The Best NFL Rookie Running Back Seasons & Records

The second overall pick in the 1983 draft, Dickerson demolished NFL defenses in his rookie season with 390 carries for 1,808 yards and 18 scores. He added 51 receptions for 404 yards, leading the league with 2,212 yards from scrimmage.

Zeke had a remarkable rookie season behind an elite Cowboys offensive line after being drafted fourth overall. The Cowboys running back led the NFL in carries (322) and rushing yards (1,631) while adding 15 rushing touchdowns. He also had 32 receptions for 363 yards and one receiving score.

Sanders' great rookie season was a sign of things to come. He had 280 carries for 1,470 yards and 14 scores, averaging 5.3 yards per carry for the Lions.

James led the NFL in carries and rushing yards during his rookie season, with 369 carries for 1,553 yards and 13 scores. The versatile back added 62 receptions for 586 yards.

The Giants struggled in Barkley's rookie season, but the second overall draft choice still had a spectacular year. He led the NFL with 2,028 yards from scrimmage, rushing for 1,307 yards and adding 91 receptions for 721 yards. Barkley also scored 15 touchdowns.

Coach Mike Shanahan had a penchant for finding running backs out of nowhere, as he did with this sixth-round pick. Anderson had 297 carries for 1,487 yards and 15 touchdowns as a rookie for the Broncos. He had only one more 1,000-yard rushing season in his career.

Brown's stats in his rookie season don't look spectacular, but they certainly were relative to the rest of the league. He had 202 carries for a league-leading 942 yards and nine touchdowns.

Peterson wasted little time becoming an elite running back. He had 238 carries for 1,341 yards and 12 scores in his rookie season. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry.

Campbell led the NFL in rushing yards in each of his first three seasons. His rookie season included 302 carries for 1,450 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Sayers had an impressive rookie season for the Bears, with 166 carries for 867 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns. He also had 29 receptions for 507 yards and six receiving scores.

The third overall pick in 1983 right behind Eric Dickerson, Warner had 335 carries for 1,449 yards and 13 scores in his rookie season. He also had 42 receptions for 325 yards and one receiving touchdown.

Mike Shanahan's second-round pick from Miami, Portis had 273 carries for 1,508 yards and 15 scores on the ground, along with 33 receptions for 364 yards and two scores as a receiver for Denver.

Mike Shanahan struck again with Morris, another sixth-round pick. Morris had 335 carries for 1,613 yards and 13 scores in his rookie campaign.

For all he did in his career, Bettis had arguably his best season in his rookie year. He had 294 carries for 1,429 yards and seven scores for the Rams.

Faulk's legend began in his rookie season, with 314 carries for 1,282 yards and 11 scores, along with 52 receptions for 522 yards receiving.

An unexpected star as a third-round pick, Martin had 1,487 rushing yards and 14 scores in his rookie season for the Patriots. He added 30 receptions for 261 yards and one score.

Sims got his career started in Detroit with 1,303 rushing yards and a league-leading 13 touchdowns on 313 carries. He also had 51 receptions for 621 yards and three scores.

Kamara made quite a tandem with Mark Ingram and won Offensive Rookie of the Year. The third-round pick of the Saints had only 120 rush attempts but averaged a league-best 6.1 yards per carry, giving him 728 rushing yards, along with eight rushing scores. He added 81 receptions for 826 yards and five scores as a receiver.

Returning from a torn ACL in Week 3, Gurley rushed for 1,106 yards and 10 scores in only 13 games. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry.

An undrafted rookie out of Midwestern State, Rhodes had 1,104 rushing yards and nine touchdowns during his rookie season, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. He never rushed for 1,000 yards again during his career.

Anderson had his best season in his rookie year, with 331 carries for 1,605 yards and eight scores. He added 41 receptions for 308 yards and two scores.

Rogers set the league on fire in his rookie season in 1981. Rogers had a league-leading 378 carries for 1,674 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Saints.

Hunt was called to duty as Kansas City's starting running back after Spencer Ware was injured in the preseason, and he delivered. The third-round pick led the NFL with 1,327 yards rushing, averaging 4.9 yards per carry. He had eight scores on the ground and three more as a receiver, adding 53 receptions for 455 yards.

Mayes' best season was his rookie year, with 286 carries for 1,353 yards and eight scores as a third-round pick of the Saints.

Lewis was a workhorse immediately for the Ravens, with 309 carries for 1,364 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie.

George was a true workhorse during his career, starting a string of eight 300-plus carry seasons in his rookie year. He had 335 carries for 1,368 yards and eight touchdowns.

An undrafted free agent out of Colorado, Lindsay jumped third-round pick Royce Freeman on the Broncos depth chart early in the year. He showed versatility with 1,278 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns, including 5.4 yards per attempt.

After recovering from a knee injury in 2003, McGahee returned to the field in 2004 and rushed for 1,128 yards and 13 scores on 284 carries for the Bills.

Just a fifth-round pick, Howard was brilliant in his rookie season for the Bears. He had 1,313 yards rushing and six touchdowns on the ground, adding 29 receptions for 298 yards and one receiving score.

The A-Train had 1,183 yards on 278 carries and seven scores in his rookie season. It was the best season of his career.

Considered by some to be a once-in-a-generation running back prospect, Fournette went fourth overall to the Jaguars and was a big reason for their breakout season. He finished his rookie campaign with 268 carries for 1,040 yards and nine touchdowns, along with 302 yards receiving and one receiving score.

Chubb was taken 35th overall in the draft and eventually unseated Carlos Hyde for the starting job in Cleveland. He had 996 yards rushing on only 192 carries, averaging 5.2 yards per rush and adding 10 total touchdowns.

Jackson's football career was brief, yet spectacular. That's an accurate description of his rookie season with 554 yards and four scores on only 81 carries, averaging 6.8 yards per carry.