Single-Season Leaders in Yards From Scrimmage (Percentage of Team Total)

by Chase Stuart on June 18, 2015

A key cog, but not the only one, in the GSOT

A key reason, but not the only one, for the GSOT’s success

In 1999, Marshall Faulk set the NFL record for yards from scrimmage in a season with 2,429. That mark still stands as the 2nd best in NFL history, and Faulk was truly dominant that season.

But while Faulk may have been the key cog in the St. Louis machine, he wasn’t the whole machine. St. Louis led the NFL in total yards, and had the most talented offense in the NFL. Faulk accounted for 36.6% of the Rams total offensive output that year, ^[1]Receiving Yards + Rushing Yards, or Net Passing Yards + Sack Yards Lost + Rushing Yards. a huge number — but not a historically incredible one.

Consider what Maurice Jones-Drew did in 2011. The Jaguars were 5-11, and finished last by a mile in terms of total yards. Yet, somehow, Jones-Drew led the league in rushing with 1,606 yards, and ranked 2nd with 1,980 yards from scrimmage. No other Jaguar came within 1500 yards of Jones-Drew that year! The Jacksonville star was responsible for an incredible 44.2% of the team’s offensive output that season, the 2nd most in NFL history.

Now, what’s more impressive: being responsible for 44.2% of a bad offense, or 36.6% of a dominant one? That’s up to each reader to decide, but today, I wanted to look at workhorse yardage producers. The table below, which is fully sortable and searchable, shows the top 400 players in the statistic “percentage of team’s total yards from scrimmage”:

