Introduction to these player comments
Index of player comments
Glossary of terms
LaDainian Tomlinson career statistics
Question: how often does the rookie RB who put up the best numbers actually turn into the best RB of that rookie crop?
The answer: very frequently. Almost always, in fact. Edge James, Fred Taylor, Corey Dillon, Eddie George, Curtis Martin, Marshall Faulk, Jerome Bettis, Ricky Watters. That's an 8-year run from 1992-1999 where the top rookie turned into the best back (at least so far -- Fred Taylor will probably get passed by Ahman Green this year).
In fact, look through the list of top-producing rookie RBs and you'll find very few eventual busts among them. Mike Anderson (maybe), Leonard Russell, Ickey Woods, Troy Stradford. Contrast this with the list of top rookie WRs (see the Chris Chambers comment) and you'll see lots and lots of complete zeros.
This just in! LaDainian Tomlinson will probably turn out to be a pretty good player. Extra! Extra! Where else can you get insight like that? Ultimately, this won't help you much, but it is interesting to note the very strong correlation between rookie success and eventual success for RBs and the complete lack of same for WRs.
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2001
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. LaDainian Tomlinson 220 1. LaDainian Tomlinson 85
2. Dominic Rhodes 186 2. Dominic Rhodes 51
3. Anthony Thomas 178 3. Anthony Thomas 43
4. Travis Henry 114
5. Michael Bennett 108
6. Kevan Barlow 105
7. Jason Brookins 89
8. Correll Buckhalter 83
9. James Jackson 73
10. Travis Minor 72
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2000
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Mike Anderson 256 1. Shaun Alexander 127
2. Jamal Lewis 202 2. Mike Anderson 97
3. Travis Prentice 118 3. Jamal Lewis 42
4. Ron Dayne 108
5. Shawn Bryson 98
6. Sammy Morris 96
7. J.R. Redmond 71
8. Thomas Jones 70
9. Shaun Alexander 47
10. Brad Hoover 46
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1999
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Edgerrin James 315 1. Edgerrin James 365
2. Olandis Gary 173 2. Ricky Williams 118
3. Ricky Williams 117 3. Olandis Gary 43
4. J.J. Johnson 89 4. Stacey Mack 29
5. Sedrick Irvin 60
6. Cecil Collins 56
7. Joe Montgomery 52
8. Jermaine Fazande 48
9. Michael Basnight 48
10. Kevin Faulk 44
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1998
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Fred Taylor 266 1. Fred Taylor 227
2. Robert Edwards 216 2. Ahman Green 221
3. Skip Hicks 93 3. Robert Edwards 89
4. John Avery 75 4. Curtis Enis 25
5. June Henley 74 5. Michael Pittman 12
6. Curtis Enis 51
7. Brandon Bennett 51
8. James Allen 46
9. Robert Holcombe 38
10. Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala 29
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1997
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Corey Dillon 198 1. Corey Dillon 291
2. Warrick Dunn 186 2. Priest Holmes 183
3. Antowain Smith 149 3. Duce Staley 133
4. Fred Lane 125 4. Warrick Dunn 129
5. Tiki Barber 105 5. Antowain Smith 129
6. Jay Graham 47 6. Tiki Barber 100
7. George Jones 45
8. Byron Hanspard 44
9. Darnell Autry 43
10. Leon Johnson 42
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1996
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Eddie George 203 1. Eddie George 474
2. Karim Abdul-Jabbar 191 2. Stephen Davis 252
3. Mike Alstott 129 3. Karim Abdul-Jabbar 159
4. Ki-Jana Carter 97 4. Mike Alstott 107
5. Lawrence Phillips 96
6. Stanley Pritchett 50
7. Leeland McElroy 46
8. Winslow Oliver 32
9. Jerris McPhail 31
10. Stephen Davis 25
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1995
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Curtis Martin 264 1. Curtis Martin 650
2. Terrell Davis 196 2. Terrell Davis 600
3. Rashaan Salaam 173 3. James Stewart 141
4. Rodney Thomas 157 4. Napoleon Kaufman 85
