The best NFL running back single-game performances in history
This slide show displays the top 25 NFL running back single-game performances in history.
Clinton Portis: Dec. 7, 2003
Portis completely thrashed the K.C. defense in a 45-27 win, rushing 22 times for 218 yards and five touchdowns. He also added two receptions for 36 yards.
Shaun Alexander: Sept. 29, 2002
Alexander and the Seahawks scored 48 points on Minnesota. He rushed 24 times for 139 yards and four scores, adding three receptions for 92 yards and one score as a receiver for 231 yards from scrimmage.
Corey Dillon: Dec. 4, 1997
Dillon had a memorable performance for the Bengals against Tennessee. He helped Cincinnati put up 41 points, rushing 39 times for 246 yards and four scores. He also had two receptions for 30 yards.
Jamaal Charles: Dec. 15, 2013
Visiting the rival Raiders, Charles made the most of his contribution as a receiver. He did enough in that role to have one of the best days ever by a back, with eight receptions for 195 yards and four touchdowns. He also had eight carries for 20 yards and one touchdown on the ground.
Doug Martin: Nov. 4, 2012
Martin beat up the Raiders in Oakland, rushing 25 times for 251 yards and four scores. He added four receptions for 21 yards.
Mike Anderson: Dec. 3, 2000
One of coach Mike Shanahan's out-of-nowhere backs, Anderson rushed 37 times for 251 yards and four scores against the Saints.
Le'Veon Bell: Dec. 11, 2016
Bell ran over Rex Ryan's Buffalo defense, rushing for 236 yards and three scores on 38 carries. He added four receptions for 62 yards in the 27-20 Steelers win.
Larry Brown: Dec. 16, 1973
Brown took it to the Eagles as both a rusher and receiver. He had 26 carries for 150 yards and one score on the ground, along with three receptions for 105 yards and three scores as a receiver.
Adrian Peterson: Nov. 4, 2007
Peterson had a record-breaking game against the Chargers, rushing 30 times for 296 yards and three scores.
Barry Sanders: Nov. 24, 1991
Sanders couldn't be stopped in his epic game against the Vikings. He rushed 23 times for 220 yards and four scores, adding four receptions for 31 yards.
Fred Taylor: Nov. 19, 2000
Taylor ran over the Steelers, rushing 30 times for 234 yards and three scores. He also had three receptions for 14 yards and one score as a receiver.
Priest Holmes: Nov. 24, 2002
Holmes and the epic early 2000s Chiefs offense tore apart the Seattle defense in a losing effort. The running back had 23 carries for 197 yards and two touchdowns, adding seven receptions for 110 yards and one receiving score.
Jerome Harrison: Dec. 20, 2009
Harrison and the Browns ran right over the K.C. defense, with 34 carries for 286 yards and three scores.
Derrick Henry: Dec 6, 2018
Henry had a late-season onslaught in 2018, and his biggest game was against Jacksonville. He rushed 17 times for 238 yards and four touchdowns in a 30-9 victory.
Marshall Faulk: Oct. 20, 2002
Faulk had one of his best games in 2002, rushing 32 times for 183 yards and three scores. He also had seven receptions for 52 yards and one receiving touchdown.
Chris Johnson: Sept. 20, 2009
Johnson ran over the Houston defense in a losing effort, rushing 16 times for 197 yards and two scores. He also had nine catches for 87 receiving yards and one score.
Delvin Williams: Nov. 7, 1976
Williams had 279 yards from scrimmage against the Redskins, rushing 23 times for 180 yards and two rushing touchdowns and added four receptions for 99 yards and one receiving score.
LaDainian Tomlinson: Oct. 14, 2007
LT2 had several of the best games ever by a running back, and his performance against the Raiders in 2007 was arguably the best of them all. He had 24 carries for 198 yards and four scores.
Shaun Alexander: Nov. 11, 2001
Alexander's first incredible game took place against the Raiders, when he rushed 35 times for 266 yards and three scores. He had more yards from scrimmage than in his 2002 performance but only three scores compared to five scores one year later.
LaDainian Tomlinson: Dec. 1, 2002
Tomlinson ran through the Denver defense with 37 carries for 220 yards and three scores, adding 11 catches for 51 yards.
LaDainian Tomlinson: Sept. 25, 2005
Tomlinson beat the Giants in every possible way in a 45-23 victory. He had 21 rushes for 192 yards and three rushing touchdowns, six catches for 28 yards, and he also threw a 26-yard touchdown pass.
Joseph Addai: Nov. 26, 2006
Peyton Manning had his fair share of great running backs during his Colts career, and Addai had flashes for a short time in his career. He had 24 carries for 171 yards and four scores, adding two receptions for 37 yards in 2006 against the Eagles.
Todd Gurley: Dec. 17, 2017
Gurley all but sealed his 2017 Offensive Player of the Year Award with a huge game at Seattle. He had 21 carries for 152 yards and three rushing touchdowns, adding three receptions for 28 yards and a receiving score.
Clinton Portis: Dec. 15: 2002
The first amazing game from Portis included 205 yards from scrimmage, as he rushed for 130 yards on 21 carries and had three receptions for 75 yards. He scored three touchdowns on the ground and one as a receiver against the Chiefs.
Marshall Faulk: Dec. 24, 2000
In the follow-up season to the Rams' 1999 breakout, Faulk put up huge numbers and had his best game of the year at New Orleans. He rushed 32 times for 220 yards and two scores, adding seven catches for 41 yards and one score.
Jonas Gray: Nov. 16, 2014
Gray's 2014 performance could go down as the biggest fluke in history. The little-known running back broke out for 201 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 37 carries vs. Indianapolis. He was benched the following week.
Earl Campbell: Nov. 20, 1978
Campbell was quite the workhorse during his career, and that included his big day against the Dolphins in 1978. He had 28 rushes for 199 yards and four scores.
Tiki Barber: Dec. 30, 2006
Barber came up big with a historic day at Washington, rushing 23 times for 234 yards and three scores. He added three receptions for 24 yards.
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