| Year | Player (age), + - HOFer, Bold - Active | APYd | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Jacoby Jones (28) | 619 | BAL |
| 2011 | Hakeem Nicks (23) | 444 | NYG |
| 2010 | James Starks (24) | 400 | GNB |
| 2009 | Reggie Bush (24) | 325 | NOR |
| 2008 | Darren Sproles (25) | 602 | SDG |
| 2007 | Laurence Maroney (22) | 478 | NWE |
| 2006 | Joseph Addai (23) | 412 | IND |
| 2005 | Steve Smith (26) | 431 | CAR |
| 2004 | Brian Westbrook (25) | 375 | PHI |
| 2003 | Steve Smith (24) | 467 | CAR |
| 2002 | Marcus Knight (24) | 347 | OAK |
| 2001 | Marshall Faulk+ (28) | 432 | STL |
| 2000 | Jermaine Lewis (26) | 360 | BAL |
| 1999 | Derrick Mason (25) | 533 | TEN |
| 1998 | Terrell Davis (26) | 537 | DEN |
| 1997 | Terrell Davis (25) | 619 | DEN |
| 1996 | Desmond Howard (26) | 487 | GNB |
| 1995 | Antonio Freeman (23) | 441 | GNB |
| 1994 | Andre Coleman (22) | 364 | SDG |
| 1993 | Emmitt Smith+ (24) | 418 | DAL |
| 1992 | Kenneth Davis (30) | 507 | BUF |
| 1991 | Ricky Ervins (23) | 312 | WAS |
| 1990 | Thurman Thomas+ (24) | 544 | BUF |
| 1989 | Roger Craig (29) | 362 | SFO |
| 1988 | Jerry Rice+ (26) | 438 | SFO |
| 1987 | Anthony Carter (27) | 642 | MIN |
| 1986 | Joe Morris (26) | 335 | NYG |
| 1985 | Craig James (24) | 349 | NWE |
| 1984 | Tony Nathan (28) | 375 | MIA |
| 1983 | Marcus Allen+ (23) | 584 | RAI |
| 1982 | John Riggins+ (33) | 625 | WAS |
| 1981 | Freddie Solomon (28) | 285 | SFO |
| 1980 | Wilbert Montgomery (26) | 443 | PHI |
| 1979 | Franco Harris+ (29) | 362 | PIT |
| 1978 | Tony Dorsett+ (24) | 330 | DAL |
| 1977 | Carl Garrett (30) | 291 | OAK |
| 1976 | Chuck Foreman (26) | 410 | MIN |
| 1975 | Franco Harris+ (25) | 398 | PIT |
| 1974 | Franco Harris+ (24) | 348 | PIT |
| 1973 | Larry Csonka+ (27) | 333 | MIA |
| 1972 | Larry Brown (25) | 303 | WAS |
| 1971 | Ed Podolak (24) | 350 | KAN |
| 1970 | Duane Thomas (23) | 358 | DAL |
| 1969 | Bo Scott (26) | 231 | CLE |
| 1968 | Fred Biletnikoff+ (25) | 370 | OAK |
| 1967 | Bob Hayes+ (25) | 301 | DAL |
| 1966 | Mike Garrett (22) | 200 | KAN |
| 1965 | Jim Taylor+ (30) | 205 | GNB |
| 1964 | Speedy Duncan (22) | 175 | SDG |
| 1963 | Keith Lincoln (24) | 329 | SDG |
| 1962 | Bobby Jancik (22) | 139 | HOU |
| 1961 | Paul Hornung+ (26) | 136 | GNB |
| 1960 | Paul Lowe (24) | 271 | LAC |