5. Darick Holmes 115 5. Tyrone Wheatley 70
6. James Stewart 89 6. Rashaan Salaam 33
7. Aaron Hayden 70 7. Rodney Thomas 17
8. Napoleon Kaufman 61
9. Jerry Ellison 56
10. Tyrone Wheatley 45
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1994
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Marshall Faulk 252 1. Marshall Faulk 1072
2. Errict Rhett 155 2. Jamal Anderson 322
3. Bam Morris 146 3. Dorsey Levens 224
4. Larry Centers 140 4. Garrison Hearst 215
5. Mario Bates 100 5. Charlie Garner 186
6. William Floyd 81 6. Lamar Smith 104
7. Raymont Harris 76 7. Errict Rhett 99
8. Greg Hill 72 8. Larry Centers 66
9. Charlie Garner 65 9. Raymont Harris 51
10. Irving Spikes 44 10. Bam Morris 20
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1993
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Jerome Bettis 209 1. Jerome Bettis 411
2. Terry Kirby 162 2. Robert Smith 212
3. Ronald Moore 157 3. Adrian Murrell 136
4. Reggie Brooks 142 4. Natrone Means 123
5. Natrone Means 118 5. Terry Kirby 77
6. Derek Brown 105 6. Ronald Moore 45
7. Roosevelt Potts 90 7. Reggie Brooks 30
8. Derrick Moore 81
9. Greg Robinson 79
10. Glyn Milburn 71
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1992
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Ricky Watters 207 1. Ricky Watters 823
2. Rodney Culver 107 2. Edgar Bennett 165
3. Vaughn Dunbar 80 3. Bernie Parmalee 68
4. Amp Lee 70
5. Tommy Vardell 49
6. Tony Smith 46
7. Anthony McDowell 45
8. IvoryLee Brown 36
9. Edgar Bennett 30
10. Scott Lockwood 22
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1991
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Leonard Russell 128 1. Terry Allen 447
2. Ricky Ervins 110 2. Harvey Williams 114
3. Terry Allen 79 3. Leonard Russell 89
4. Harvey Williams 77 4. Gary Brown 72
5. Fred McAfee 62 5. Erric Pegram 54
6. Nick Bell 54 6. Leroy Thompson 8
7. James Joseph 50
8. Robert Wilson 42
9. Erric Pegram 40
10. Jon Vaughn 35
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1990
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Emmitt Smith 182 1. Emmitt Smith 1326
2. Johnny Johnson 146 2. Chris Warren 330
3. Rodney Hampton 96 3. Rodney Hampton 310
4. Blair Thomas 94 4. Barry Foster 194
5. Reggie Cobb 89 5. Johnny Johnson 122
6. Steve Broussard 85 6. Reggie Cobb 86
7. Dexter Carter 73 7. Leroy Hoard 81
8. Gil Fenerty 68 8. Derek Loville 76
9. Anthony Thompson 64 9. Anthony Johnson 60
10. Harold Green 56 10. Harold Green 40
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1989
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Barry Sanders 259 1. Barry Sanders 1234
2. Bobby Humphrey 185 2. Cleveland Gary 153
3. Marion Butts 124 3. Bobby Humphrey 117
4. Tim Worley 118 4. Marion Butts 79
5. Sammie Smith 110 5. Derrick Fenner 65
6. Keith Jones 95 6. Brad Baxter 28
7. David Meggett 88 7. Lewis Tillman 26
8. Eric Ball 61 8. Sammie Smith 25
9. Todd McNair 55 9. Vince Workman 8
10. Daryl Johnston 52 10. Heath Sherman 6
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1988
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Ickey Woods 216 1. Thurman Thomas 856
2. John Stephens 150 2. Lorenzo White 179
3. Thurman Thomas 120 3. Craig Heyward 83
4. Lars Tate 97 4. Ickey Woods 76
5. Keith Woodside 84 5. Robert Delpino 71
6. William Howard 60 6. Mark Higgs 41
7. Robert Delpino 57 7. John Stephens 36
8. Jamie Morris 56 8. Brad Muster 23
9. Warren Williams 53 9. Gaston Green 16
10. Craig Heyward 52 10. Lars Tate 0
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1987
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Troy Stradford 149 1. Christian Okoye 142
2. Bo Jackson 105 2. Merril Hoge 79
3. Christian Okoye 100 3. John Settle 77
4. DJ Dozier 76 4. Rod Bernstine 49
5. Brent Fullwood 58 5. Troy Stradford 44
6. Jamie Mueller 48 6. Brent Fullwood 13
7. Roger Vick 42 7. Bo Jackson 5
8. Derrick McAdoo 42 8. Barry Word 3
