The Atlanta Falcons went against conventional thinking in the 2023 NFL draft by selecting running back Bijan Robinson in the top 10. While we don’t see teams take running backs in the first round nearly as much these days, all bets are off when the right prospect comes along.
The Detroit Lions selected Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs four spots later at pick No. 12. Both Robinson and Gibbs excelled as rookies, going over 1,000 all-purpose yards for their respective teams.
Now that the 2023 NFL season is over, here’s a look at the career stats for every running back drafted in the first round since the year 2000.
2023: Jahmyr Gibbs (pick No. 12) - Lions
Gibbs Career Stats:
- 945 rush yards
- 10 rush TD
- 52 receptions
- 316 rec. yards
- 1 rec. TD
2023: Bijan Robinson (pick No. 8) - Falcons
Robinson Career Stats:
- 976 rush yards
- 4 rush TD
- 58 receptions
- 487 rec. yards
- 4 rec. TD
2021: Travis Etienne (pick No. 25) - Jaguars
Etienne Career Stats:
- 2,133 rush yards
- 16 rush TD
- 93 receptions
- 792 rec. yards
- 1 rec. TD
2021: Najee Harris (pick No. 24) - Steelers
Harris Career Stats:
- 3,269 rush yards
- 22 rush TD
- 144 receptions
- 866 rec. yards
- 6 rec. TD
2020: Clyde Edwards-Helaire (pick No. 32)
Edwards-Helaire Career Stats:
- 1,845 rush yards
- 12 rush TD
- 89 receptions
- 765 rec. yards
- 7 rec. TD
2019: Josh Jacobs (pick No. 24) - Raiders
Jacobs Career Stats:
- 5,545 rush yards
- 46 rush TD
- 197 receptions
- 1,448 rec. yards
- 0 rec. TD
2018: Sony Michel (pick No. 31) - Patriots
Michel Career Stats:
- 3,243 rush yards
- 18 rush TD
- 56 receptions
- 439 rec. yards
- 2 rec. TD
2018: Rashaad Penny (pick No. 27) - Seahawks
Penny Career Stats:
- 1,951 rush yards
- 13 rush TD
- 28 receptions
- 227 rec. yards
- 1 rec. TD
2018: Saquon Barkley (pick No. 2) - Giants
Barkley Career Stats:
- 5,211 rush yards
- 35 rush TD
- 288 receptions
- 2,100 rec. yards
- 12 rec. TD
2017: Christian McCaffrey (pick No. 8) - Panthers
McCaffrey Career Stats:
- 6,185 rush yards
- 52 rush TD
- 509 receptions
- 4,320 rec. yards
- 29 rec. TD
2017: Leonard Fournette (pick No. 4) - Jaguars
Fournette Career Stats:
- 4,518 rush yards
- 34 rush TD
- 312 receptions
- 2,219 rec. yards
- 7 rec. TD
2016: Ezekiel Elliott (pick No. 4) - Cowboys
Elliott Career Stats:
- 8,904 rush yards
- 71 rush TD
- 356 receptions
- 2,649 rec. yards
- 14 rec. TD
2015: Melvin Gordon (pick No. 15) - Chargers
Gordon Career Stats:
- 6,543 rush yards
- 56 rush TD
- 312 receptions
- 2,513 rec. yards
- 14 rec. TD
2015: Todd Gurley (pick No. 10) - Rams
Gurley Career Stats:
- 6,082 rush yards
- 67 rush TD
- 243 receptions
- 2,452 rec. yards
- 12 rec. TD
2012: David Wilson (No. 32) - Giants
Wilson Career Stats:
- 504 rush yards
- 5 rush TD
- 6 receptions
- 42 rec. yards
