| Year | Player (age), + - HOFer, Bold - Active | Y/A | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Colin Kaepernick (25) | 11.3 | SFO |
| 2011 | Isaac Redman (27) | 7.1 | PIT |
| 2010 | Marshawn Lynch (24) | 6.9 | SEA |
| 2009 | Cedric Benson (27) | 8.0 | CIN |
| 2008 | Brandon Jacobs (26) | 4.8 | NYG |
| Darren Sproles (25) | 4.8 | SDG | |
| 2007 | Ryan Grant (25) | 5.8 | GNB |
| 2006 | Brian Westbrook (27) | 7.8 | PHI |
| 2005 | DeShaun Foster (25) | 4.8 | CAR |
| 2004 | Warrick Dunn (29) | 6.3 | ATL |
| 2003 | Priest Holmes (30) | 7.3 | KAN |
| 2002 | LaMont Jordan (24) | 5.1 | NYJ |
| 2001 | Charlie Garner (29) | 6.9 | OAK |
| 2000 | Lamar Smith (30) | 5.2 | MIA |
| 1999 | Fred Taylor (23) | 6.6 | JAX |
| Emmitt Smith+ (30) | 6.6 | DAL | |
| 1998 | Terrell Davis (26) | 6.0 | DEN |
| 1997 | Terrell Davis (25) | 5.2 | DEN |
| 1996 | Terrell Davis (24) | 6.5 | DEN |
| 1995 | Zack Crockett (23) | 11.3 | IND |
| 1994 | Raymont Harris (24) | 5.2 | CHI |
| 1993 | Barry Sanders+ (25) | 6.3 | DET |
| 1992 | Marion Butts (26) | 7.9 | SDG |
| 1991 | Nick Bell (23) | 5.4 | RAI |
| 1990 | Marcus Allen+ (30) | 6.7 | RAI |
| 1989 | Merril Hoge (24) | 6.7 | PIT |
| 1988 | Allen Pinkett (24) | 5.9 | HOU |
| 1987 | Timmy Smith (23) | 6.7 | WAS |
| 1986 | Eric Dickerson+ (26) | 6.1 | RAM |
| 1985 | Earnest Byner (23) | 10.1 | CLE |
| 1984 | Frank Pollard (27) | 6.2 | PIT |
| 1983 | Marcus Allen+ (23) | 8.0 | RAI |
| 1982 | James Wilder (24) | 6.6 | TAM |
| 1981 | Joe Cribbs (23) | 5.8 | BUF |
| 1980 | Tony Dorsett+ (26) | 5.7 | DAL |
| 1979 | Cullen Bryant (28) | 4.9 | RAM |
| 1978 | Tony Dorsett+ (24) | 5.6 | DAL |
| 1977 | Lawrence McCutcheon (27) | 6.4 | RAM |
| 1976 | Clarence Davis (27) | 8.6 | OAK |
| 1975 | Lawrence McCutcheon (25) | 5.5 | RAM |
| 1974 | Benny Malone (22) | 5.9 | MIA |
| 1973 | Mercury Morris (26) | 5.6 | MIA |
| 1972 | Calvin Hill (25) | 6.9 | DAL |
| 1971 | Ed Podolak (24) | 5.0 | KAN |
| 1970 | Jim Kiick (24) | 4.6 | MIA |
| 1969 | Dave Osborn (26) | 4.5 | MIN |
| 1968 | Charlie H. Smith (22) | 5.7 | OAK |
| 1967 | Pete Banaszak (23) | 7.7 | OAK |
| 1966 | Don Perkins (28) | 6.4 | DAL |
| 1965 | Paul Hornung+ (30) | 5.8 | GNB |
| 1964 | Cookie Gilchrist (29) | 7.6 | BUF |
| 1963 | Keith Lincoln (24) | 15.8 | SDG |
| 1962 | Alex Webster (31) | 3.7 | NYG |
| 1961 | Jim Taylor+ (26) | 4.9 | GNB |
| 1960 | Paul Lowe (24) | 7.9 | LAC |