The combined rushing totals of the top-2 running backs on every NFL team in 2021
The NFL isn’t abandoning the running back position, it is simply dividing the share of attempts just as they have been for decades with wide receivers. There won’t be many 1,000-yard rushers this year —only five through 16 games— but there are plenty of duos that combine for totals similar to the single-player backfields of yesteryear.
I am taking the top two running backs from all 32 teams based on rushing yards. No quarterbacks. No analytics. It’s a basic measurement for a basic exercise, we don’t need to complicate it or argue statistical semantics. The fact that the NFL’s usage of running backs has changed or that dual-threat quarterbacks are more prevalent than before is not something that I’m ignoring by doing it this way, it’s something I’m highlighting by doing this.
Number next to the team is where they rank in the NFL by total rushing yards.
Top-5 Rushing Duos
Colts2 - Jonathan Taylor (317/1,734/18)+Nyheim Hines (56/276/2) = 373/2,010/20 5.38 YPC
Broncos14 - Javonte Williams (191/857/4)+Melvin Gordon (191/808/7) = 382/1,665/11 4.35
Cowboys10 - Ezekiel Elliott (219/915/10)+Tony Pollard (130/719/2) = 349/1,634/12 3.9
Browns4 - Nick Chubb (219/1,201/8)+D’Ernest Johnson (75/411/2) = 294/1,612/10 5.48
Vikings15 - Dalvin Cook (235/1,080/6)+Alexander Mattison (129/473/3) = 364/1,553/9 4.26
Notes:
Not only is Jonathan Taylor the NFL’s top running back this season, he’s also been so dominant that his numbers alone well eclipse the combined total of Williams and Gordon in Denver on far fewer attempts. Taylor has 21 more rushing attempts than second-place Najee Harris, 25 more than third-place Joe Mixon, and 80 more than fourth-place Antonio Gibson. There’s a few reasons that I think this is important but what I’d highlight is that part of the reason for Taylor’s insane season is that so few other teams besides the Colts think it’s okay to hand it off 300 times to one player.
Denver doesn’t have a player with 900 rushing yards and they’re only 14th overall, but Williams and Gordon have more combined rushing yards than any duo which doesn’t include Jonathan Taylor.
All five of these teams made significant draft investments at running back: Taylor was the third RB drafted in his class, Williams was the third running back in his class, Elliott went fourth overall, Chubb was the fourth running back off the board in 2018, and Cook was the third running back taken in 2017. Every one of these teams spent a top-50 pick on a running back who shows up here.
Bottom-5 Rushing Duos
Texans32 - Rex Burkhead (110/403/3)+Mark Ingram (92/294/1) = 202/697/4 3.45
Dolphins31 - Myles Gaskin (172/613/3)+Duke Johnson (46/213/2) = 218/826/5 3.78
Ravens5 - Devonta Freeman (128/555/5)+Latavius Murray (103/351/5) = 231/906/10 3.92
Seahawks12 - Rashaad Penny (96/559/5)+Alex Collins (108/411/2) = 204/970/7 4.75
Jets25 - Michael Carter (138/620/4)+Tevin Coleman (79/350/0) = 217/970/4 4.47
Notes:
Conversely, none of these running backs were high draft investments other than Penny. Coincidentally or not, Penny may also be the only back here who people are very excited about for next season. (I’m also partial to Michael Carter.)
Mark Ingram shows up on this list twice: He’s also the second-leading rusher for the Saints.
Baltimore shows up here but the Ravens are fifth overall in rushing because of Lamar Jackson, who still has 212 more rushing yards than Freeman. They did spend a high pick on J.K. Dobbins but he missed the season with injury.
The Rest (6-27)
Packers19 - Aaron Jones (171/799/4) + A.J. Dillon (173/740/5) = 344/1,539/9
Rams24 - Sony Michel (187/802/4) + Darrell Henderson (149/688/5) = 336/1,490/9
Patriots8 - Damien Harris (191/892/14)+Rhamondre Stevenson (129/572/5) = 330/1,464/19
Bengals22 - Joe Mixon (292/1,205/13)+Samaje Perine (55/246/1) = 347/1,451/14
Titans3 - Derrick Henry (219/937/10)+D’Onta Foreman (112/497/3) = 331/1,434/13
Cardinals9 - James Conner (187/700/14)+Chase Edmonds (116/592/2) = 303/1,292/16
Steelers28 - Najee Harris (296/1,172/7) + Benny Snell (24/76/0) = 320/1,248/7
Bucs27 - Leonard Fournette (180/812/8)+Ronald Jones II (101/428/4) = 281/1,240/12
Bears11 - David Montgomery (205/777/7) + Khalil Herbert (99/422/2) = 304/1,199/9
49ers7 - Elijah Mitchell (186/878/5) + Deebo Samuel (51/320/7) = 237/1,198/12
Chargers20 - Austin Ekeler (190/847/11)+Justin Jackson (65/344/2) = 255/1,191/13
Eagles1 - Miles Sanders (137/754/0)+Jordan Howard (86/406/3) = 223/1,160/3
Lions18 - D’Andre Swift (144/587/4)+Jamaal Williams (140/558/3) = 284/1,145/7
Giants26 - Devontae Booker (137/579/2)+Saquon Barkley (151/563/2) = 288/1,142/4
WFT13 - Antonio Gibson (237/891/6)+Jaret Patterson (62/245/2) = 299/1,136/8
Bills6 - Devin Singletary (169/782/6) + Zack Moss (91/337/4) = 260/1,119/10
Falcons30 - Cordarrelle Patterson (149/607/6)+Mike Davis (132/473/3) = 281/1,080/9
Chiefs16 - Darrel Williams (137/541/6) + Clyde Edwards-Helaire (119/517/4) = 256/1,058/10
Jaguars23 - James Robinson (164/767/8)+Carlos Hyde (72/253/1) =236/1,020/9
Saints17 - Alvin Kamara (210/752/4) + Mark Ingram (68/260/1) = 278/1,012/5
Panthers21 - Chuba Hubbard (163/564/5)+Christian McCaffrey (99/442/1) = 262/1,006/6
Raiders29 - Josh Jacobs (191/740/8) + Kenyan Drake (63/254/2) = 254/994/10
Notes:
One of the strangest things I’ve seen: Philadelphia leads the NFL in rushing yards but leading running backs Miles Sanders and Jordan Howard have combined for just three rushing touchdowns. That’s the fewest of any duo on this list!
Jalen Hurts and Boston Scott have combined for 17 rushing touchdowns.
The Rams have a good running back duo but are also adding Cam Akers for the playoffs.
Deebo Samuel has been more of a back than a receiver over the last eight games, so I have no problem putting him here even though he’s not much of a traditional back. Similarly, there was a lot of buzz over Cordarrelle Patterson in the preseason and it has paid off.
Is it better that the Steelers used a first round pick on a running back when you consider that they are one of the only other teams in the NFL that still believes in a one-man backfield? Pittsburgh’s backup is the only player here with under 200 rushing yards.
What are your thoughts?