- 1 rec. TD
2012: Doug Martin (pick No. 31) - Buccaneers
Martin Career Stats:
- 5,356 rush yards
- 30 rush TD
- 148 receptions
- 1,207 rec. yards
- 2 rec. TD
2012: Trent Richardson (pick No. 3) - Browns
Richardson Career Stats:
- 2,032 rush yards
- 17 rush TD
- 113 receptions
- 912 rec. yards
- 2 rec. TD
2011: Mark Ingram (pick No. 28) - Saints
Ingram Career Stats:
- 8.111 rush yards
- 65 rush TD
- 303 receptions
- 2,125 rec. yards
- 10 rec. TD
2010: Jahvid Best (pick No. 30) - Lions
Best Career Stats:
- 945 rush yards
- 6 rush TD
- 85 receptions
- 774 rec. yards
- 3 rec. TD
2010: Ryan Matthews (pick No. 12) - Chargers
Matthews Career Stats:
- 5,261 rush yards
- 37 rush TD
- 179 receptions
- 1,371 rec. yards
- 3 rec. TD
2010: C.J. Spiller (pick No. 9) - Bills
Spiller Career Stats:
- 3,451 rush yards
- 12 rush TD
- 198 receptions
- 1,484 rec. yards
- 9 rec. TD
2009: Beanie Wells (pick No. 31) - Cardinals
Wells Career Stats:
- 2,471 rush yards
- 24 rush TD
- 28 receptions
- 293 rec. yards
- 0 rec. TD
2009: Donald Brown (pick No. 27) - Colts
Brown Career Stats:
- 2,829 rush yards
- 18 rush TD
- 120 receptions
- 1,066 rec. yards
- 2 rec. TD
2009: Knowshon Moreno (pick No. 12) - Broncos
Moreno Career Stats:
- 3,616 rush yards
- 27 rush TD
- 158 receptions
- 1,409 rec. yards
- 9 rec. TD
2008: Chris Johnson (pick No. 24) - Titans
Johnson Career Stats:
- 9,651 rush yards
- 55 rush TD
- 307 receptions
- 2,255 rec. yards
- 9 rec. TD
2008: Rashard Mendenhall (pick No. 23) - Steelers
Mendenhall Career Stats:
- 4,236 rush yards
- 37 rush TD
- 95 receptions
- 795 rec. yards
- 2 rec. TD
2008: Felix Jones (pick No. 22) - Cowboys
Jones Career Stats:
- 2,912 rush yards
- 11 rush TD
- 136 receptions
- 1,125 rec. yards
- 3 rec. TD
2008: Jonathan Stewart (pick No. 13) - Panthers
Stewart Career Stats:
- 7,335 rush yards
- 51 rush TD
- 162 receptions
- 1,295 rec. yards
- 7 rec. TD
2008: Darren McFadden (pick No. 4) - Raiders
McFadden Career Stats:
- 5,421 rush yards
- 28 rush TD
- 254 receptions
- 2,114 rec. yards
- 5 rec. TD
2007: Marshawn Lynch (pick No. 12) - Bills
Lynch Career Stats:
- 10,413 rush yards
- 85 rush TD
- 287 receptions
- 2,214 rec. yards
- 9 rec. TD
2007: Adrian Peterson (pick No. 7) - Vikings
Peterson Career Stats:
- 14,918 rush yards
- 120 rush TD
- 305 receptions
- 2,474 rec. yards
- 6 rec. TD
2006: Joseph Addai (pick No. 30) - Colts
Addai Career Stats:
- 4,453 rush yards
- 39 rush TD
- 191 receptions
- 1,448 rec. yards
- 9 rec. TD
2006: DeAngelo Williams (pick No. 27) - Panthers
Williams Career Stats:
- 8.096 rush yards
- 61 rush TD
- 236 receptions
- 2,106 rec. yards
- 9 rec. TD
2006: Laurence Maroney (pick No. 21) - Patriots
Maroney Career Stats:
- 2,504 rush yards
- 21 rush TD
- 44 receptions
- 459 rec. yards
- 1 rec. TD
