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Year-by-Year Rushing Yards per Game Leaders
For some seasons (1960-1969 & 1947-1950) leaders for both leagues are shown.
| Year | Player (age), + - HOFer, Bold - Active | Y/G | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Adrian L. Peterson (22) | 95.8 | MIN |
| 2006 | LaDainian Tomlinson (27) | 113.4 | SDG |
| 2005 | Shaun Alexander (28) | 117.5 | SEA |
| 2004 | Priest Holmes (31) | 111.5 | KAN |
| 2003 | Jamal Lewis (24) | 129.1 | BAL |
| 2002 | Ricky Williams (25) | 115.8 | MIA |
| 2001 | Marshall Faulk (28) | 98.7 | STL |
| 2000 | Fred Taylor (24) | 107.6 | JAX |
| 1999 | Stephen Davis (25) | 100.4 | WAS |
| 1998 | Terrell Davis (26) | 125.5 | DEN |
| 1997 | Barry Sanders+ (29) | 128.3 | DET |
| 1996 | Barry Sanders+ (28) | 97.1 | DET |
| 1995 | Emmitt Smith (26) | 110.8 | DAL |
| 1994 | Barry Sanders+ (26) | 117.7 | DET |
| 1993 | Emmitt Smith (24) | 106.1 | DAL |
| 1992 | Emmitt Smith (23) | 107.1 | DAL |
| 1991 | Barry Sanders+ (23) | 103.2 | DET |
| 1990 | Marion Butts (24) | 87.5 | SDG |
| 1989 | Christian Okoye (28) | 98.7 | KAN |
| 1988 | Eric Dickerson+ (28) | 103.7 | IND |
| 1987 | Eric Dickerson+ (27) | 112.3 | IND |
| 1986 | Eric Dickerson+ (26) | 113.8 | RAM |
| 1985 | Marcus Allen+ (25) | 109.9 | RAI |
| 1984 | Eric Dickerson+ (24) | 131.6 | RAM |
| 1983 | Eric Dickerson+ (23) | 113.0 | RAM |
| 1982 | Joe Cribbs (24) | 90.4 | BUF |
| 1981 | George Rogers (23) | 104.6 | NOR |
| 1980 | Earl Campbell+ (25) | 128.9 | HOU |
| 1979 | Earl Campbell+ (24) | 106.1 | HOU |
| 1978 | Earl Campbell+ (23) | 96.7 | HOU |
| 1977 | Walter Payton+ (23) | 132.3 | CHI |
| 1976 | O.J. Simpson+ (29) | 107.4 | BUF |
| 1975 | O.J. Simpson+ (28) | 129.8 | BUF |
| 1974 | Otis Armstrong (24) | 100.5 | DEN |
| 1973 | O.J. Simpson+ (26) | 143.1 | BUF |
| 1972 | Larry Jr. Brown (25) | 101.3 | WAS |
| 1971 | Floyd Little (29) | 80.9 | DEN |
| 1970 | Larry Jr. Brown (23) | 86.5 | WAS |
| 1969 | Floyd Little (27) | 81.0 | DEN |
| Gale Sayers+ (26) | 73.7 | CHI | |
| 1968 | Gale Sayers+ (25) | 95.1 | CHI |
| Paul Robinson (24) | 73.1 | CIN | |
| 1967 | Jim Nance (25) | 86.9 | BOS |
| Leroy Kelly+ (25) | 86.1 | CLE | |
| 1966 | Jim Nance (24) | 104.1 | BOS |
| Gale Sayers+ (23) | 87.9 | CHI | |
| 1965 | Jim Brown+ (29) | 110.3 | CLE |
| Paul Lowe (29) | 80.1 | SDG | |
| 1964 | Jim Brown+ (28) | 103.3 | CLE |
| Cookie Gilchrist (29) | 70.1 | BUF | |
| 1963 | Jim Brown+ (27) | 133.1 | CLE |
| Clem Daniels (26) | 78.5 | OAK | |
| 1962 | Jim Taylor+ (27) | 105.3 | GNB |
| Cookie Gilchrist (27) | 78.3 | BUF | |
| 1961 | Jim Brown+ (25) | 100.6 | CLE |
| Billy Cannon (24) | 67.7 | HOU | |
| 1960 | Jim Brown+ (24) | 104.8 | CLE |
| Abner Haynes (23) | 62.5 | DTX | |
| 1959 | Jim Brown+ (23) | 110.8 | CLE |
| 1958 | Jim Brown+ (22) | 127.3 | CLE |
| 1957 | Jim Brown+ (21) | 78.5 | CLE |
| 1956 | Rick Casares (25) | 93.8 | CHI |
| 1955 | Tank Younger (27) | 80.5 | RAM |
| 1954 | Joe Perry+ (27) | 87.4 | SFO |
| 1953 | Joe Perry+ (26) | 84.8 | SFO |
| 1952 | Dan Towler (24) | 74.5 | RAM |
| 1951 | Eddie Price (26) | 80.9 | NYG |
| 1950 | Eddie Price (25) | 70.3 | NYG |
| 1949 | Steve Van Buren+ (29) | 95.5 | PHI |
| Joe Perry+ (22) | 71.2 | SFO | |
| 1948 | Steve Van Buren+ (28) | 85.9 | PHI |
| Marion Motley+ (28) | 68.9 | CLE | |
| 1947 | Spec Sanders (29) | 102.3 | NYY |
| Steve Van Buren+ (27) | 84.0 | PHI | |
| 1946 | Steve Van Buren+ (26) | 58.8 | PHI |
| Spec Sanders (28) | 54.5 | NYY | |
| 1945 | Steve Van Buren+ (25) | 83.2 | PHI |
| 1944 | Bill Paschal (23) | 73.7 | NYG |
| 1943 | Bill Paschal (22) | 63.6 | NYG |
| 1942 | Bill Dudley+ (23) | 63.3 | PIT |
| 1941 | Pug Manders (28) | 44.2 | BKN |
| 1940 | Tuffy Leemans+ (28) | 47.4 | NYG |
| 1939 | Bill Osmanski (24) | 69.9 | CHI |
| 1938 | Whizzer White (21) | 51.5 | PIT |
| 1937 | Cliff Battles+ (27) | 87.4 | WAS |
| 1936 | Tuffy Leemans+ (24) | 69.2 | NYG |
| 1935 | Doug Russell (24) | 41.6 | CRD |
| 1934 | Beattie Feathers (26) | 91.3 | CHI |
| 1933 | Jim Musick (23) | 67.4 | BOS |
| 1932 | Cliff Battles+ (22) | 72.0 | BOS |