9. Larry Mason 41 9. Paul Palmer 2
10. Rodney Carter 37
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1986
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Herschel Walker 241 1. Herschel Walker 629
2. Rueben Mayes 192 2. Neal Anderson 464
3. Kelvin Bryant 112 3. Dalton Hilliard 236
4. Garry James 108 4. John Williams 162
5. Dalton Hilliard 90 5. Keith Byars 81
6. John Williams 75 6. Rueben Mayes 71
7. Kenneth Davis 72 7. Ronnie Harmon 37
8. Napoleon McCallum 69 8. Allen Pinkett 36
9. Ray Wallace 69 9. Kelvin Bryant 12
10. PaulOtt Carruth 68 10. Anthony Toney 1
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1985
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Kevin Mack 200 1. Kevin Mack 150
2. Ron Davenport 122 2. Albert Bentley 93
3. Tim Spencer 121 3. Gary Anderson 71
4. Gary Anderson 121 4. Lorenzo Hampton 61
5. George Adams 112 5. Mike Rozier 58
6. Mike Rozier 103
7. Steve Sewell 79
8. Herman Hunter 64
9. Lorenzo Hampton 60
10. Albert Bentley 49
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1984
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Greg Bell 185 1. Earnest Byner 334
2. Alfred Anderson 118 2. Greg Bell 303
3. Herman Heard 114 3. Lionel James 51
4. Stanford Jennings 102 4. Craig James 50
5. Craig James 100
6. Rich Erenberg 94
7. Earnest Byner 66
8. Buford McGee 66
9. Tony Paige 64
10. Joe Carter 60
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1983
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Eric Dickerson 341 1. Eric Dickerson 887
2. Curt Warner 261 2. Roger Craig 549
3. Roger Craig 187 3. Curt Warner 405
4. James Jones 136 4. James Jones 115
5. Boyce Green 90 5. Earnest Jackson 69
6. Jessie Clark 66 6. Johnny Hector 37
7. David Overstreet 62 7. Larry Moriarty 15
8. Michael Haddix 59 8. Larry Kinnebrew 12
9. Larry Moriarty 53
10. Mike Williams 52
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1982
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Marcus Allen 193 1. Marcus Allen 883
2. Butch Woolfolk 90 2. Gerald Riggs 303
3. Gerald Riggs 78 3. Joe Morris 272
4. Gerald Willhite 69 4. Sammy Winder 106
5. Donnie Craft 51 5. Darrin Nelson 47
6. Sammy Winder 40 6. Walter Abercrombie 46
7. Melvin Carver 39 7. Earl Ferrell 42
8. Del Rodgers 25 8. Butch Woolfolk 19
9. Darrin Nelson 23 9. Hokie Gajan 7
10. Walter Abercrombie 23
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1981
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. George Rogers 258 1. James Brooks 386
2. Joe Delaney 154 2. James Wilder 297
3. Tony Collins 152 3. Freeman McNeil 258
4. Randy McMillan 130 4. George Rogers 209
5. James Brooks 121 5. Stump Mitchell 127
6. Andra Franklin 119 6. Tony Collins 104
7. James Wilder 117 7. Andra Franklin 59
8. Rick Parros 114 8. Robb Riddick 12
9. Billy Jackson 108 9. Joe Delaney 8
10. Freeman McNeil 97
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1980
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Billy Sims 288 1. Billy Sims 406
2. Joe Cribbs 232 2. Joe Cribbs 284
3. Earl Cooper 182 3. Curtis Dickey 136
4. Curtis Dickey 178 4. Charles White 132
5. Gerry Ellis 152 5. Gerry Ellis 72
6. Vagas Ferguson 111 6. Earl Cooper 55
7. Jimmy Rogers 81 7. Frank Pollard 14
8. Charles White 79
9. Mike Guman 78
10. Larry Heater 67
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1979
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Ottis Anderson 251 1. Ottis Anderson 581
2. William Andrews 163 2. William Andrews 483
3. Jerry Eckwood 107 3. Ted Brown 182
4. Theotis Brown 92 4. Eddie Lee Ivery 106
5. Ted Brown 80 5. Jeff Moore 65
6. Lynn Cain 71 6. Tony Nathan 48
7. Ron Springs 67 7. Lynn Cain 40
8. Mike Williams 57 8. Ron Springs 35
9. Bo Robinson 54 9. Wayne Wilson 28
10. Elvis Peacock 48 10. Elvis Peacock 25
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1978
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Earl Campbell 227 1. Earl Campbell 522
