17 NFL Backs Who Rushed for at Least 1,000 Yards in 2007

No less than 17 running backs cracked the 1,000-yard plateau in 2007, according to the stats provided by NFL.com at http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats. The top rusher was the Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson once more, the second time he has led the NFL in rushing. Looking quickly at the list of 1,000-yard rushers for 2007, the name that probably surprises the most people is either that of LenDale White of the Titans or the Raiders' Justin Fargas, both products of the University of Southern California.

Tomlinson went over 1,000 yards for the seventh consecutive year, as many as he has been in the NFL. His 15 touchdowns led all running backs, and gave him 129 for his career as he appears a great bet to at least get within hailing distance of the all-time touchdown scorer, Jerry Rice, who totaled 208. Tomlinson had an average of 4.7 yards per attempt, a very respectable number, but nowhere near the league leader in that department. Jerius Norwood of the Falcons went for 6 yards a carry while he ran for 613 yards in limited action, while among the 17 men that ran for over 1,000 yards, the Vikings' rookie, Adrian Peterson, averaged 5.7 yards a try, the most among these players.

Peterson was stymied in his last few games, costing him a certain rushing title, as he wound up second to Tomlinson with 1,341 yards. Underrated and versatile Brian Westbrook of the Eagles was third, only 8 yards back of Peterson. The Steelers' Willie Parker lost his chance to garner a rushing crown when injuries ended his year: he still came in fourth at 1,316 yards. Rejuvenated Jamal Lewis of the Browns had a fine campaign, going for over 1,300 yards at the age of 28 after coming to Cleveland from the Ravens in the off-season.

Clinton Portis's 1,262 yards aided the Redskins' playoff push greatly and Edgerrin James of the Cardinals was able to manage 1,222 yards, even though he averaged only 3.8 per carry. Next in line of these 1,000 yard runners is Willis McGahee, who replaced Lewis in Baltimore. He accumulated 1,207 yards, or 5 more than the Jaguars' Fred Taylor, who topped 1,000 yards for the seventh time in his 10 years in the NFL. Thomas Jones, running behind an inferior offensive line for the 4-12 New York Jets, still was able to go for 1,119 yards, a testament to his athletic ability as he was one of the few bright spots in a dismal season for the Jets.

In the eleventh slot for 1,000 yard NFL runners was Marshawn Lynch of the Bills, another rookie, who was at Cal last year. LenDale White was behind Lynch by a handful of yards, as he emerged as the player that Tennessee felt he could be. Overshadowed in college by teammate Reggie Bush, White finally broke out in 2007, although his 5 fumbles were second most of the 1,000 yard rushers, behind only the 6 that Clinton Portis put on the ground. Frank Gore of the 49ers, despite a late start due to a broken hand, came in as the thirteenth most prolific runner this year, with 1,102 yards in 15 games. A University of Miami product, Gore is joined from the Sunshine State institution by Portis, McGahee, and James in the 1,000 yard club for 2007.

Joseph Addai of the Colts followed up a fine rookie effort by going for 1,072 yards in his second year. Fargas, who only started 7 games for the Raiders this year, had 1,009 yards for Oakland, while the Giants' Brandon Jacobs did his best to replace the yards lost rushing for the team because of the retirement of Tiki Barber. Jacobs bulled his way to the same total as Fargas, with Steven Jackson of the Rams rounding out the 1,000 yard fraternity with 1,002 in only a dozen contests.

Peterson's 95.8 yards per game led this group, while Taylor had the longest run from scrimmage of any of these guys, an 80 yard touchdown dash that helped get him over 10,000 for his fine career. The players that had the fewest runs of 20 or more yards during the season of the 1,000 yard rushers were Jones and Addai, who went that far just twice each. Peterson's 5 runs of 40 or more yards were one more than both Taylor and Jackson, while Tomlinson solidified his reputation as a big play runner, going for 20 or more yards 13 times- a baker's dozen.

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