As I've done a few times, I intend here to compare Elliott's production in the NFL thus far to other all-time-great running backs to put an historical marker on Ezekiel's talent.
Given Zeke was suspended for 6 games of 2017, I can't compare his first 3 seasons to past legends' complete campaigns. So I will, instead, equivocate the stats from their respective first
40 games --exactly 2.5 full seasons-- which is how many Zeke has played so far.
EZEKIEL ELLIOTT --
40 games:
868 carries,
4,048 yards,
28 TDs,
4.70 yards-per-carry,
101.20 yards-per-game --
135 receptions,
1,199 yards,
6 TDs,
8.90 yards-per-reception,
30.00 yards-per-game --
TOTAL:
1,003 touches,
5,247 yards,
34 TDs,
5.23 yards-per-touch,
131.20 yards-per-game.
Emmitt Smith had the most productive first-5-years to start a career in league history. How does his first
40 games stack up to what Zeke has laid down?
EMMITT SMITH --
40 games:
806 carries,
3,396 yards,
32 TDs,
4.21 yards-per-carry,
84.90 yards-per-game --
94 receptions,
618 yards,
1 TD,
6.57 yards-per-reception,
15.45 yards-per-game --
TOTAL:
900 touches,
4,014 yards,
33 TDs,
4.46 yards-per-touch,
100.35 yards-per-game.
Some would argue that Emmitt actually started kind of slow: he was severely underused in his rookie season (1990). Next, let's compare Zeke to the guy who started his career literally
faster than anyone else had:
ERIC DICKERSON --
40 games:
942 carries,
4,557 yards,
40 TDs,
4.83 yards-per-carry,
113.92 yards-per-game --
86 receptions,
645 yards,
2 TDs,
7.50 yards-per-reception,
16.12 yards-per-game --
TOTAL:
1,028 touches,
5,202 yards,
42 TDs,
5.06 yards-per-touch,
130.04 yards-per-game.
Against Dickerson, who had the most rushing yards through 2 seasons to start a career in history (
1,808 followed by
2,105), Zeke trails Eric by
509 yards rushing &
12 TDs. He is also
0.13 yards-per-carry behind the Rams' thoroughbred. However, Elliott's receiving-production is almost double Dickerson's (
1,199 to
645) and his
total yards,
yards-per-touch, and
yards-per-game are each higher through
40 games than the Hall-of-Famer's.
So let's compare Zeke to a more well-rounded legend, who many consider the most "complete" back of all-time & also came out of the gate strong:
LADAINIAN TOMLINSON --
40 games:
867 carries,
3,699 yards,
29 TDs,
4.26 yards-per-carry,
92.47 yards-per-game --
185 receptions,
1,137 yards,
1 TD,
6.14 yards-per-reception,
28.42 yards-per-game --
TOTAL:
1,052 touches,
4,836 yards,
30 TDs,
4.59 yards-per-touch,
120.90 yards-per-game.
Against the vaunted LT's first
40 games, Zeke has rushed for
349 more
yards, received for
62 more
yards (this despite many observing that Elliott has been
underused in the passing game until 2018), boasts
0.41 higher
yards-per-carry, has scored
4 more
TDs, and averaged
2.76 yards-per-catch more than Tomlinson.
So let's compare Ezekiel to his idol, who IS the greatest receiving threat from the backfield in NFL history:
MARSHALL FAULK --
40 games:
677 carries,
2,583 yards,
26 TDs,
3.81 yards-per-carry,
64.57 yards-per-game --
123 receptions,
1,138 yards,
4 TDs,
9.25 yards-per-reception,
28.45 yards-per-game --
TOTAL:
800 touches,
3,721 yards,
30 TDs,
4.65 yards-per-touch,
93.02 yards-per-game.
Most people would have expected Elliott to put up more rushing yards than Faulk, who was never profound on the ground (in terms of production, if not skill), but be honest, how many would have guessed that Zeke outdid Marshall through the air as well?? #21 pulled in
8 grabs for
61 yards and
2 TDs more than Faulk though the air alone, not to mention outrushing him by
1,465 yards and
0.89 yards-per-carry, through their first
40 games.
Or another great receiving tailback:
MARCUS ALLEN --
40 games:
688 carries,
2,841 yards,
33 TDs,
4.12 yards-per-carry,
71.02 yards-per-game --
168 receptions,
1,735 yards,
10 TDs,
10.32 yards-per-reception,
43.37 yards-per-game --
TOTAL:
856 touches,
4,576 yards,
40 TDs,
5.34 yards-per-touch,
114.40 yards-per-game.
Let's switch gears here & compare Elliott's career to the first
40 games of five players who many, perhaps most consider the greatest pure runners of all-time:
BARRY SANDERS --
40 games:
713 carries,
3,558 yards,
34 TDs,
4.99 yards-per-carry,
88.95 yards-per-game --
81 receptions,
899 yards,
3 TDs,
11.09 yards-per-reception,
22.47 yards-per-game --
TOTAL:
794 touches,
4,457 yards,
37 TDs,
5.61 yards-per-touch,
111.42 yards-per-game.