Rk	Player	Pos	Tm	Year	Lg	YFS	Tm Yards	Perc
1	O.J. Simpson	RB	BUF	1973	NFL	2073	4324	47.9%
2	Maurice Jones-Drew	RB	JAX	2011	NFL	1980	4480	44.2%
3	LaDainian Tomlinson	RB	SDG	2003	NFL	2370	5372	44.1%
4	Chris Johnson	RB	TEN	2009	NFL	2509	5696	44%
5	Jamal Lewis	RB	BAL	2003	NFL	2271	5191	43.7%
6	Walter Payton	RB	CHI	1977	NFL	2121	4881	43.5%
7	Cliff Battles	TB	BOS	1932	NFL	636	1465	43.4%
8	Frank Gore	RB	SFO	2006	NFL	2180	5062	43.1%
9	Eric Dickerson	RB	RAM	1984	NFL	2244	5246	42.8%
10	Marshall Faulk	RB	IND	1998	NFL	2227	5225	42.6%
11	Gale Sayers	HB	CHI	1966	NFL	1678	3943	42.6%
12	Barry Sanders	RB	DET	1994	NFL	2166	5165	41.9%
13	Tiki Barber	RB	NYG	2004	NFL	2096	5001	41.9%
14	Eric Dickerson	RB	RAM	1986	NFL	2026	4837	41.9%
15	Jim Brown	FB	CLE	1963	NFL	2131	5088	41.9%
16	Adrian Peterson	RB	MIN	2012	NFL	2314	5569	41.6%
17	Hoyle Granger	FB	HOU	1967	AFL	1494	3654	40.9%
18	Larry Johnson	RB	KAN	2006	NFL	2199	5386	40.8%
19	Marcus Allen	RB	RAI	1985	NFL	2314	5743	40.3%
20	Jim Brown	FB	CLE	1965	NFL	1872	4670	40.1%
21	Tiki Barber	RB	NYG	2005	NFL	2390	5971	40%
22	Eric Dickerson	RB	IND	1988	NFL	2036	5114	39.8%
23	O.J. Simpson	RB	BUF	1975	NFL	2243	5635	39.8%
24	Ricky Williams	RB	MIA	2002	NFL	2216	5571	39.8%
25	Jim Brown	FB	CLE	1961	NFL	1867	4701	39.7%
26	Walter Payton	RB	CHI	1978	NFL	1875	4747	39.5%
27	LaDainian Tomlinson	RB	SDG	2002	NFL	2172	5505	39.5%
28	Marshall Faulk	RB	IND	1994	NFL	1804	4579	39.4%
29	Tiki Barber	RB	NYG	2006	NFL	2127	5400	39.4%
30	James Wilder	RB	TAM	1984	NFL	2229	5683	39.2%
31	Walter Payton	RB	CHI	1979	NFL	1923	4915	39.1%
32	Barry Foster	RB	PIT	1992	NFL	2034	5202	39.1%
33	Eric Dickerson	RB	RAM	1983	NFL	2212	5664	39.1%
34	Jim Brown	FB	CLE	1958	NFL	1665	4284	38.9%
35	Barry Sanders	RB	DET	1997	NFL	2358	6069	38.9%
36	LaDainian Tomlinson	RB	SDG	2006	NFL	2323	5990	38.8%
37	Larry Brown	RB	WAS	1972	NFL	1689	4363	38.7%
38	Deuce McAllister	RB	NOR	2003	NFL	2157	5641	38.2%
39	Chris Warren	RB	SEA	1994	NFL	1868	4893	38.2%
40	Frank Gifford	LH	NYG	1956	NFL	1422	3730	38.1%
41	Steven Jackson	RB	STL	2006	NFL	2334	6133	38.1%
42	Jim Brown	FB	CLE	1964	NFL	1786	4705	38%
43	Ahman Green	RB	GNB	2003	NFL	2250	5935	37.9%
44	O.J. Simpson	RB	BUF	1976	NFL	1762	4650	37.9%
45	Walter Payton	RB	CHI	1976	NFL	1539	4068	37.8%
46	Wilbert Montgomery	RB	PHI	1979	NFL	2006	5303	37.8%
47	Barry Sanders	RB	DET	1991	NFL	1855	4904	37.8%
48	Gene Roberts	LH	NYG	1949	NFL	1345	3561	37.8%
49	Duce Staley	RB	PHI	1999	NFL	1567	4151	37.7%
50	Ricky Watters	RB	SEA	2000	NFL	1855	4918	37.7%
51	Otis Armstrong	FB/rb	DEN	1974	NFL	1812	4817	37.6%
52	Swede Hanson	FB	PHI	1933	NFL	661	1760	37.6%
53	LaDainian Tomlinson	RB	SDG	2007	NFL	1949	5214	37.4%
54	Priest Holmes	RB	KAN	2002	NFL	2287	6141	37.2%
55	Curtis Martin	RB	NYJ	2001	NFL	1833	4925	37.2%
56	Jamal Anderson	RB	ATL	1998	NFL	2165	5845	37%
57	Lydell Mitchell	RB	BAL	1977	NFL	1779	4809	37%
58	Frank Gore	RB	SFO	2007	NFL	1538	4162	37%
59	Priest Holmes	RB	KAN	2001	NFL	2169	5871	36.9%
60	Ray Rice	RB	BAL	2011	NFL	2068	5625	36.8%
61	Edgerrin James	RB	IND	2000	NFL	2303	6272	36.7%
62	Edgerrin James	RB	IND	1999	NFL	2139	5842	36.6%
63	John Brockington	RB	GNB	1973	NFL	1272	3476	36.6%
64	Marshall Faulk	RB	STL	1999	NFL	2429	6639	36.6%
65	Steven Jackson	RB	STL	2009	NFL	1738	4754	36.6%
66	Charley Taylor	HB	WAS	1964	NFL	1569	4308	36.4%
67	Jim Brown	FB	CLE	1959	NFL	1519	4182	36.3%
68	Walter Payton	RB	CHI	1984	NFL	2052	5669	36.2%
69	Gerald Riggs	RB	ATL	1985	NFL	1986	5491	36.2%
70	William Andrews	RB	ATL	1983	NFL	2176	6017	36.2%
71	Emmitt Smith	RB	DAL	1995	NFL	2148	5942	36.1%
72	Jamal Lewis	RB	BAL	2002	NFL	1769	4910	36%
73	Lydell Mitchell	RB	BAL	1975	NFL	1737	4823	36%
74	Ron Johnson	RB	NYG	1972	NFL	1633	4559	35.8%
75	Emmitt Smith	RB	DAL	1992	NFL	2048	5718	35.8%
76	Ricky Williams	RB	MIA	2003	NFL	1723	4818	35.8%
77	Walter Payton	RB	CHI	1980	NFL	1827	5109	35.8%
78	Clem Daniels	HB	OAK	1963	AFL	1784	5000	35.7%
79	Eddie George	RB	TEN	2000	NFL	1962	5514	35.6%
80	George Rogers	RB	NOR	1981	NFL	1800	5064	35.5%
