I was browsing our website this week and saw a great article by Jerry Markarian about the best running backs of the century. This got me thinking, “Which is the best rushing season of the 21st century?”. The overall value of the running back position decreased a lot, especially in the last 15 years. In 2024, things improved slightly for running backs, with both Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley changing teams and having monster seasons.
Markarian made a great point about the devaluation of running backs, discussing how teams have shifted to a committee approach. In the history of the game, 58 running backs have had 350+ rushing attempts in a single season. Of these 58, 20 have done this in the 21st century, but just three since the 2010s. Of the 10 seasons I’ve selected, just four of them came in the last 15 years. The running game is still important, but having two or three good rushers has been the optimal path, instead of having one truly elite player.
#10: Ahman Green, Green Bay Packers (2003)
Since joining the Packers in 2000, Green had three-straight 1000-yard seasons, but was during his fourth season in Wisconsin that he put up a career year. With 1883 yards and 15 touchdowns, Green was second only to Jamal Lewis and Priest Holmes, respectfully.
#9: Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans (2009)
Nicknamed CJ2K, he was a highlight-machine in 2009. In only his second season in the league, Johnson looked like a dad playing backyard football with his kids – to strong to tackle, and to fast to catch (especially the last one). Surpassing the 2000-yard mark with 2006, Johnson was named Offensive Player of the Year.
#8: Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles (2024)
It was hard to put Barkley’s 2024 season this low, but if you want to be mad, be at Nick Sirianni, not me. After going from the Giants to the Eagles, Barkley led the league with 2005 yards, being the player everyone envisioned when he left Penn State. The only reason he’s so low is he had “just” 13 touchdowns, the second-fewest by anyone on the list, as the Eagles relied on the Tush Push near the goal line. Still, no one will forget he jumping over someone while backwards.
#7: Jamal Lewis, Baltimore Ravens (2003)
The turn of the century was absolutely fenomenal for running backs. Lewis, who had 1300-yard seasons in his first three years in the league, had a breakout in 2003. His 2066 rushing yards were the second-highest mark at the time, behind only Eric Dickerson’s 2105 in 1984. Even after 22 years, Lewis is still third all-time for a season.
#6: Larry Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs (2005)
Larry Johnson had a fantastic 2005 season, but he had one problem – Shaun Alexander. His 1750 yards and 20 touchdowns would be enough for him to earn an All-Pro nod, but Alexander had an even better season. Either way, Johnson’s 20 TDs are still the 6th-best in history, and the streets won’t forget him.
#5: Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans (2020)
The first Derrick Henry’s season on this list (spoiler), he put the Titans’ offense on his shoulders in 2020. He was the first player to break the 2000-yard barrier since Adrian Peterson, with 17 rushing touchdowns to go along with it. Henry was already a good player, leading the league in yards and touchdowns the year prior, but it was his 2020 season that cemented him as the best running back of his generation.
#4: Shaun Alexander, Seattle Seahawks (2005)
The first MVP of the list, Alexander tied Holmes’ 27 rushing touchdowns, which paired with almost 1900 yards, earned him the MVP in 2005. He clearly loved scoring against his NFC West rivals, with 14 os his 27 touchdowns coming in division games. Just like Tomlinson, he powered the offense for the #1 seed, leading the Seahawks to the Super Bowl.
#3: LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers (2006)
No one has come close to Tomlinson’s 28 rushing touchdowns in 2006, a record that made him the season’s MVP. If I’d included all-purpose yards, Tomlinson would have a great case for the #1 spot, but third is also great. With over 1800 yards to go with the 28 touchdowns, Tomlinson was a scoring machine for the #1-seed (then) San Diego Chargers.
#2: Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens (2024)
Henry is the only player in the top 4 without an MVP season, but there’s a reason for it. He had 5.9 yards per carry, 1921 rushing yards, and 16 touchdowns this last season. He had 100 yards and 1 TD less than his 2020 campaign, but had 53 fewer attempts in 2024. Pro Football Reference defines a successful run play if it gains 40% of the yards on first down, 60% on second down, and 100% on third and fourth down. Henry’s 58.8% rate last season was by far the best of this list, with the only one close being his 2020 season. And he did all that at 30 years old, more than anyone here as well.
#1: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings (2012)
Peterson had one of the worst injuries in sports, tearing his ACL and MCL in Christmas’ 2011. A whole of offseason debates about whether he should stay out for some additional time or not, Peterson played in every game. He had a slow-ish start, reaching the 100-yard mark just once in the first six games. In the final 10 games, though, he had less than 150 yards just three times.
A historical, 2097-yard season, just 9 shy from breaking the record, made Peterson the first running back MVP since Tomlinson in 2006, and the last one until now. His 6.0 yards per carry are one of the best by a running back in NFL history, and he was a one-man show on the Vikings’ offense, carrying the team to a playoff berth.
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