Year-by-Year Yards From Scrimmage Leaders
For some seasons (1960-1969 & 1947-1950) leaders for both leagues are shown.
| Year |
Player (age), + - HOFer, Bold - Active |
YScm |
Teams |
| 2009 |
Chris Johnson (24) |
1,504 |
TEN |
| 2008 |
Adrian Peterson (23) |
1,885 |
MIN |
| 2007 |
Brian Westbrook (28) |
2,104 |
PHI |
| 2006 |
Steven Jackson (23) |
2,334 |
STL |
| 2005 |
Tiki Barber (30) |
2,390 |
NYG |
| 2004 |
Tiki Barber (29) |
2,096 |
NYG |
| 2003 |
LaDainian Tomlinson (24) |
2,370 |
SDG |
| 2002 |
Priest Holmes (29) |
2,287 |
KAN |
| 2001 |
Priest Holmes (28) |
2,169 |
KAN |
| 2000 |
Edgerrin James (22) |
2,303 |
IND |
| 1999 |
Marshall Faulk (26) |
2,429 |
STL |
| 1998 |
Marshall Faulk (25) |
2,227 |
IND |
| 1997 |
Barry Sanders+ (29) |
2,358 |
DET |
| 1996 |
Ricky Watters (27) |
1,855 |
PHI |
| 1995 |
Emmitt Smith (26) |
2,148 |
DAL |
| 1994 |
Barry Sanders+ (26) |
2,166 |
DET |
| 1993 |
Emmitt Smith (24) |
1,900 |
DAL |
| 1992 |
Thurman Thomas+ (26) |
2,113 |
BUF |
| 1991 |
Thurman Thomas+ (25) |
2,038 |
BUF |
| 1990 |
Thurman Thomas+ (24) |
1,829 |
BUF |
| 1989 |
Thurman Thomas+ (23) |
1,913 |
BUF |
| 1988 |
Roger Craig (28) |
2,036 |
SFO |
|
Eric Dickerson+ (28) |
2,036 |
IND |
| 1987 |
Herschel Walker (25) |
1,606 |
DAL |
| 1986 |
Eric Dickerson+ (26) |
2,026 |
RAM |
| 1985 |
Marcus Allen+ (25) |
2,314 |
RAI |
| 1984 |
Eric Dickerson+ (24) |
2,244 |
RAM |
| 1983 |
Eric Dickerson+ (23) |
2,212 |
RAM |
| 1982 |
Marcus Allen+ (22) |
1,098 |
RAI |
| 1981 |
William Andrews (26) |
2,036 |
ATL |
| 1980 |
Earl Campbell+ (25) |
1,981 |
HOU |
| 1979 |
Wilbert Montgomery (25) |
2,006 |
PHI |
| 1978 |
Walter Payton+ (24) |
1,875 |
CHI |
| 1977 |
Walter Payton+ (23) |
2,121 |
CHI |
| 1976 |
O.J. Simpson+ (29) |
1,762 |
BUF |
| 1975 |
O.J. Simpson+ (28) |
2,243 |
BUF |
| 1974 |
Otis Armstrong (24) |
1,812 |
DEN |
| 1973 |
O.J. Simpson+ (26) |
2,073 |
BUF |
| 1972 |
Larry Brown (25) |
1,689 |
WAS |
| 1971 |
Floyd Little (29) |
1,388 |
DEN |
| 1970 |
Ron A. Johnson (23) |
1,514 |
NYG |
| 1969 |
Tom Matte (30) |
1,422 |
BAL |
|
Warren Wells (27) |
1,284 |
OAK |
| 1968 |
Leroy Kelly+ (26) |
1,536 |
CLE |
|
Lance Alworth+ (28) |
1,330 |
SDG |
| 1967 |
Hoyle Granger (23) |
1,494 |
HOU |
|
Leroy Kelly+ (25) |
1,487 |
CLE |
| 1966 |
Gale Sayers+ (23) |
1,678 |
CHI |
|
Jim Nance (24) |
1,561 |
BOS |
| 1965 |
Jim Brown+ (29) |
1,872 |
CLE |
|
Lance Alworth+ (25) |
1,590 |
SDG |
| 1964 |
Jim Brown+ (28) |
1,786 |
CLE |
|
Charley Hennigan (29) |
1,546 |
HOU |
| 1963 |
Jim Brown+ (27) |
2,131 |
CLE |
|
Clem Daniels (26) |
1,784 |
OAK |
| 1962 |
Abner Haynes (25) |
1,622 |
DTX |
|
Jim Taylor+ (27) |
1,580 |
GNB |
| 1961 |
Jim Brown+ (25) |
1,867 |
CLE |
|
Charley Hennigan (26) |
1,746 |
HOU |
| 1960 |
John David Crow (25) |
1,533 |
STL |
|
Bill Groman (24) |
1,473 |
HOU |
| 1959 |
Jim Brown+ (23) |
1,519 |
CLE |
| 1958 |
Jim Brown+ (22) |
1,665 |
CLE |
| 1957 |
Lenny Moore+ (24) |
1,175 |
BAL |
| 1956 |
Frank Gifford+ (26) |
1,422 |
NYG |
| 1955 |
Alan Ameche (22) |
1,102 |
BAL |
| 1954 |
Joe Perry+ (27) |
1,252 |
SFO |
| 1953 |
Joe Perry+ (26) |
1,209 |
SFO |
| 1952 |
Billy Howton (22) |
1,231 |
GNB |
| 1951 |
Elroy Hirsch+ (28) |
1,498 |
RAM |
| 1950 |
Tom Fears+ (27) |
1,116 |
RAM |
| 1949 |
Gene Roberts (26) |
1,345 |
NYG |
|
Chet Mutryn (28) |
1,029 |
BUF |
| 1948 |
Chet Mutryn (27) |
1,617 |
BUF |
|
Steve Van Buren+ (28) |
1,041 |
PHI |
| 1947 |
Spec Sanders (29) |
1,445 |
NYY |
|
Steve Van Buren+ (27) |
1,087 |
PHI |
| 1946 |
Jim Benton (30) |
981 |
RAM |
|
Spec Sanders (28) |
968 |
NYY |
| 1945 |
Jim Benton (29) |
1,067 |
RAM |
| 1944 |
Don Hutson+ (31) |
953 |
GNB |
| 1943 |
Harry Clarke (27) |
1,091 |
CHI |
| 1942 |
Don Hutson+ (29) |
1,215 |
GNB |
| 1941 |
Don Hutson+ (28) |
760 |
GNB |
| 1940 |
Dick Todd (26) |
810 |
WAS |
| 1939 |
Andy Farkas (23) |
984 |
WAS |
| 1938 |
Whizzer White (21) |
655 |
PIT |
| 1937 |
Cliff Battles+ (27) |
955 |
WAS |
| 1936 |
Ace Gutowsky (27) |
857 |
DET |
| 1935 |
Ernie Caddel (24) |
621 |
DET |
| 1934 |
Beattie Feathers (26) |
1,178 |
CHI |
| 1933 |
Cliff Battles+ (23) |
922 |
BOS |
| 1932 |
Cliff Battles+ (22) |
636 |
BOS |