O.J. Simpson
NOTE: Due to the adoption of the 16-game schedule, the 1978 and ’79 seasons significantly skew the Top 10 results. Therefore, following the Top 10 is a list of the next 5 best performances that occurred exclusively from 1970-77.
TOP 10
1- O.J. Simpson, 1973 Buffalo Bills
2003 yards, 332 att., 6.0 avg., 12 TD
2- O.J. Simpson, 1975 Buffalo Bills
1817 yards, 329 att., 5.5 avg., 16 TD
3- Earl Campbell, 1979 Houston Oilers
1697 yards, 368 att., 4.6 avg., 19 TD
4- O.J. Simpson, 1976 Buffalo Bills
1503 yards, 290 att., 5.2 avg., 8 TD
5- Earl Campbell, 1978 Houston Oilers
1450 yards, 302 att., 4.8 avg., 13 TD
6- Otis Armstrong, 1974 Denver Broncos
1407 yards, 263 att., 5.3 avg., 9 TD
7- Mike Pruitt, 1979 Cleveland Browns
1294 yards, 264 att., 4.9 avg., 9 TD
8- Mark van Eeghen, 1977 Oakland Raiders
1273 yards, 324 att., 3.9 avg., 7 TD
9- Delvin Williams, 1978 Miami Dolphins
1258 yards, 272 att., 4.6 avg., 8 TD
10-O.J. Simpson, 1972 Buffalo Bills
1251 yards, 292 att., 4.3 avg., 6 TD
Earl Campbell
NEXT 5 (1970-77)
1- Franco Harris, 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers
1246 yards, 262 att., 4.8 avg., 10 TD
2- Lydell Mitchell, 1976 Baltimore Colts
1200 yards, 289 att., 4.2 avg., 5 TD
3- Lydell Mitchell, 1975 Baltimore Colts
1193 yards, 289 att., 4.1 avg., 11 TD
4(tied)- Don Woods, 1974 San Diego Chargers
1162 yards, 227 att., 5.1 avg., 7 TD
4(tied)- Franco Harris, 1977 Pittsburgh Steelers
1162 yards, 300 att., 3.9 avg., 11 TD
Otis Armstrong
Mike Pruitt
Mark van Eeghen
BEST BY FRANCHISES NOT LISTED
Kansas City Chiefs: Tony Reed, 1978
1053 yards, 206 att., 5.1 avg., 5 TD
New England Patriots: Sam Cunningham, 1977
1015 yards, 270 att., 3.8 avg., 4 TD
New York Jets: John Riggins, 1975
1005 yards, 238 att., 4.2 avg., 8 TD
Cincinnati Bengals: Essex Johnson, 1973
997 yards, 195 att., 5.1 avg., 4 TD
Seattle Seahawks: Sherman Smith, 1978*
805 yards, 165 att., 4.9 avg., 6 TD
* Seahawks joined NFL in 1976 as NFC team, switched to AFC in ‘77
Franco Harris
Delvin Williams
Lydell Mitchell