81	DeMarco Murray	RB	DAL	2014	NFL	2261	6362	35.5%
82	Terrell Davis	RB	DEN	1998	NFL	2225	6276	35.5%
83	Earl Campbell	RB	HOU	1979	NFL	1791	5065	35.4%
84	Fred Taylor	RB	JAX	2003	NFL	1942	5494	35.3%
85	Billy Sims	RB	DET	1982	NFL	981	2776	35.3%
86	Ahman Green	RB	GNB	2001	NFL	1981	5614	35.3%
87	Herschel Walker	RB	DAL	1988	NFL	2019	5722	35.3%
88	John David Crow	HB	STL	1960	NFL	1533	4346	35.3%
89	Jamaal Charles	RB	KAN	2013	NFL	1980	5617	35.3%
90	Brian Westbrook	RB	PHI	2007	NFL	2104	5979	35.2%
91	Corey Dillon	RB	CIN	2000	NFL	1593	4533	35.1%
92	Stephen Davis	RB	WAS	2001	NFL	1637	4664	35.1%
93	Ottis Anderson	RB	STL	1979	NFL	1913	5452	35.1%
94	Matt Forte	RB	CHI	2008	NFL	1715	4902	35%
95	Ray Rice	RB	BAL	2009	NFL	2041	5837	35%
96	O.J. Simpson	RB	BUF	1972	NFL	1449	4144	35%
97	Priest Holmes	RB	KAN	2003	NFL	2110	6042	34.9%
98	Merl Condit	HB	BKN	1942	NFL	758	2179	34.8%
99	Curtis Martin	RB	NYJ	1999	NFL	1723	4962	34.7%
100	Marcus Allen	RB	RAI	1982	NFL	1098	3166	34.7%
101	John Brockington	FB	GNB	1972	NFL	1270	3663	34.7%
102	Arian Foster	RB	HOU	2010	NFL	2220	6412	34.6%
103	Curtis Martin	RB	NYJ	2004	NFL	1942	5619	34.6%
104	Thurman Thomas	RB	BUF	1992	NFL	2113	6114	34.6%
105	O.J. Simpson	RB	BUF	1974	NFL	1314	3822	34.4%
106	Thomas Jones	RB	CHI	2005	NFL	1478	4300	34.4%
107	Marcus Allen	RB	RAI	1984	NFL	1926	5604	34.4%
108	William Andrews	FB	ATL	1981	NFL	2036	5951	34.2%
109	Jim Brown	FB	CLE	1960	NFL	1461	4273	34.2%
110	Clem Daniels	HB	OAK	1965	AFL	1452	4251	34.2%
111	Peyton Hillis	RB	CLE	2010	NFL	1654	4849	34.1%
112	Greg Pruitt	RB	CLE	1977	NFL	1557	4574	34%
113	Adrian Peterson	RB	MIN	2008	NFL	1885	5549	34%
114	Barry Sanders	RB	DET	1990	NFL	1784	5255	33.9%
115	William Andrews	FB	ATL	1982	NFL	1076	3173	33.9%
116	Emmitt Smith	RB	DAL	1991	NFL	1821	5374	33.9%
117	Tom Woodeshick	FB	PHI	1968	NFL	1275	3768	33.8%
118	Ricky Watters	RB	PHI	1995	NFL	1707	5052	33.8%
119	Chuck Foreman	RB	MIN	1975	NFL	1761	5215	33.8%
120	Lawrence McCutcheon	RB	RAM	1974	NFL	1517	4493	33.8%
121	Swede Hanson	FB	PHI	1934	NFL	827	2452	33.7%
122	Fred Taylor	RB	JAX	2002	NFL	1722	5108	33.7%
123	Matt Forte	RB	CHI	2014	NFL	1846	5476	33.7%
124	Emmitt Smith	RB	DAL	1994	NFL	1825	5414	33.7%
125	Delvin Williams	RB	SFO	1976	NFL	1486	4410	33.7%
126	Chuck Foreman	RB	MIN	1976	NFL	1722	5120	33.6%
127	Larry Brown	RB	WAS	1973	NFL	1342	3999	33.6%
128	Walter Payton	RB	CHI	1985	NFL	2034	6064	33.5%
129	Earl Campbell	RB	HOU	1980	NFL	1981	5906	33.5%
130	Terrell Davis	RB	DEN	1997	NFL	2037	6082	33.5%
131	Larry Brown	RB	WAS	1970	NFL	1466	4378	33.5%
132	Jim Brown	FB	CLE	1962	NFL	1513	4519	33.5%
133	Donny Anderson	RB	GNB	1970	NFL	1267	3791	33.4%
134	Clinton Portis	RB	WAS	2004	NFL	1550	4639	33.4%
135	Wilbert Montgomery	RB	PHI	1981	NFL	1923	5758	33.4%
136	Leroy Kelly	HB	CLE	1967	NFL	1487	4453	33.4%
137	Thurman Thomas	RB	BUF	1990	NFL	1829	5484	33.4%
138	Ricky Watters	RB	SEA	1998	NFL	1612	4845	33.3%
139	Jamaal Charles	rb	KAN	2010	NFL	1935	5816	33.3%
140	Barry Sanders	RB	DET	1998	NFL	1780	5353	33.3%
141	Cliff Battles	TB	BOS	1933	NFL	922	2774	33.2%
142	Duce Staley	RB	PHI	1998	NFL	1497	4505	33.2%
143	Jerome Bettis	RB	RAM	1993	NFL	1673	5035	33.2%
144	Roger Craig	FB	SFO	1985	NFL	2066	6219	33.2%
145	Tiki Barber	RB	NYG	2002	NFL	1984	5978	33.2%
146	Reuben Droughns	RB	CLE	2005	NFL	1601	4826	33.2%
147	J.D. Smith	LH	SFO	1959	NFL	1169	3524	33.2%
148	Walter Payton	RB	CHI	1982	NFL	907	2737	33.1%
149	Clinton Portis	RB	DEN	2003	NFL	1905	5755	33.1%
150	Dave Osborn	HB	MIN	1967	NFL	1244	3762	33.1%
151	Terdell Middleton	RB	GNB	1978	NFL	1448	4381	33.1%
152	Otis Armstrong	RB	DEN	1976	NFL	1465	4442	33%
153	Greg Pruitt	RB	CLE	1975	NFL	1366	4147	32.9%
154	Lenny Moore	RH	BAL	1958	NFL	1536	4664	32.9%
155	Don Woods	RB	SDG	1974	NFL	1511	4590	32.9%
156	Barry Sanders	RB	DET	1992	NFL	1577	4794	32.9%
157	Jim Nance	FB	BOS	1966	AFL	1561	4747	32.9%
158	Emmitt Smith	RB	DAL	1993	NFL	1900	5778	32.9%
159	Roger Craig	RB	SFO	1988	NFL	2036	6198	32.8%
160	Barry Sanders	RB	DET	1989	NFL	1752	5335	32.8%
