NFL Single Season Leaders - Rushing Yards

The following is a list of the NFL single season rushing leaders ranked by rushing yards. Statistics are current through the 2020 NFL season and include stats accrued in NFL, AFL and APFA games.

Active players are listed in bold.

      Rushing
Player Season Team Att Yds Avg Lg TD
1. E. Dickerson 1984 LA 379 2,105 5.6 66 14
2. A. Peterson 2012 Min 348 2,097 6.0 82t 12
3. J. Lewis 2003 Bal 387 2,066 5.3 82t 14
4. B. Sanders 1997 Det 335 2,053 6.1 82t 11
5. D. Henry 2020 Ten 378 2,027 5.4 94t 17
6. T. Davis 1998 Den 392 2,008 5.1 70 21
7. C. Johnson 2009 Ten 358 2,006 5.6 91t 14
8. O. Simpson 1973 Buf 332 2,003 6.0 80t 12
9. E. Campbell 1980 Hou 373 1,934 5.2 55t 13
10. A. Green 2003 GB 355 1,883 5.3 98t 15
  B. Sanders 1994 Det 331 1,883 5.7 85 7
12. S. Alexander 2005 Sea 370 1,880 5.1 88t 27
13. J. Brown 1963 Cle 291 1,863 6.4 80t 12
14. T. Barber 2005 NYG 357 1,860 5.2 95t 9
15. R. Williams 2002 Mia 383 1,853 4.8 63t 16
16. W. Payton 1977 Chi 339 1,852 5.5 73 14
17. J. Anderson 1998 Atl 410 1,846 4.5 48 14
18. D. Murray 2014 Dal 392 1,845 4.7 51 13
19. E. Dickerson 1986 LA 404 1,821 4.5 42t 11
20. O. Simpson 1975 Buf 329 1,817 5.5 88t 16
21. L. Tomlinson 2006 SD 348 1,815 5.2 85t 28
22. E. Dickerson 1983 LA 390 1,808 4.6 85t 18
23. L. Johnson 2006 KC 416 1,789 4.3 47 17
24. E. Smith 1995 Dal 377 1,773 4.7 60t 25
25. A. Peterson 2008 Min 363 1,760 4.8 67t 10
26. M. Allen 1985 LAR 380 1,759 4.6 61t 11
27. T. Davis 1997 Den 369 1,750 4.7 50t 15
  L. Johnson 2005 KC 336 1,750 5.2 49t 20
29. G. Riggs 1985 Atl 397 1,719 4.3 50 10
30. E. Smith 1992 Dal 373 1,713 4.6 68t 18
31. E. James 2000 Ind 387 1,709 4.4 30 13
32. M. Turner 2008 Atl 376 1,699 4.5 70 17
33. E. Campbell 1979 Hou 368 1,697 4.6 61t 19
  C. Martin 2004 NYJ 371 1,697 4.6 25t 12
35. S. Alexander 2004 Sea 353 1,696 4.8 44 16
36. F. Gore 2006 SF 312 1,695 5.4 72 8
37. B. Foster 1992 Pit 390 1,690 4.3 69 11
38. W. Payton 1984 Chi 381 1,684 4.4 72t 11
39. L. Tomlinson 2002 SD 372 1,683 4.5 76 14
40. G. Rogers 1981 NO 378 1,674 4.4 79t 13
41. J. Bettis 1997 Pit 375 1,665 4.4 34 7
42. T. Barber 2006 NYG 327 1,662 5.1 55t 5
43. E. Dickerson 1988 Ind 388 1,659 4.3 41t 14
44. T. Dorsett 1981 Dal 342 1,646 4.8 75t 4
45. L. Tomlinson 2003 SD 313 1,645 5.3 73t 13
46. D. McAllister 2003 NO 351 1,641 4.7 76t 8
47. C. Dillon 2004 NE 345 1,635 4.7 44 12
48. E. Elliott 2016 Dal 322 1,631 5.1 60t 15
49. A. Foster 2010 Hou 327 1,616 4.9 74t 16
50. P. Holmes 2002 KC 313 1,615 5.2 56 21