In 2003, 13 running backs carried the ball 300 or more times. Twenty years later, the number of running backs to hit that mark reached a low not seen since 1990.
Zero.
The NFL's passing boom, seemingly, had a casualty: The workhorse running back went extinct. Gone, it appeared, were the days of handing the ball off to the same guy over and over again.
But football lifers will tell you this game is cyclical. Trends emerge and teams adjust. And in 2024, as defenses continued to deploy more schemes designed to stop the pass than ever, plenty of offenses made a notable pivot.
It was a pivot not just to running the damn ball – but running the damn ball with the same guy.
| Year | # Players with 300+ carries | Players |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 7 | Cedric Benson, Arian Foster, Steven Jackson, Chris Johnson, Rashard Mendenhall, Ray Rice, Michael Turner |
| 2011 | 2 | Maurice Jones-Drew, Michael Turner |
| 2012 | 5 | Arian Foster, Marshawn Lynch, Doug Martin, Alfred Morris, Adrian Peterson |
| 2013 | 2 | Marshawn Lynch, LeSean McCoy |
| 2014 | 2 | LeSean McCoy, DeMarco Murray |
| 2015 | 1 | Adrian Peterson |
| 2016 | 1 | Ezekiel Elliott |
| 2017 | 1 | Le'Veon Bell |
| 2018 | 1 | Ezekiel Elliott |
| 2019 | 2 | Ezekiel Elliott, Derrick Henry |
| 2020 | 2 | Dalvin Cook, Derrick Henry |
| 2021 | 2 | Najee Harris, Jonathan Taylor |
| 2022 | 3 | Nick Chubb, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs |
| 2023 | 0 | n/a |
| 2024 | 6 | Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Bijan Robinson, Jonathan Taylor, Kyren Williams |
Even looking at running backs with 250 or more carries reveals a reversal in the NFL's recent trend away from high-volume running backs: From 2010-2014, at least 11 running backs per season had 250 or more carries; there were 11 in 2016, and then no more than eight in a season until 2024 (12). The bell cow back hit a nadir in 2020 (three backs with 250+ carries) and 2021 (four).
Maybe all these guys getting all these carries in 2024 turns out to be just a one-year blip. Maybe the league will ajduBut notably, the bell cow back returned with several veteran running backs on pricey contracts: Barkley, Henry, Jacobs and Taylor. Robinson, on the other end, was a top-10 pick in 2023; no running back had been selected that high since Barkley went second overall 2018.
For Taylor, who signed an extension in 2023, he showed improved vision and patience while retaining his trademark burst during his fifth year in the NFL. Through experience – Taylor crossed the 1,000-carry threshold in 2024 – he's gained a better understanding of run schemes, which has helped him hone in on his feel for when to be patience and when to aggressively get downhill.
"Once you truly understand the schemes, then you can play with your tempo a ton," Taylor said. "... It's funny because there are some things, you just need experience. Now some people have God-given talent, they may come in Year 1 and just have it. But for the most part, I feel like a lot of guys, you just gotta go ahead and get those reps."
Taylor finished the season with a dozen total touchdowns (11 rushing, one receiving), giving him 56 over his first five seasons – more than any other player in franchise history:
| Player | Seasons | Total touchdowns |
|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Taylor | 2020-2024 | 56 |
| Lenny Moore | 1956-1960 | 55 |
| Edgerrin James | 1999-2003 | 52 |
| Joseph Addai | 2006-2010 | 47 |
| Marvin Harrison | 1996-2000 | 47 |
While Taylor was banged up during the 2024 season – he missed Weeks 5-7 due to an ankle injury – he still managed to get over 300 carries. Nearly half of them (142) came over the Colts' final five games.
"I'm feeling okay, just that's what it takes," Taylor said. "December football, January football, that's what it's going to take."
While the Colts fell short of their playoff goals in 2024, other teams with a high-volume running back – the Eagles, Ravens, Rams and Packers – all are in the postseason.
But as the Colts turn their attention to 2025, they won't be the only team in the NFL confident they can lean on a workhorse running back.
