In 1999 and 2000, no team in NFL history relied on one running back quite like the Indianapolis Colts. During those two seasons, Edgerrin James was responsible for 98% of all carries given to Colts running backs, 99% of all rushing yards from Indianapolis running backs, and 98% of all yards from scrimmage and 97% of all touchdowns scored by Colts running backs. The table below shows the stats from the nine running backs to play for the Colts during these two seasons:
| Rk | Player | YScm | Att | Rec | TD | From | To | Age | G | GS | Touch | Att | Yds | Y/A | TD | Y/G | Tgt | Rec | Yds | Y/R | TD | Y/G | Pos | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edgerrin James | 4442 | 756 | 125 | 35 | 1999 | 2000 | 21-22 | 32 | 32 | 881 | 756 | 3262 | 4.3 | 26 | 101.9 | 169 | 125 | 1180 | 9.4 | 9 | 36.9 | RB | IND |
| 2 | Keith Elias | 44 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 1999 | 1999 | 27-27 | 14 | 0 | 17 | 13 | 28 | 2.2 | 0 | 2.0 | 5 | 4 | 16 | 4.0 | 0 | 1.1 | RB | IND |
| 3 | Paul Shields | 37 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1999 | 2000 | 23-24 | 20 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 7 | 4 | 37 | 9.3 | 0 | 1.9 | RB | IND | |
| 4 | Jim Finn | 14 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2000 | 2000 | 24-24 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0.1 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 3.3 | 1 | 0.8 | FB | IND |
| 5 | Lennox Gordon | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2000 | 2000 | 22-22 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 3.3 | 0 | 1.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | RB | IND | |
| 6 | Scott Greene | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1999 | 1999 | 27-27 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 0 | 0.8 | RB | IND | |
| 7 | Darick Holmes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1999 | 1999 | 28-28 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | RB | IND | ||
| 8 | Kevin McDougal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2000 | 2000 | 23-23 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | RB | IND | ||
| 9 | Karim Abdul-Jabbar | -2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2000 | 2000 | 26-26 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -2 | -2.0 | 0 | -2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | RB | IND |
Provided by Stathead.com: View Stathead Tool Used
Regular readers may recall that James was a remarkable workhorse during those years. But Barry Sanders had a similar performance for a much longer period. Last week, I looked at the percentage of fantasy points scored by the top running back on each team in relation to all fantasy points scored by running backs on that team. The most dominant season of all times is James in 2000: he scored 369.8 fantasy points while all Indianapolis running backs scored 380.3, meaning James produced 97.2% of all IND RB fantasy points. In 1999, James produced 96.4% of Colts running back fantasy points, the third best season ever.
But Sanders? He has the other 4 top seasons in the top 6 by this metric (all at 95% or better), and an incredible 7 of the 21 seasons where a running back produced 89% of all fantasy points by all running backs on that team. As you can see from the table below, Sanders had four seasons (1990, 1992, 1995, and 1996) at the 95% level and three other years (1989, 1991, and 1994) at 89% or better. Sanders missed three games in 19993, but other than that season, no Lions running back besides Sanders topped even 140 yards from scrimmage in a single year from ’89 to ’96.