2006: Reggie Bush (pick No. 2) - Saints
Bush Career Stats:
- 5,490 rush yards
- 36 rush TD
- 477 receptions
- 3,598 rec. yards
- 18 rec. TD
2005: Cadillac Williams (pick No. 5) - Buccaneers
Williams Career Stats:
- 4,038 rush yards
- 21 rush TD
- 148 receptions
- 1,002 rec. yards
- 4 rec. TD
2005: Cedric Benson (pick No. 4) - Bears
Benson Career Stats:
- 6,017 rush yards
- 32 rush TD
- 120 receptions
- 833 rec. yards
- 1 rec. TD
2005: Ronnie Brown (pick No. 2) - Dolphins
Brown Career Stats:
- 5,391 rush yards
- 38 rush TD
- 246 receptions
- 1,966 rec. yards
- 2 rec. TD
2004: Kevin Jones (pick No. 30) - Lions
Jones Career Stats:
- 3,176 rush yards
- 24 rush TD
- 143 receptions
- 1,011 rec. yards
- 3 rec. TD
2004: Chris Perry (pick No. 26) - Bengals
Perry Career Stats:
- 606 rush yards
- 2 rush TD
- 83 receptions
- 474 rec. yards
- 2 rec. TD
2004: Steven Jackson (pick No. 24) - Rams
Jackson Career Stats:
- 11,438 rush yards
- 69 rush TD
- 461 receptions
- 3,683 rec. yards
- 9 rec. TD
2003: Larry Johnson (pick No. 27) - Chiefs
Johnson Career Stats:
- 6,223 rush yards
- 55 rush TD
- 154 receptions
- 1,373 rec. yards
- 6 rec. TD
2003: Willis McGahee (pick No. 23) - Bills
McGahee Career Stats:
- 8,474 rush yards
- 65 rush TD
- 210 receptions
- 1,339 rec. yards
- 5 rec. TD
2002: T.J. Duckett (pick No. 18) - Falcons
Duckett Career Stats:
- 2,814 rush yards
- 44 rush TD
- 35 receptions
- 303 rec. yards
- 0 rec. TD
2002: William Green (pick No. 16) - Browns
Green Career Stats:
- 2,109 rush yards
- 9 rush TD
- 45 receptions
- 277 rec. yards
- 0 rec. TD
2001: Michael Bennett (pick No. 27) - Vikings
Bennett Career Stats:
- 3,703 rush yards
- 13 rush TD
- 159 receptions
- 1,294 rec. yards
- 6 rec. TD
2001: Deuce McAllister (pick No. 23) - Saints
McAllister Career Stats:
- 6,096 rush yards
- 49 rush TD
- 234 receptions
- 1,720 rec. yards
- 5 rec. TD
2001: LaDainian Tomlinson (pick No. 5) - Chargers
Tomlinson Career Stats:
- 13,684 rush yards
- 145 rush TD
- 624 receptions
- 4,772 rec. yards
- 17 rec. TD
- Hall of Fame
2000: Trung Canidate (pick No. 31) - Rams
Canidate Career Stats:
- 1,095 rush yards
- 7 rush TD
- 32 receptions
- 260 rec. yards
- 1 rec. TD
2000: Shaun Alexander (pick No. 19) - Seahawks
Alexander Career Stats:
- 9,453 rush yards
- 100 rush TD
- 215 receptions
- 1,520 rec. yards
- 12 rec. TD
2000: Ron Dayne (pick No. 11) - Giants
Dayne Career Stats:
- 3,722 rush yards
- 28 rush TD
- 57 receptions
- 340 rec. yards
- 1 rec. TD
2000: Thomas Jones (pick No. 7) - Cardinals
Jones Career Stats:
- 10.591 rush yards
- 68 rush TD
- 308 receptions
- 2,023 rec. yards
- 3 rec. TD
2000: Jamal Lewis (pick No. 5) - Ravens
Lewis Career Stats:
- 10,607 rush yards
- 58 rush TD
- 221 receptions
- 1,879 rec. yards
- 4 rec. TD
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