2. Terry Miller 172 2. Terry Miller 30
3. Art Whittington 118 3. Billy Taylor 15
4. Dave Preston 61 4. Dan Doornink 1
5. Larry Canada 58
6. Johnny Davis 56
7. Dan Doornink 43
8. Dennis Johnson 42
9. Ricky Patton 41
10. Deacon Turner 38
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1977
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Tony Dorsett 206 1. Tony Dorsett 705
2. David Sims 102 2. Wilbert Montgomery 462
3. Pete Johnson 87 3. Wendell Tyler 404
4. Rob Carpenter 86 4. Pete Johnson 255
5. Rick Kane 84 5. Joe Washington 110
6. Tony Reed 75 6. Terdell Middleton 75
7. Rob Lytle 72 7. Ricky Bell 59
8. Leroy Harris 68 8. Tony Reed 47
9. Mark Bailey 65 9. David Sims 42
10. Tim Wilson 63 10. Clarence Williams 36
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1976
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Clark Gaines 154 1. Chuck Muncie 389
2. Tony Galbreath 147 2. Mike Pruitt 264
3. Sherman Smith 122 3. Sherman Smith 130
4. Lawrence Gaines 108 4. Tony Galbreath 82
5. Chuck Muncie 105 5. Clark Gaines 64
6. Archie Griffin 94 6. Paul Hofer 35
7. Bubba Bean 75 7. Wayne Morris 28
8. Tommy Reamon 75
9. Mike Hogan 65
10. Wayne Morris 60
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1975
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Mike Thomas 182 1. Walter Payton 1268
2. Walter Payton 131 2. Mike Thomas 176
3. Rickey Young 110 3. Rickey Young 63
4. Stan Fritts 103 4. Roland Harper 39
5. Mike Strachan 101
6. Don Hardeman 95
7. Willard Harrell 80
8. Roland Harper 70
9. James McAlister 64
10. Horace King 46
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1974
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Don Woods 211 1. Delvin Williams 205
2. Alvin Maxson 116 2. Mark VanEeghen 188
3. Jon Keyworth 108 3. Don Woods 122
4. Wilbur Jackson 101 4. Andy Johnson 46
5. Woody Green 99 5. Haskel Stanback 36
6. Ken Grandberry 80 6. Wilbur Jackson 22
7. Doug Kotar 69 7. Cleo Miller 19
8. Benny Malone 68 8. Jon Keyworth 18
9. Moses Denson 68 9. Don Calhoun 18
10. Bo Matthews 65 10. Dexter Bussey 16
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1973
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Boobie Clark 181 1. Chuck Foreman 647
2. Chuck Foreman 152 2. Otis Armstrong 238
3. Terry Metcalf 106 3. Greg Pruitt 218
4. Sam Cunningham 96 4. Terry Metcalf 184
5. Greg Pruitt 77 5. Sam Cunningham 180
6. Mack Herron 64 6. Mack Herron 111
7. Howard Stevens 34 7. Boobie Clark 75
8. Lenvil Elliot 25 8. Cullen Bryant 27
9. Bill Olds 21
10. Otis Armstrong 19
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1972
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Franco Harris 189 1. Franco Harris 616
2. Jim Bertelsen 127 2. Lydell Mitchell 498
3. Josh Ashton 99 3. Lawrence McCutcheon 360
4. Po James 78 4. Tom Sullivan 124
5. Bill Butler 57 5. Jim Bertelsen 19
6. Ed Marinaro 50 6. Robert Newhouse 19
7. Lydell Mitchell 48
8. Willie Rodgers 38
9. John Tarver 36
10. Vince Clements 33
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1971
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Vic Washington 154 1. John Riggins 461
2. John Brockington 150 2. John Brockington 171
3. Fred Willis 123 3. Jim Braxton 83
4. John Riggins 118 4. Vic Washington 39
5. Bob Gresham 94 5. Don Nottingham 39
6. Don Nottingham 77 6. Larry Schreiber 5
7. Mike Montgomery 76 7. Don McCauley 4
8. Charlie Evans 61 8. Clarence Davis 4
9. James Ford 55 9. Fred Willis 3
10. Clarence Davis 53
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1970
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Duane Thomas 117 1. Art Malone 92
2. Lee Bouggess 104 2. Steve Owens 89
3. Bobby Anderson 74 3. Duane Thomas 74
4. Joe Dawkins 73 4. Norm Bulaich 45
5. Norm Bulaich 72 5. Jim Otis 39
6. Jack Maitland 39 6. Joe Dawkins 17
7. Jim Otis 33 7. Doug Dressler 6
8. Sonny Campbell 32 8. Eddie Ray 4
9. Lloyd Pate 32
10. Steve Owens 26