161	Le'Veon Bell	RB	PIT	2014	NFL	2215	6749	32.8%
162	Walter Payton	RB	CHI	1983	NFL	2028	6188	32.8%
163	Jamaal Charles	RB	KAN	2012	NFL	1745	5332	32.7%
164	Larry Johnson	RB	KAN	2005	NFL	2093	6396	32.7%
165	Domanick Williams	RB	HOU	2004	NFL	1776	5429	32.7%
166	Bill Brown	FB	MIN	1964	NFL	1569	4797	32.7%
167	Cliff Battles	tb	WAS	1937	NFL	955	2920	32.7%
168	Billy Sims	RB	DET	1980	NFL	1924	5886	32.7%
169	Walter Payton	RB	CHI	1981	NFL	1601	4899	32.7%
170	Don Looney	RE	PHI	1940	NFL	703	2153	32.7%
171	Curt Warner	RB	SEA	1983	NFL	1774	5435	32.6%
172	Shaun Alexander	RB	SEA	2001	NFL	1661	5100	32.6%
173	Ray Rice	RB	BAL	2010	NFL	1776	5460	32.5%
174	Harold Green	RB	CIN	1992	NFL	1384	4260	32.5%
175	Isaac Bruce	WR	STL	1995	NFL	1798	5544	32.4%
176	Eddie George	RB	TEN	1999	NFL	1762	5433	32.4%
177	James Wilder	RB	TAM	1985	NFL	1641	5067	32.4%
178	Timmy Brown	HB	PHI	1963	NFL	1328	4104	32.4%
179	Terry Allen	RB	MIN	1992	NFL	1679	5192	32.3%
180	John Settle	FB	ATL	1988	NFL	1594	4930	32.3%
181	Matt Snell	FB	NYJ	1964	AFL	1341	4151	32.3%
182	Ron Johnson	RB	NYG	1970	NFL	1514	4691	32.3%
183	Steve Van Buren	LH	PHI	1945	NFL	955	2959	32.3%
184	Tiki Barber	RB	NYG	2003	NFL	1677	5201	32.2%
185	Barry Sanders	RB	DET	1996	NFL	1700	5273	32.2%
186	Thomas Jones	RB	CHI	2004	NFL	1375	4265	32.2%
187	Matt Forte	RB	CHI	2010	NFL	1616	5013	32.2%
188	Art Malone	FB	ATL	1972	NFL	1383	4294	32.2%
189	Doug Martin	RB	TAM	2012	NFL	1926	5981	32.2%
190	Tony Dorsett	RB	DAL	1981	NFL	1971	6125	32.2%
191	Jim Nance	FB	BOS	1967	AFL	1412	4388	32.2%
192	Ottis Anderson	RB	STL	1981	NFL	1763	5482	32.2%
193	Shaun Alexander	RB	SEA	2005	NFL	1958	6089	32.2%
194	Chris Johnson	RB	TEN	2010	NFL	1609	5005	32.1%
195	Don Hutson	LE	GNB	1942	NFL	1215	3781	32.1%
196	Shaun Alexander	RB	SEA	2004	NFL	1866	5810	32.1%
197	Jamal Anderson	RB	ATL	2000	NFL	1406	4380	32.1%
198	John Brockington	FB	GNB	1974	NFL	1197	3733	32.1%
199	Jim Taylor	FB	GNB	1964	NFL	1523	4750	32.1%
200	Floyd Little	RB	DEN	1971	NFL	1388	4336	32%
201	David Boston	WR	ARI	2001	NFL	1633	5102	32%
202	Travis Henry	RB	BUF	2003	NFL	1514	4733	32%
203	Joe Cribbs	RB	BUF	1983	NFL	1655	5174	32%
204	Jim Musick	FB	BOS	1933	NFL	887	2774	32%
205	Willis McGahee	RB	BUF	2005	NFL	1425	4459	32%
206	Deuce McAllister	RB	NOR	2002	NFL	1740	5449	31.9%
207	Steven Jackson	RB	STL	2010	NFL	1624	5090	31.9%
208	Don Hutson	LE	GNB	1944	NFL	953	2988	31.9%
209	Lorenzo White	RB	HOU	1992	NFL	1867	5857	31.9%
210	Curt Warner	RB	SEA	1986	NFL	1823	5724	31.8%
211	Gerald Riggs	RB	ATL	1984	NFL	1763	5540	31.8%
212	Warrick Dunn	RB	TAM	2000	NFL	1555	4890	31.8%
213	Ollie Matson	LH	CRD	1954	NFL	1117	3515	31.8%
214	Lydell Mitchell	RB	BAL	1976	NFL	1755	5524	31.8%
215	Dalton Hilliard	RB	NOR	1989	NFL	1776	5599	31.7%
216	Ricky Watters	RB	SEA	1999	NFL	1597	5037	31.7%
217	Ollie Matson	LH	CRD	1956	NFL	1123	3545	31.7%
218	Clinton Portis	RB	WAS	2008	NFL	1705	5386	31.7%
219	Ricky Watters	RB	PHI	1996	NFL	1855	5861	31.6%
220	Ottis Anderson	RB	STL	1980	NFL	1660	5246	31.6%
221	Mike Thomas	RB	WAS	1976	NFL	1391	4399	31.6%
222	Ricky Williams	RB	NOR	2001	NFL	1756	5556	31.6%
223	Earl Campbell	RB	HOU	1981	NFL	1532	4853	31.6%
224	LaDainian Tomlinson	RB	SDG	2005	NFL	1832	5810	31.5%
225	Mel Farr	FB	DET	1967	NFL	1177	3733	31.5%
226	Warrick Dunn	RB	TAM	1997	NFL	1440	4572	31.5%
227	Eddie Price	FB	NYG	1951	NFL	990	3145	31.5%
228	Chuck Foreman	RB	MIN	1977	NFL	1420	4513	31.5%
229	Thurman Thomas	RB	BUF	1989	NFL	1913	6095	31.4%
230	Charlie Garner	RB	SFO	1999	NFL	1764	5621	31.4%
231	Maurice Jones-Drew	RB	JAX	2009	NFL	1765	5628	31.4%
232	Clinton Portis	RB	WAS	2005	NFL	1732	5529	31.3%
233	Tony Canadeo	LH	GNB	1949	NFL	1050	3352	31.3%
234	Lawrence McCutcheon	RB	RAM	1977	NFL	1512	4828	31.3%
235	Jamal Lewis	RB	BAL	2000	NFL	1660	5301	31.3%
236	Bill Dudley	TB	PIT	1946	NFL	713	2277	31.3%
237	Tuffy Leemans	FB	NYG	1936	NFL	852	2724	31.3%
238	Edgerrin James	RB	IND	2005	NFL	1843	5894	31.3%
239	Thurman Thomas	RB	BUF	1991	NFL	2038	6521	31.3%
240	Don Hutson	LE	GNB	1945	NFL	894	2861	31.2%
