20 best running back seasons in NFL history

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 15, 1964: Runningback Jim Brown #32 of the Cleveland Browns awaits the next series of plays for the offense during a game on November 15, 1964 against the Detroit Lions at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Also pictured for the Bowns include Frank Ryan #13 and Clifton McNeil #85. 64-71385 (Photo by: Herman Seid Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /

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St. Louis Rams runningback Marshall Faulk (C) runs for yardage from a hand-off from Rams quarterback Kurt Warner against the San Francisco 49ers 21 November 1999 in San Francisco. AFP PHOTO/John G. MABANGLO (Photo by JOHN G. MABANGLO / AFP) (Photo by JOHN G. MABANGLO/AFP via Getty Images) /

13. Marshall Faulk, Rams (1999)

He was the second overall pick in the 1994 NFL draft behind Ohio State defensive tackle Dan “Big Daddy’ Wilkinson. To call San Diego State running back Marshall Faulk explosive was an understatement. He immediately had an impact on the Indianapolis Colts, gaining 1,804 yards from scrimmage and scoring 10 touchdowns. The Colts were a playoff team in 1995 and ’96 but Faulk was limited in the 1995 postseason.

General manager Bill Polian opted to deal the five-year pro to the Rams on the eve of the 1999 NFL Draft. The Colts would use the fourth overall pick on University of Miami star Edgerrin James. As for Faulk, he excelled during his seven-year stay with the club and was huge during the franchise’s first Super Bowl-winning campaign in 1999.

That year, he joined San Francisco’s Roger Craig (1985) as the only other player to finish with at least 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season. He rolled up a league-high 2,429 yards from scrimmage and scored a dozen touchdowns. Faulk finished second in the NFL MVP voting to teammate Kurt Warner.

The Pro Football Hall of Famer didn’t roll up huge numbers in the team’s Super Bowl XXXIV title run. He actually finished with more receiving yards (175) than rushing yards (82), His two touchdowns came in the team’s 49-37 win over the Vikings in the NFC Divisional Playoffs.

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