---
ADRIAN PETERSON --
40 games:
806 carries,
4,100 yards,
34 TDs,
5.08 yards-per-carry,
102.50 yards-per-game --
65 receptions,
608 yards,
1 TD,
9.35 yards-per-reception,
15.20 yards-per-game --
TOTAL:
871 touches,
4,708 yards,
35 TDs,
5.40 yards-per-touch,
117.70 yards-per-game.
---
WALTER PAYTON --
40 games:
831 carries,
3,874 yards,
34 TDs,
4.66 yards-per-carry,
96.85 yards-per-game --
69 receptions,
608 yards,
2 TDs,
8.81 yards-per-reception,
15.20 yards-per-game --
TOTAL:
900 touches,
4,482 yards,
36 TDs,
4.98 yards-per-touch,
112.05 yards-per-game.
---
EARL CAMPBELL --
40 games:
854 carries,
4,111 yards,
39 TDs,
4.81 yards-per-carry,
102.77 yards-per-game --
36 receptions,
179 yards, 0
TDs,
4.97 yards-per-reception,
4.47 yards-per-game --
TOTAL:
890 touches,
4,290 yards,
39 TDs,
4.82 yards-per-touch,
107.25 yards-per-game.
---
JIM BROWN --
40 games:
821 carries,
4,217 yards,
43 TDs,
5.13 yards-per-carry,
105.42 yards-per-game --
62 receptions,
451 yards,
3 TDs,
7.27 yards-per-reception,
11.27 yards-per-game --
TOTAL:
883 touches,
4,668 yards,
46 TDs,
5.28 yards-per-touch,
116.70 yards-per-game.
---
(Bo Jackson deserves honorable-mention in this category of 'greatest-ever-runners', but his stats aren't remotely good enough through 40 games to qualify him for this conversation.)
Or a couple guys who might have been on that list had their careers not been injury-shortened:
GAYLE SAYERS --
40 games:
567 carries,
2,910 yards,
28 TDs,
5.13 yards-per-carry,
72.75 yards-per-game --
111 receptions,
1,070 yards,
9 TDs,
9.63 yards-per-reception,
26.75 yards-per-game --
TOTAL:
678 touches,
3,980 yards,
37 TDs,
5.87 yards-per-touch,
99.50 yards-per-game.
---
TERRELL DAVIS --
40 games:
839 carries,
3,928 yards,
29 TDs,
4.68 yards-per-carry,
98.20 yards-per-game --
112 receptions,
843 yards,
3 TDs,
7.52 yards-per-reception,
21.07 yards-per-game --
TOTAL:
951 touches,
4,771 yards,
32 TDs,
5.01 yards-per-touch,
119.27 yards-per-game.
Or perhaps the swiftest running back of all-time, whose frenzied career fizzled fast after a scintillating start:
CHRIS JOHNSON --
40 games:
804 carries,
4,072 yards,
32 TDs,
5.06 yards-per-carry,
101.80 yards-per-game --
116 receptions,
860 yards,
3 TDs,
7.41 yards-per-reception,
21.50 yards-per-game --
TOTAL:
920 touches,
4,932 yards,
35 TDs,
5.36 yards-per-touch,
123.30 yards-per-game.
Now how about the guy Zeke was most often compared to during the draft process:
EDGERRIN JAMES --
40 games:
963 carries,
4,161 yards,
29 TDs,
4.32 yards-per-carry,
104.425 yards-per-game --
157 receptions,
1,466 yards,
9 TDs,
9.33 yards-per-reception,
36.65 yards-per-game --
TOTAL:
1,120 touches,
5,627 yards,
38 TDs,
5.02 yards-per-touch,
140.67 yards-per-game.
This is the
only guy --as in,
in NFL history-- to better Zeke's production in both rushing & receiving through
40 games. So let's break it down. In terms of
Total Yards through
40 games to start a career, the top-5 HBs in NFL history are:
1. Edgerrin James --
5,627
2. Ezekiel Elliott --
5,247
3. Eric Dickerson --
5,202
4. Chris Johnson --
4,932
5. LaDainian Tomlinson --
4,836
In terms of
Rushing Yards through
40 games to start a career, the top-5 HBs in NFL history are:
1. Eric Dickerson --
4,557
2. Jim Brown --
4,217
3. Edgerrin James --
4,161
4. Earl Campbell --
4,111
5. Adrian Peterson --
4,100
*Zeke places
7th here with
4,048, behind Chris Johnson's
4,072; and these represent the
only men in the 99-year history of the NFL to amass over
4,000 yards through the first
40 games of their career. That's it,
seven guys in the annals of this league have ever done that; and Ezekiel is one of them.