241	Haskel Stanback	RB	ATL	1977	NFL	1134	3630	31.2%
242	LaDainian Tomlinson	RB	SDG	2004	NFL	1776	5691	31.2%
243	Ahman Green	RB	GNB	2000	NFL	1734	5559	31.2%
244	Frank Gore	RB	SFO	2009	NFL	1526	4893	31.2%
245	Jerome Bettis	RB	PIT	1997	NFL	1775	5694	31.2%
246	Curtis Martin	RB	NYJ	2000	NFL	1712	5494	31.2%
247	Joe Washington	RB	BAL	1979	NFL	1634	5249	31.1%
248	Adrian Peterson	RB	MIN	2010	NFL	1639	5269	31.1%
249	Jim Taylor	FB	GNB	1962	NFL	1580	5081	31.1%
250	Dorsey Levens	RB	GNB	1997	NFL	1805	5805	31.1%
251	Paul Robinson	HB	CIN	1968	AFL	1151	3703	31.1%
252	Thurman Thomas	RB	BUF	1993	NFL	1702	5478	31.1%
253	James Stewart	RB	DET	2000	NFL	1471	4739	31%
254	Joe Cribbs	RB	BUF	1980	NFL	1600	5158	31%
255	Sam Cunningham	FB	NWE	1977	NFL	1385	4465	31%
256	Abner Haynes	HB	DTX	1962	AFL	1622	5231	31%
257	Beattie Feathers	LH	CHI	1934	NFL	1178	3802	31%
258	Marshall Faulk	RB	STL	2001	NFL	2147	6930	31%
259	Ray Ramsey	RH	CHR	1947	AAFC	1201	3878	31%
260	Ottis Anderson	RB	STL	1983	NFL	1729	5586	31%
261	John Grigas	FB	CRD	1943	NFL	558	1804	30.9%
262	Curtis Martin	RB	NWE	1995	NFL	1748	5655	30.9%
263	Bill Paschal	FB	NYG	1944	NFL	737	2389	30.8%
264	Edgerrin James	RB	IND	2004	NFL	2031	6584	30.8%
265	Charles White	RB	RAM	1987	NFL	1495	4847	30.8%
266	Corey Dillon	RB	CIN	2001	NFL	1543	5003	30.8%
267	Neal Anderson	RB	CHI	1989	NFL	1709	5549	30.8%
268	Matt Forte	RB	CHI	2013	NFL	1933	6278	30.8%
269	LeSean McCoy	RB	PHI	2013	NFL	2146	6972	30.8%
270	Fred Jackson	RB	BUF	2009	NFL	1433	4656	30.8%
271	Domanick Williams	RB	HOU	2003	NFL	1382	4492	30.8%
272	Pat Studstill	FL	DET	1966	NFL	1286	4181	30.8%
273	Steve Smith	WR	CAR	2005	NFL	1588	5164	30.8%
274	Dick Bass	FB	RAM	1962	NFL	1295	4213	30.7%
275	Marshawn Lynch	RB	SEA	2012	NFL	1786	5813	30.7%
276	Tiki Barber	RB	NYG	2000	NFL	1725	5619	30.7%
277	Tom Matte	HB	BAL	1969	NFL	1422	4633	30.7%
278	Terrell Davis	RB	DEN	1996	NFL	1848	6024	30.7%
279	Napoleon Kaufman	RB	OAK	1997	NFL	1697	5532	30.7%
280	Lydell Mitchell	RB	BAL	1974	NFL	1301	4242	30.7%
281	Dutch Clark	TB	PRT	1932	NFL	568	1853	30.7%
282	Jim Benton	LE	RAM	1945	NFL	1067	3481	30.7%
283	Bob Davis	QB	BOS	1944	NFL	460	1501	30.6%
284	Tony Reed	LH	KAN	1978	NFL	1536	5018	30.6%
285	Spec Sanders	TB	NYY	1947	AAFC	1445	4725	30.6%
286	Frank Gifford	LH	NYG	1959	NFL	1308	4279	30.6%
287	Walter Payton	RB	CHI	1986	NFL	1715	5612	30.6%
288	Jim Taylor	FB	GNB	1961	NFL	1482	4852	30.5%
289	Eric Dickerson	RB	IND	1989	NFL	1522	4987	30.5%
290	Brian Westbrook	RB	PHI	2006	NFL	1916	6293	30.4%
291	Joe Morris	RB	NYG	1986	NFL	1749	5745	30.4%
292	Curtis Martin	RB	NYJ	2003	NFL	1570	5159	30.4%
293	Ed Podolak	RB	KAN	1973	NFL	1166	3832	30.4%
294	Charley Hennigan	WR	HOU	1964	AFL	1546	5081	30.4%
295	Rob Moore	WR	ARI	1997	NFL	1584	5208	30.4%
296	Robert Smith	RB	MIN	2000	NFL	1869	6148	30.4%
297	Fred Taylor	RB	JAX	2004	NFL	1569	5165	30.4%
298	Alan Ameche	FB	BAL	1955	NFL	1102	3628	30.4%
299	Cookie Gilchrist	FB	BUF	1962	AFL	1415	4661	30.4%
300	Charlie Justice	LH	WAS	1953	NFL	1050	3462	30.3%
301	Bobby Mitchell	FL	WAS	1963	NFL	1460	4814	30.3%
302	Barry Sanders	RB	DET	1995	NFL	1898	6263	30.3%
303	Leroy Kelly	HB	CLE	1968	NFL	1536	5070	30.3%
304	Earl Campbell	RB	HOU	1978	NFL	1498	4949	30.3%
305	LaMont Jordan	RB	OAK	2005	NFL	1588	5252	30.2%
306	MacArthur Lane	RB	GNB	1972	NFL	1106	3663	30.2%
307	Fred Taylor	RB	JAX	1998	NFL	1644	5445	30.2%
308	John Williams	FB	SEA	1988	NFL	1528	5065	30.2%
309	Ron Johnson	RB	NYG	1973	NFL	1279	4240	30.2%
310	C.J. Spiller	RB	BUF	2012	NFL	1703	5647	30.2%
311	Ollie Matson	LH	CRD	1957	NFL	1028	3411	30.1%
312	Josh Gordon	WR	CLE	2013	NFL	1734	5755	30.1%
313	Billy Sims	RB	DET	1981	NFL	1888	6270	30.1%
314	Jerry Rice	WR	SFO	1995	NFL	1884	6258	30.1%
315	Floyd Little	RB	DEN	1973	NFL	1402	4660	30.1%
316	John Riggins	FB	NYJ	1975	NFL	1368	4547	30.1%
317	Stephen Davis	RB	CAR	2003	NFL	1603	5329	30.1%
318	Bobby Mitchell	RH	WAS	1962	NFL	1389	4620	30.1%
319	Marvin Harrison	WR	IND	2002	NFL	1732	5761	30.1%
320	Clinton Portis	RB	WAS	2007	NFL	1651	5493	30.1%