| Rk | Running Back | Year | Team | FP | Tm RB FP | Perc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edgerrin James | 2000 | IND | 369.8 | 380.3 | 97.2% |
| 2 | Barry Sanders | 1992 | DET | 232.2 | 239.8 | 96.8% |
| 3 | Edgerrin James | 1999 | IND | 346.9 | 359.9 | 96.4% |
| 4 | Barry Sanders | 1990 | DET | 292.4 | 304.8 | 95.9% |
| 5 | Barry Sanders | 1996 | DET | 248 | 260.6 | 95.2% |
| 6 | Barry Sanders | 1995 | DET | 285.8 | 300.9 | 95% |
| 7 | Lorenzo White | 1992 | HOU | 263.2 | 279 | 94.3% |
| 8 | James Wilder | 1985 | TAM | 250.6 | 269.9 | 92.8% |
| 9 | Matt Forte | 2014 | CHI | 295.6 | 319.6 | 92.5% |
| 10 | Najee Harris | 2021 | PIT | 263.7 | 286.2 | 92.1% |
| 11 | Christian McCaffrey | 2019 | CAR | 411.2 | 447.3 | 91.9% |
| 12 | LaDainian Tomlinson | 2003 | SDG | 389 | 425.4 | 91.4% |
| 13 | Barry Sanders | 1991 | DET | 308 | 337.9 | 91.2% |
| 14 | Deuce McAllister | 2003 | NOR | 298.2 | 329.3 | 90.6% |
| 15 | Deuce McAllister | 2002 | NOR | 293.5 | 324.4 | 90.5% |
| 16 | Marshall Faulk | 1998 | IND | 325.7 | 362.4 | 89.9% |
| 17 | Ezekiel Elliott | 2018 | DAL | 292.6 | 325.7 | 89.8% |
| 18 | Larry Johnson | 2006 | KAN | 354.4 | 395.7 | 89.6% |
| 19 | Barry Sanders | 1994 | DET | 286.6 | 320.1 | 89.5% |
| 20 | Robert Smith | 2000 | MIN | 264.9 | 296.5 | 89.3% |
| 21 | Barry Sanders | 1989 | DET | 271.2 | 305.3 | 88.8% |
| 22 | LeSean McCoy | 2011 | PHI | 306.4 | 347.7 | 88.1% |
| 23 | Craig Heyward | 1995 | ATL | 209.8 | 238.1 | 88.1% |
| 24 | Peyton Hillis | 2010 | CLE | 273.9 | 311 | 88.1% |
| 25 | Todd Gurley | 2017 | LAR | 355.3 | 407.5 | 87.2% |
| 26 | Chris Johnson | 2009 | TEN | 371.9 | 428.2 | 86.9% |
| 27 | Eddie George | 2000 | TEN | 317.2 | 367.6 | 86.3% |
| 28 | Christian McCaffrey | 2018 | CAR | 328 | 381.2 | 86% |
| 29 | Le'Veon Bell | 2017 | PIT | 303.1 | 353.1 | 85.8% |
| 30 | Adrian Peterson | 2012 | MIN | 329.4 | 384.4 | 85.7% |
| 31 | Maurice Jones-Drew | 2009 | JAX | 299 | 349.6 | 85.5% |
| 32 | Chris Johnson | 2012 | TEN | 201.5 | 236.8 | 85.1% |
| 33 | David Montgomery | 2020 | CHI | 237.8 | 280 | 84.9% |
| 34 | Frank Gore | 2006 | SFO | 302.5 | 356.8 | 84.8% |
| 35 | David Johnson | 2016 | ARI | 371.8 | 441.4 | 84.2% |
| 36 | Eddie George | 1996 | HOU | 214.5 | 254.9 | 84.2% |
| 37 | Steven Jackson | 2006 | STL | 374.4 | 445.9 | 84% |
| 38 | Matt Forte | 2013 | CHI | 302.3 | 360.5 | 83.9% |
| 39 | Frank Gore | 2007 | SFO | 216.3 | 258.1 | 83.8% |
| 40 | Le'Veon Bell | 2014 | PIT | 329 | 392.7 | 83.8% |
| 41 | Shaun Alexander | 2004 | SEA | 318.1 | 379.7 | 83.8% |
| 42 | Maurice Jones-Drew | 2011 | JAX | 285.5 | 341.3 | 83.7% |
| 43 | Duce Staley | 1999 | PHI | 213.2 | 256 | 83.3% |
| 44 | Eddie George | 1998 | TEN | 214.9 | 258.8 | 83% |
| 45 | Eddie George | 1999 | TEN | 277.7 | 336.1 | 82.6% |
| 46 | LaMont Jordan | 2005 | OAK | 259.8 | 315.1 | 82.5% |
| 47 | Todd Gurley | 2016 | LAR | 178.7 | 216.8 | 82.4% |
| 48 | Jamal Anderson | 1998 | ATL | 326 | 397.2 | 82.1% |
| 49 | Edgerrin James | 2004 | IND | 282.6 | 344.4 | 82.1% |
| 50 | LaDainian Tomlinson | 2002 | SDG | 346.7 | 423.2 | 81.9% |
| 51 | Tiki Barber | 2004 | NYG | 325.6 | 397.9 | 81.8% |
| 52 | Terrell Davis | 1998 | DEN | 373 | 456 | 81.8% |
| 53 | LaDainian Tomlinson | 2001 | SDG | 249.8 | 305.5 | 81.8% |
| 54 | Derrick Henry | 2019 | TEN | 291.6 | 357.4 | 81.6% |
| 55 | Edgerrin James | 2005 | IND | 290.3 | 356 | 81.5% |
| 56 | Priest Holmes | 2003 | KAN | 410 | 503 | 81.5% |
| 57 | Leonard Fournette | 2019 | JAX | 223.4 | 274.1 | 81.5% |
| 58 | Frank Gore | 2009 | SFO | 256.6 | 315 | 81.5% |
| 59 | James Allen | 2000 | CHI | 178.6 | 219.8 | 81.3% |
