NFL Single Season Leaders - Rushing Average

The following is a list of the NFL single season rushing leaders ranked by rushing average. Statistics are current through the 2019 NFL season and include stats accrued in NFL, AFL and APFA games.

Active players are listed in bold.

Leaders based on 100 rushing attempts

      Rushing
Player Season Team Att Yds Avg Lg TD
1. M. Vick 2006 Atl 123 1,039 8.4 51 2
2. B. Feathers 1934 Chi 119 1,004 8.4 82 8
3. R. Cunningham 1990 Phi 118 942 8.0 52t 5
4. M. Vick 2004 Atl 120 902 7.5 58 3
5. R. Wilson 2014 Sea 118 849 7.2 55 6
6. M. Vick 2002 Atl 113 777 6.9 46t 8
7. B. Douglass 1972 Chi 141 968 6.9 57t 8
8. L. Jackson 2019 Bal 176 1,206 6.9 47t 7
9. R. Griffin 2012 Was 120 815 6.8 76t 7
10. D. Towler 1951 LA 126 854 6.8 79 6
11. M. Vick 2010 Phi 100 676 6.8 35 9
12. S. McNair 1997 Ten 101 674 6.7 47 8
13. K. Lincoln 1963 SD 128 826 6.5 76t 5
14. M. Morris 1973 Mia 149 954 6.4 70t 10
15. J. Brown 1963 Cle 291 1,863 6.4 80t 12
16. J. Charles 2010 KC 230 1,467 6.4 80 5
17. P. Lowe 1960 LAC 136 855 6.3 63 8
18. D. Clark 1934 Det 123 763 6.2 0 8
  G. Sayers 1968 Chi 138 856 6.2 63 2
20. C. Kaepernick 2014 SF 104 639 6.1 90t 1
21. B. Sanders 1997 Det 335 2,053 6.1 82t 11
22. A. Kamara 2017 NO 120 728 6.1 74t 8
23. J. Perry 1954 SF 173 1,049 6.1 58 8
  J. Perry 1958 SF 125 758 6.1 73t 4
25. O. Simpson 1973 Buf 332 2,003 6.0 80t 12
26. H. Gajan 1984 NO 102 615 6.0 62t 5
  T. McKnight 1978 KC 104 627 6.0 41t 6
28. A. Peterson 2012 Min 348 2,097 6.0 82t 12
29. C. Spiller 2012 Buf 207 1,244 6.0 62 6
30. R. Cunningham 1989 Phi 104 621 6.0 51 4
31. J. Norwood 2007 Atl 103 613 6.0 67t 1
32. J. Brown 1958 Cle 257 1,527 5.9 65t 17
33. F. Jones 2009 Dal 116 685 5.9 56 3
34. J. Charles 2009 KC 190 1,120 5.9 76t 7
35. M. Vick 2005 Atl 102 597 5.9 32 6
36. J. Crow 1960 Stl 183 1,071 5.9 57 6
37. J. Brown 1960 Cle 215 1,257 5.8 71t 9
38. C. Newton 2012 Car 127 741 5.8 72t 8
39. N. Kaufman 1996 Oak 150 874 5.8 77 1
40. S. Van Buren 1945 Phi 143 832 5.8 69 15
41. M. Motley 1950 Cle 140 810 5.8 69 3
42. D. Towler 1953 LA 152 879 5.8 73 7
43. B. Osmanski 1939 Chi 121 699 5.8 86 7
44. D. Culpepper 2002 Min 106 609 5.7 38 10
45. D. Towler 1952 LA 156 894 5.7 44 10
46. M. Gillislee 2016 Buf 101 577 5.7 44t 8
47. P. Lowe 1963 SD 177 1,010 5.7 66t 8
48. B. Sanders 1994 Det 331 1,883 5.7 85 7
49. B. Mitchell 1959 Cle 131 743 5.7 90t 5
50. M. Jones-Drew 2006 Jax 166 941 5.7 74t 13