There was a time when short passes were not en vogue to displace a running game in the NFL. In those years, running backs were given the ball more frequently and they also saw plenty of passes out of the backfield. Times have changed and no back is on the list of top “touches” in a season since DeMarco Murray’s 2014 pace in Dallas. A look at the backs who had the ball in their hands what seemed like most of the time.
11. Jamal Anderson (437)
The Dirty Birds were the word in Atlanta in the late ’90s. Jamal Anderson was at the center of the craze. The RB from Utah had 1,846 yards rushing on a league-high 410 carries in 1998. He also caught 27 of 46 passes thrown his way for another 319 yards. The rushing total was his best by far in an eight-year career.
10. Emmitt Smith (439)
The Dallas Cowboys were known for their triples — Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith. It was the RB from Florida who was kept busy in the 1995 season. He had league-highs of 377 carries, 1,773 yards and 25 TDs. Add on 62 catches on 78 targets for 375 yards and you had one tough season for the Hall of Famer.
9. Eric Dickerson (441)
Eric Dickerson starred for the Colts and Rams. The great RB from SMU led the league in rushing over three of his first four seasons. As a rookie in 1983, he had 390 carries for 1,808 yards — both league-highs — and made 51 catches for another 404 yards. The reception total remained a high throughout his Hall of Fame journey.
8. Ricky Williams (442)
The wonderful and controversial Ricky Williams was one busy Miami Dolphin in 2003. He rushed for 1,372 yards on 392 carries. He caught 50 of 62 targets for another 351 yards. The Heisman winner celebrated his great season by retiring and missing the 2004 campaign.
7. Marcus Allen (447)
Hall of Famer Marcus Allen did the Oakland Raiders proud. He led the league with 1,759 yards in 1985 on 380 carries. The former USC great also caught 67 passes for 555 yards.
6. DeMarco Murray (449)
Dallas turned to DeMarco Murray when it needed yardage in 2014. The RB from Oklahoma carried the ball a league-leading 392 yards for a league-leading 1,845 yards. He also caught 57 of 64 targets for 416 yards. This was by far his best season as a pro. No RB has come close to this number of touches since 2014.
5. Edgerrin James (450)
Edgerrin James was tough to stop out of the Colts’ backfield. That’s why they fed him the ball as much as they could. In 2000, that meant 450 touches. The breakdown was 387 carries for a league-leading 1,709 yards and 63 receptions on 87 targets for another 594.
4. LaDainian Tomlinson (451)
Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson was a duel threat for the Chargers. That was never more true than in 2002, which was Tonlinson’s second year in the league out of TCU. He carried the ball 372 times. Add on that he caught 79 of 101 targets for 489 yards and you had a hectic season for the great RB.
3. Eddie George (453)
Eddie George was a workhorse for the Oilers and Titans. In the 2000 season, he ran the ball 403 times for 1,509 yards. He scored 14 TDs on the ground that season for Tennessee. He had 50 receptions on 65 targets for another 453 yards and a pair of TDs.
2. Larry Johnson (457)
Larry Johnson came to the Chiefs from Penn State. The running back caught 41 of 66 targets in 2006. He carried the ball 416 times for 1,789 yards. The season was his best when it came to rushing. He never cracked the 1,000-yard mark again in his career.
1. James Wilder (492)
Perhaps not the player who would expect at the top of the list. In 1984, the Tampa Bay Bucs made sure James Wilder saw the football. Whether taking a handoff or pass from the quarterback, Wilder was busy. He carried the ball 407 times for 1,544 yards. Tack on 85 receptions for another 685 yards and the running back from Missouri had his hands full … most of the time.
