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The best NFL running back single-game performances in history
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

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.

 
1 of 28

Clinton Portis: Dec. 7, 2003

Clinton Portis: Dec. 7, 2003
Helen H. Richardson / Denver Post

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.

 
2 of 28

Shaun Alexander: Sept. 29, 2002

Shaun Alexander: Sept. 29, 2002
Tami Tomsic / Top NFL running back game performances in history

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.

 
3 of 28

Corey Dillon: Dec. 4, 1997

Corey Dillon: Dec. 4, 1997
Rick Stewart / Getty Images

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.

 
4 of 28

Jamaal Charles: Dec. 15, 2013

Jamaal Charles: Dec. 15, 2013
Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images

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.

 
5 of 28

Doug Martin: Nov. 4, 2012

Doug Martin: Nov. 4, 2012
Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

Martin beat up the Raiders in Oakland, rushing 25 times for 251 yards and four scores. He added four receptions for 21 yards.

 
6 of 28

Mike Anderson: Dec. 3, 2000

Mike Anderson: Dec. 3, 2000
Karl Gehring / Denver Post

One of coach Mike Shanahan's out-of-nowhere backs, Anderson rushed 37 times for 251 yards and four scores against the Saints.

 
7 of 28

Le'Veon Bell: Dec. 11, 2016

Le'Veon Bell: Dec. 11, 2016
Kevin Hoffman / USA Today Sports Images

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.

 
8 of 28

Larry Brown: Dec. 16, 1973

Larry Brown: Dec. 16, 1973
James Flores / Getty Images

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.

 
9 of 28

Adrian Peterson: Nov. 4, 2007

Adrian Peterson: Nov. 4, 2007
Rob Tringali / SportsChrome

Peterson had a record-breaking game against the Chargers, rushing 30 times for 296 yards and three scores.

 
10 of 28

Barry Sanders: Nov. 24, 1991

Barry Sanders: Nov. 24, 1991
Betsy Peabody Rowe / Getty Images

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.

 
11 of 28

Fred Taylor: Nov. 19, 2000

Fred Taylor: Nov. 19, 2000
George Gojkovich / Getty Images

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.

 
12 of 28

Priest Holmes: Nov. 24, 2002

Priest Holmes: Nov. 24, 2002
Otto Greule Jr. / Getty Images

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.

 
13 of 28

Jerome Harrison: Dec. 20, 2009

Jerome Harrison: Dec. 20, 2009
Jamie Squire / Getty Images

Harrison and the Browns ran right over the K.C. defense, with 34 carries for 286 yards and three scores.

 
14 of 28

Derrick Henry: Dec 6, 2018

Derrick Henry: Dec 6, 2018
Christopher Hanewinckel / USA Today Sports Images

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.

 
15 of 28

Marshall Faulk: Oct. 20, 2002

Marshall Faulk: Oct. 20, 2002
Mike Moore / Getty Images

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.

 
16 of 28

Chris Johnson: Sept. 20, 2009

Chris Johnson: Sept. 20, 2009
Joe Robbins / Getty Images

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.

 
17 of 28

Delvin Williams: Nov. 7, 1976

Delvin Williams: Nov. 7, 1976
Focus on Sport / Getty Images

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.

 
18 of 28

LaDainian Tomlinson: Oct. 14, 2007

LaDainian Tomlinson: Oct. 14, 2007
Rob Tringali / SportsChrome

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.

 
19 of 28

Shaun Alexander: Nov. 11, 2001

Shaun Alexander: Nov. 11, 2001
Otto Greule Jr. / Getty Images

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.

 
20 of 28

LaDainian Tomlinson: Dec. 1, 2002

LaDainian Tomlinson: Dec. 1, 2002
Joel Zwink / Getty Images

Tomlinson ran through the Denver defense with 37 carries for 220 yards and three scores, adding 11 catches for 51 yards.

 
21 of 28

LaDainian Tomlinson: Sept. 25, 2005

LaDainian Tomlinson: Sept. 25, 2005
Kirby Lee / Getty Images

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.

 
22 of 28

Joseph Addai: Nov. 26, 2006

Joseph Addai: Nov. 26, 2006
Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images

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.

 
23 of 28

Todd Gurley: Dec. 17, 2017

Todd Gurley: Dec. 17, 2017
Joe Nicholson / USA Today Sports Images

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.

 
24 of 28

Clinton Portis: Dec. 15: 2002

Clinton Portis: Dec. 15: 2002
Brian Bahr / Getty Images

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.

 
25 of 28

Marshall Faulk: Dec. 24, 2000

Marshall Faulk: Dec. 24, 2000
Joseph Patronite / Getty Images

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.

 
26 of 28

Jonas Gray: Nov. 16, 2014

Jonas Gray: Nov. 16, 2014
Boston Globe

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.

 
27 of 28

Earl Campbell: Nov. 20, 1978

Earl Campbell: Nov. 20, 1978
Focus on Sport / Getty Images

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.

 
28 of 28

Tiki Barber: Dec. 30, 2006

Tiki Barber: Dec. 30, 2006
MGT / Tribune News Service

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.

Seth Trachtman

Seth Trachtman is a sportswriter, digital marketer, and fantasy sports expert based in St. Louis, Missouri. He’s a two-time winner of the Tout Wars Fantasy Baseball Expert’s League, and his work has appeared in hundreds of fantasy baseball and fantasy football newsstand and online publications

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