321	Steven Jackson	RB	STL	2011	NFL	1478	4925	30%
322	Warrick Dunn	RB	ATL	2005	NFL	1636	5453	30%
323	Abner Haynes	HB	DTX	1960	AFL	1451	4838	30%
324	Charley Taylor	SE/hb	WAS	1966	NFL	1381	4607	30%
325	Arian Foster	RB	HOU	2011	NFL	1841	6144	30%
326	Curtis Dickey	RB	BAL	1983	NFL	1605	5358	30%
327	Clem Daniels	HB	OAK	1966	AFL	1453	4852	29.9%
328	Marshall Faulk	RB	STL	2000	NFL	2189	7335	29.8%
329	Garrison Hearst	RB	SFO	1998	NFL	2105	7054	29.8%
330	Chet Mutryn	LH	BUF	1948	AAFC	1617	5421	29.8%
331	LaDainian Tomlinson	RB	SDG	2001	NFL	1603	5380	29.8%
332	Calvin Hill	RB	DAL	1972	NFL	1400	4704	29.8%
333	James Allen	RB	CHI	2000	NFL	1411	4741	29.8%
334	Emmitt Smith	RB	DAL	1996	NFL	1453	4890	29.7%
335	Wendell Tyler	RB	RAM	1982	NFL	939	3161	29.7%
336	Marshall Faulk	RB	IND	1995	NFL	1553	5228	29.7%
337	Don Currivan	RE	BOS	1947	NFL	782	2634	29.7%
338	Neal Anderson	RB	CHI	1990	NFL	1562	5263	29.7%
339	Ladell Betts	RB	WAS	2006	NFL	1599	5390	29.7%
340	Bill Paschal	FB	NYG	1943	NFL	646	2180	29.6%
341	Billy Howton	RE	GNB	1956	NFL	1188	4012	29.6%
342	Dick Gordon	WR	CHI	1970	NFL	1043	3523	29.6%
343	Tony Collins	RB	NWE	1982	NFL	819	2767	29.6%
344	Michael Turner	RB	ATL	2008	NFL	1740	5883	29.6%
345	Lance Alworth	FL	SDG	1965	AFL	1590	5377	29.6%
346	John Brockington	FB	GNB	1971	NFL	1203	4071	29.6%
347	Eddie George	RB	HOU	1996	NFL	1550	5246	29.5%
348	Anquan Boldin	WR	ARI	2003	NFL	1417	4796	29.5%
349	Corey Dillon	RB	NWE	2004	NFL	1738	5884	29.5%
350	William Andrews	FB	ATL	1980	NFL	1764	5973	29.5%
351	Greg Bell	FB/rb	BUF	1985	NFL	1459	4942	29.5%
352	Charlie Garner	RB	OAK	2002	NFL	1903	6451	29.5%
353	Billy Howton	RE	GNB	1952	NFL	1231	4173	29.5%
354	Jim Taylor	FB	GNB	1960	NFL	1222	4143	29.5%
355	Corey Dillon	RB	CIN	2002	NFL	1609	5462	29.5%
356	Dick Bass	FB	RAM	1966	NFL	1364	4633	29.4%
357	Tommy Mason	HB	MIN	1962	NFL	1343	4563	29.4%
358	Eddie George	RB	TEN	1998	NFL	1604	5452	29.4%
359	Herschel Walker	RB	DAL	1987	NFL	1606	5459	29.4%
360	Lenny Moore	FL	BAL	1960	NFL	1310	4453	29.4%
361	John David Crow	LH	CRD	1959	NFL	994	3379	29.4%
362	Shaun Alexander	RB	SEA	2003	NFL	1730	5881	29.4%
363	Ricky Bell	FB	TAM	1979	NFL	1511	5137	29.4%
364	Torry Holt	WR	STL	2003	NFL	1701	5783	29.4%
365	Joe Cribbs	RB	BUF	1981	NFL	1700	5786	29.4%
366	Tony Dorsett	RB	DAL	1985	NFL	1756	5977	29.4%
367	Chris Warren	RB	SEA	1992	NFL	1151	3919	29.4%
368	Jerome Bettis	RB	PIT	1996	NFL	1553	5289	29.4%
369	Domanick Williams	RB	HOU	2005	NFL	1313	4477	29.3%
370	Frank Gifford	LH	NYG	1957	NFL	1116	3807	29.3%
371	Travis Henry	RB	BUF	2002	NFL	1747	5960	29.3%
372	Timmy Brown	HB	PHI	1965	NFL	1543	5266	29.3%
373	Clinton Portis	RB	DEN	2002	NFL	1872	6405	29.2%
374	Billy Hillenbrand	LH	BCL	1948	AAFC	1480	5065	29.2%
375	Rueben Mayes	RB	NOR	1986	NFL	1449	4967	29.2%
376	Chris Johnson	RB	TEN	2008	NFL	1488	5101	29.2%
377	James Stewart	RB	DET	2002	NFL	1354	4645	29.1%
378	Raymond Berry	SE	BAL	1960	NFL	1298	4453	29.1%
379	Steve Van Buren	LH	PHI	1947	NFL	1087	3732	29.1%
380	Timmy Brown	HB	PHI	1962	NFL	1394	4787	29.1%
381	Calvin Johnson	WR	DET	2012	NFL	1964	6752	29.1%
382	Sterling Sharpe	WR	GNB	1992	NFL	1469	5053	29.1%
383	Joe Washington	RB	BAL	1978	NFL	1333	4587	29.1%
384	Lamar Smith	RB	MIA	2000	NFL	1340	4614	29%
385	John Riggins	FB	NYJ	1971	NFL	1000	3444	29%
386	Natrone Means	RB	SDG	1994	NFL	1585	5471	29%
387	Bill Brown	FB	MIN	1968	NFL	1134	3916	29%
388	Mike Thomas	RB	WAS	1975	NFL	1402	4844	28.9%
389	Essex Johnson	RB	CIN	1973	NFL	1353	4675	28.9%
390	Stephen Davis	RB	WAS	2000	NFL	1631	5640	28.9%
391	Ted Brown	FB	MIN	1981	NFL	1757	6079	28.9%
392	Steven Jackson	RB	STL	2008	NFL	1421	4917	28.9%
393	Adrian Peterson	RB	MIN	2007	NFL	1609	5572	28.9%
394	Dave Hampton	RB	ATL	1973	NFL	1270	4399	28.9%
395	Tony Dorsett	RB	DAL	1984	NFL	1648	5709	28.9%
396	Don Maynard	FL	NYJ	1965	AFL	1220	4227	28.9%
397	Bill Groman	WR	HOU	1960	AFL	1473	5104	28.9%
398	Dave Hampton	RB	ATL	1972	NFL	1239	4294	28.9%
399	Charlie Garner	RB	SFO	2000	NFL	1789	6201	28.9%
400	Terry Allen	RB	WAS	1996	NFL	1547	5363	28.8%

