Yesterday, I wrote that NFL yards per carry is at an all-time high. But running backs — while performing very, very well — are not the only reason. In fact, running backs have been responsible for just 81% of all rushing yards this year, which is the lowest since at least 2002:
Quarterbacks are responsible for about 14% of all rushing yards this year, which is also the highest since 2002. Mitchell Trubisky (51/363/7.12), Josh Allen (57/389/6.82), Blake Bortles (50/325/6.50), Marcus Mariota (57/326/5.72), and Deshaun Watson (69/375/5.43) have all helped elevate the league-wide yards per carry average this season (as have receivers like D.J. Moore (11/150/13.64) of Carolina).
Still, running backs are the primary drivers this year, with Phillip Lindsay, Matt Breida, Aaron Jones, Todd Gurley, and Christian McCaffrey providing the biggest overall contribution to the sky-high numbers this year:
