered the league back in 2005.  He was a rookie at 22, but as a late 4th round pick, he had just 42 career receptions before turning 26.

Bush was the second overall pick in ’06, of course, and he entered the NFL at just 21.  He got off to a blazing start, tying the NFL record for receptions through two seasons set by Larry Fitzgerald. [1]By the end of that season, his teammate Marques Colston broke that record, and A.J. Green, Odell Beckham, and Jarvis Landry have all since broken that Bush’s mark. But Bush has not maintain that level of play, and the future isn’t all that bright. He turned 31 in March, and just signed with the Bills, his 5th NFL team.  Bush had just 4 catches  in five games last year, before an ACL injury in St. Louis ended his season.

Forte, despite being only nine months younger than Bush, he entered the NFL two years later. Forte has been a mix of Bush and Sproles when it comes to the age curve: he started off strong, like Bush, but has aged well, like Sproles.  Forte had 223 receptions in his first four seasons in 60 games; In his last 4 years, he has also played in 60 games, and caught 264 passes.

Despite being the youngest of the three, Forte has the most career receptions.  Bush had more receptions last year, but given the age difference, Forte seems like the better bet to become the 5th running back — and only 3rd non-fullback — to hit the 600-reception mark.

References

References
1 By the end of that season, his teammate Marques Colston broke that record, and A.J. Green, Odell Beckham, and Jarvis Landry have all since broken that Bush’s mark.
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