An interesting Faulk note: his best performance by this metric was not with the Rams, but came during his final season in Indianapolis, when he was responsible for 42.6% of all Colts yards.

O.J. Simpson has the top spot, and not by a small amount, although I think I am partial to Jones-Drew’s 2011 season as the most impressive. Simpson played on a team that didn’t pass the ball, even by dead ball, 1973 standards, so it was a little easier for him to carry such a large percentage of the pie. Consider that 8 players in the 26-team NFL that year make the top 400, compared to just 4 from the 32-team 2011 NFL season. The 2011 Jaguars were arguably a worse passing team than the ’73 Bills after adjusting for era, but still gained more yards through the air than on the ground because that’s the way the modern NFL works. Of course, we’re splitting hairs here: both Simpson and Jones-Drew carried their teams in remarkable ways.

Eric Dickerson is the only player with two seasons in the top 15. One other Dickerson note: while he has “only” five seasons in the top 400, he’s hurt by this analysis because his 1987 season — when he played for two teams — is excluded. But for those scoring at home, Dickerson gained 1,144 yards with the Colts that year, and during that stretch, the Colts totaled 3,175 yards. So Dickerson accounted for 36% of the 1987 Indianapolis offense when he was on the roster, which would have given him another top-75 season.

Dickerson has three seasons in the top 22; Jim Brown is the only other player with three top-25 seasons, and Tiki Barber is the only other player with three top-30 seasons. It’s incredible to think that for a 3-year stretch, Barber gained 40.4% of the Giants total offense. And the Giants offense was not bad (it was essentially average) at gaining yards, making Barber’s feat even more incredible. Barber gained 6,613 yards from scrimmage those three years: the only player to gain more yards in any three year period was Faulk (6,765 yards from ’99 to ’01, and 6,845 yards from ’98 to ’00). If Barber ever makes the Hall of Fame, that previous sentence will be the main reason why.