In terms of
Receiving Yards through
40 games to start a career, of players who rushed for at least
2,550 yards:
1. Marcus Allen --
1,735
2. Edgerrin James --
1,466
3. Ezekiel Elliott --
1,199
4. Marshall Faulk --
1,138
5. LaDainian Tomlinson --
1,137
Of the backs in these comparisons, all of whom are either in the Hall-of-Fame or merely awaiting Hall-of-Fame induction, the top-5 HBs in
yards-per-carry through
40 games are:
1. (tie)
Jim Brown/Gayle Sayers --
5.13 YPC
2. Adrian Peterson --
5.07 YPC
3. Chris Johnson --
5.06 YPC
4. Barry Sanders --
4.99 YPC
5. Eric Dickerson --
4.83 YPC
*Zeke again finishes
7th here @
4.70 YPC, behind
Earl Campbell @
4.81 YPC
Now, for an examination that looks at explosiveness, let's compare the number of
20 &
40-
yard plays, runs
and receptions, these backs had through their first
40 games. It's impossible with the older backs, and I'll have to do some averaging to derive figures for backs who played into the 90s but also before 1991 --which is the first year the NFL started tracking these stats-- so the comparison will be more limited, yet perhaps still revealing.
The most
20+yard runs through
40 games of an NFL career (since they started tracking this stat):
1. Adrian Peterson --
39
2. Chris Johnson --
38
3. Ezekiel Elliott --
30
4. Barry Sanders --
26
5. LaDainian Tomlinson --
25
6. (tie) Emmitt Smith/Edgerrin James --
23
7. Marshall Faulk --
18
8. Terrell Davis --
16
Now the most number of
40+yard runs:
1. Barry Sanders --
14
2. Chris Johnson --
12
3. Adrian Peterson --
11
4. LaDainian Tomlinson --
6
5. Emmitt Smith --
5
6. (tie)
Ezekiel Elliott/Edgerrin James --
4
7. (tie) Terrell Davis
/Marshall Faulk --
3
While these stats aren't available for comparison purposes, it's worth noting that Elliott has likewise led the league in
10+ &
15+ yard runs since being drafted.
The most
20+yard receptions through
40 games:
1. Edgerrin James --
17
2. Ezekiel Elliott --
12
3. Marshall Faulk --
9
4. (tie) Terrell Davis
/LaDainian Tomlinson
/Adrian Peterson
/Chris Johnson --
5
5. Emmitt Smith --
4
6. Barry Sanders --
2
The most
40+yard receptions through
40 games:
1. (tie) Edgerrin James
/Chris Johnson --
3
2. (tie) Marshall Faulk/Adrian Peterson/Ezekiel Elliott --
2
3. LaDainian Tomlinson --
1
4. (tie) Terrell Davis, Emmitt Smith, & Barry Sanders all tied @
0 (zero)
The most
20+yard plays (
both rushing & receiving) through
40 games:
1. Adrian Peterson --
44
2. Chris Johnson --
43
3. Ezekiel Elliott --
42
4. Edgerrin James --
40
5. LaDainian Tomlinson --
30
6. Barry Sanders --
28
7. (tie) Emmitt Smith/Marshall Faulk --
27
8. Terrell Davis --
21
The most
40+yard plays (
both rushing & receiving) through
40 games:
1. Chris Johnson --
15
2. Barry Sanders --
14
3. Adrian Peterson --
13
4. (tie) Edgerrin James/LaDainian Tomlinson --
7
5. Ezekiel Elliott --
6
6. (tie)Emmitt Smith/Marshall Faulk --
5
7. Terrell Davis --
3
How about reliable? The most
1st-downs (rushing & receiving) through
40 games:
Edgerrin James --
Rushing:
226 --
Receiving:
60 --
TOTAL:
286 *
Rank #1
Terrell Davis --
Rushing:
219 --
Receiving:
40 --
TOTAL:
259 *Rank #2
Ezekiel Elliott --
Rushing:
219 --
Receiving:
39 --
TOTAL:
258 *Rank #3
LaDainian Tomlinson --
Rushing:
198 --
Receiving:
45 --
TOTAL:
243 *Rank #4
Barry Sanders --
Rushing:
208 --
Receiving:
29 --
TOTAL:
237 *Rank #5
Adrian Peterson --
Rushing:
191 Receiving:
26 --
TOTAL:
217 *Rank #6
Emmitt Smith --
Rushing:
178 --
Receiving:
21 --
TOTAL:
199 *Rank #7
Chris Johnson --
Rushing:
164 --
Receiving:
34 --
TOTAL:
198 *Rank #8
Marshall Faulk --
Rushing:
107 --
Receiving:
45 --
TOTAL:
152 *Rank #9
If Elliott continues at his current pace for another 7.5 years (bringing him to 10 total) his stats will look like:
3,472 carries,
16,192 yards &
540 receptions for
4,799 yards
I'll take my Hall-of-Famer in Cowboys blue, thank you...