| 60 | Derrick Henry | 2020 | TEN | 325.6 | 401.9 | 81% |
| 61 | Shaun Alexander | 2005 | SEA | 371.3 | 458.5 | 81% |
| 62 | Steven Jackson | 2009 | STL | 223.3 | 276.5 | 80.8% |
| 63 | Marshawn Lynch | 2013 | SEA | 259.3 | 321.1 | 80.8% |
| 64 | Chris Johnson | 2010 | TEN | 254.9 | 316.3 | 80.6% |
| 65 | LaDainian Tomlinson | 2006 | SDG | 446.3 | 554 | 80.6% |
| 66 | Doug Martin | 2012 | TAM | 289.1 | 359.3 | 80.5% |
| 67 | Ricky Watters | 1998 | SEA | 241.2 | 300 | 80.4% |
| 68 | Steven Jackson | 2010 | STL | 221.4 | 275.6 | 80.3% |
| 69 | Erric Pegram | 1993 | ATL | 183.2 | 228.6 | 80.1% |
| 70 | Arian Foster | 2010 | HOU | 363 | 453.1 | 80.1% |
| 71 | Tiki Barber | 2005 | NYG | 332 | 414.8 | 80% |
| 72 | Gerald Riggs | 1984 | ATL | 275.3 | 344.6 | 79.9% |
| 73 | Matt Forte | 2008 | CHI | 275 | 344.3 | 79.9% |
| 74 | Priest Holmes | 2002 | KAN | 407.7 | 510.8 | 79.8% |
| 75 | Emmitt Smith | 1995 | DAL | 395.8 | 496.2 | 79.8% |
| 76 | Ricky Williams | 2001 | NOR | 247.6 | 310.8 | 79.7% |
| 77 | Shaun Alexander | 2002 | SEA | 301 | 378.1 | 79.6% |
| 78 | Ricky Williams | 2003 | MIA | 257.3 | 323.3 | 79.6% |
| 79 | Marshall Faulk | 2000 | STL | 415.4 | 522.2 | 79.5% |
| 80 | James Wilder | 1984 | TAM | 343.4 | 434.1 | 79.1% |
| 81 | Reuben Droughns | 2005 | CLE | 191.6 | 242.4 | 79% |
| 82 | Terrell Davis | 1997 | DEN | 314.7 | 398.5 | 79% |
| 83 | Joe Mixon | 2019 | CIN | 207.9 | 263.3 | 79% |
| 84 | Ray Rice | 2011 | BAL | 334.8 | 424.7 | 78.8% |
| 85 | Emmitt Smith | 1992 | DAL | 348.3 | 441.9 | 78.8% |
| 86 | Frank Gore | 2008 | SFO | 210.4 | 267.1 | 78.8% |
| 87 | Ezekiel Elliott | 2016 | DAL | 311.4 | 396.4 | 78.6% |
| 88 | Brian Westbrook | 2007 | PHI | 327.4 | 417.4 | 78.4% |
| 89 | Todd Gurley | 2018 | LAR | 338.6 | 432.1 | 78.4% |
| 90 | Matt Forte | 2009 | CHI | 192.5 | 246.6 | 78.1% |
| 91 | Marcus Allen | 1985 | RAI | 348.9 | 447.4 | 78% |
| 92 | Ricky Watters | 1999 | SEA | 221.7 | 284.3 | 78% |
| 93 | Clinton Portis | 2004 | WAS | 217 | 278.4 | 77.9% |
| 94 | Ezekiel Elliott | 2019 | DAL | 288.7 | 370.4 | 77.9% |
| 95 | Travis Henry | 2003 | BUF | 231.4 | 296.9 | 77.9% |
| 96 | LaDainian Tomlinson | 2007 | SDG | 332.9 | 427.2 | 77.9% |
| 97 | David Johnson | 2018 | ARI | 223.6 | 287.1 | 77.9% |
| 98 | Emmitt Smith | 1991 | DAL | 284.6 | 365.6 | 77.8% |
| 99 | Matt Forte | 2010 | CHI | 241.1 | 310.5 | 77.6% |
| 100 | Eric Dickerson | 1988 | IND | 311.6 | 401.6 | 77.6% |
Sanders isn’t thought of a workhorse back, but from a fantasy perspective he certainly was. Of course, the Lions ran the Run-N-Shoot offense (which, in its purest form, eliminated the need for a tight end or a fullback) for several of those seasons, and well, giving touches to a backup running back over Sanders didn’t make much sense. It’s probably not a coincidence that Houston Oilers RB Lorenzo White, playing in a similar offense in 1992, checks in at #7. On the other hand, other such offenses split carries much differently, like the ’91 Falcons who had three running backs finish with between 96 and 101 carries. But they did’t have Barry Sanders.
Other notable seasons? Madden cover star Peyton Hillis cracks the top 25 with his remarkable 2010 season, and perhaps the most unlikely one on the list. Steelers rookie RB Najee Harris last season also made the top 10, while Christian McCaffrey has two top-30 years.
Walter Payton had the top season of the 1970s by this method — a remarkable 76.4% in 1977 — but that fell just outside the top 100. As a result, the oldest season in the top 100 comes from 1984, with both James Wilder and Gerald Riggs making the list.
What stands out to you?