As the start of the 2025 season barrels forward, preparation ramps up in earnest.
Running backs are chasing significant career milestones, franchise milestones, or contractual incentives. What meaningful numbers are in play?
All Positions: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End
A special thank you to Pro Football Reference and Spotrac for providing key information.
Career Leaderboard Climbs
Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Current Stat Levels
- 11,423 rushing yards (19th most)
- 106 rushing touchdowns (6th)
Who Henry Is Chasing
- Tony Dorsett, 10th all-time - 12,739 rushing yards
- Eric Dickerson, 9th all-time - 13,259 rushing yards
- Walter Payton, 5th all-time - 110 rushing touchdowns
- Marcus Allen, 3rd all-time - 123 rushing touchdowns
Henry can put himself in rare company. He needs 1,317 yards to break into the Top 10 and pass Tony Dorsett. He had 1,921 in 2024; approaching that total would push him past Eric Dickerson’s 13,259 for ninth. He is tied with Jim Brown in touchdowns. Coming off a 16-touchdown season, his career high is 17. He can climb as high as a third-place tie with Marcus Allen’s 123 if he matches that career high, while four will pull him even with Walter Payton for fifth.
Henry is already eighth on the Ravens' career rushing list and needs just 882 yards to pass Willis McGahee into the Top 5. He is sixth on the franchise’s rushing list, needing 10 touchdowns to tie Gus Edwards for the Top 5.
Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Current Stat Levels
- 6,779 rushing yards (78th)
- 4,762 receiving yards
Kamara needs 238 receiving yards to become the fifth player in NFL history with 5,000 rush and 5,000 receiving yards. The club is Marshall Faulk, Tiki Barber, Marcus Allen, and Lenny Moore.
Kamara is the Saints' franchise leader in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. He is closing in on becoming the team leader in receptions, needing 138 to catch first-place Marquise Colston.
Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Current Stat Levels
- 6,387 rushing yards (87th)
- 4,466 receiving yards
The NFL has played 105 seasons. In that time, four players joined the 5,000-5,000 club. McCaffrey can join Kamara and make it two who join in the same season. McCaffrey needs 534 receiving yards. He’s hit that mark in five of his eight seasons.
Austin Ekeler, Washington Commanders
Current Stat Levels
- 4,722 rushing yards
- 4,250 receiving yards
But wait, there’s more! Ekeler could make it a trio, joining the 5,000-5,000 club. It would take a significant throwback season (he exceeded 750 receiving yards once, in 2019). More likely, he will position himself to potentially join the club in 2026.
The Top 50
Ezekiel Elliott is the only other active back inside the career Top 50, and calling Elliott active is generous.
But a large group of players have a chance to cross the threshold of Mark Ingram II’s 8,111 and break into the Top 50.
Touchdowns are in a similar position. If you want an excellent trivia question (make sure to check out Joey Wright’s Trivia on Tuesday Nights!), Josh Allen has the second most rushing touchdowns of any active player, with his 65 trailing Henry’s 106. Allen and Henry are the only players inside the Top 50.
| Running Back | Career Yards | Yards Needed for Top 50 | Career Touchdowns | Touchdowns Needed for Top 50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Mixon | 7,428 | 683 | 60 | 4 |
| Saquon Barkley | 7,216 | 895 | 48 | 16 |
| Aaron Jones | 7,078 | 1,033 | 50 | 14 |
| Josh Jacobs | 6,874 | 1,237 | 61 | 3 |
| Nick Chubb | 6,843 | 1,268 | 51 | 13 |
| Alvin Kamara | 6,779 | 1,332 | 60 | 4 |
| Christian McCaffrey | 6,387 | 1,724 | 52 | 12 |
| James Conner | 59 | 5 | ||
| David Montgomery | 51 | 13 | ||
| Jonathan Taylor | 51 | 13 |
Najee Harris, Los Angeles Chargers
- Four 1,000-yard seasons
Harris has the longest active streak of 1,000-yard seasons. His four seasons also come at the start of his career. Fourteen players started their career with four 1,000-yard seasons. That number drops to eight in Year 5, six in Year 6, and just four by Year 7. Barry Sanders and Curtis Martin hold the record, with ten seasons.
Harris has a stiff hurdle to continue his streak. The start of his season is in question after an eye injury, and he will be splitting the backfield with first-round rookie Omarion Hampton.
Franchise Records
James Cook, Buffalo Bills
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