Dickerson’s 4th best season checks in at #33; Jim Brown’s 4th best year is just behind him at #34. In fact, Brown’s 5th best year — #42 on the list — comes ahead of any other player’s fourth best year (Walter Payton, with four top-45 seasons).

Brown is also the leader when it comes to a player’s sixth best season, and 7th best year, and 8th best, too. But Payton has a whopping 11 seasons in the top 300; no other player has even 10 seasons in the top 400, and Barry Sanders is the only one with 9 (his 9th best year ranks at #302).

Isaac Bruce’s 1995 season was really special: he gained 1,781 receiving yards, the 2nd most in NFL history at that time (now the 3rd). But that was the year Jerry Rice set the NFL single-season record, and Bruce didn’t even make the Pro Bowl that season! But Bruce exacts a measure of revenge here: he has the top single season by any wide receiver. In 1995, he was responsible for 32.4% of the Rams offense. He gained over 1,000 more yards than any other player on St. Louis! By comparison, Rice was responsible for 30.1% of the San Francisco offense that year, and “only” outgained the 49ers runner up in yards by 499.

Looking at other wide receivers, David Boston gained 32% of the Cardinals total yards in ’01. And, as regular readers know, Steve Smith’s 2005 season makes the cut as the third best performance by a wide receiver in the modern era based on this metric.

What stands out to you guys? What do you think of this “workhorse” metric?

References[+]

References
↑1	Receiving Yards + Rushing Yards, or Net Passing Yards + Sack Yards Lost + Rushing Yards.

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