With the increasing popularity of dynasty fantasy football leagues, player age has become an even more important variable. While some players can fend off father time for an impressive amount of time (we’re looking at you, Tom Brady), most players tend to have similar timelines. Age can help us make knowledgeable predictions as to when a player will improve or regress. Let’s explore the peak age for an NFL running back.

Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

TL;DR:

  • This article explores at which ages NFL running backs have their most productive seasons.
  • For RB1 (top-12) production, a shockingly high 91% of peak seasons are from players between the ages of 21-28.
  • For truly elite (250+ PPR points) production, 66% of elite seasons are from players between the ages of 23-26, and 95.7% take place before a player turns 29.

Defining A Peak Season

To start this study, we must define a peak season for an NFL running back. Generally, the 12th-highest-scoring running back each season averages about 230 PPR fantasy points. In 2023, Alvin Kamara was the 12th-highest-scoring running back and finished 227 PPR fantasy points.

To examine at what age top running backs produce, we’ll include all running backs who finished with at least 230 PPR fantasy points. The list of 258 includes all individual running back seasons to meet the requirements since 2000 and was generated by Pro-Football-Reference.com.

RkPlayerSeasonAgeTeamGPPRPPR/G
1LaDainian Tomlinson200627SDG16481.130.07
2Christian McCaffrey201923CAR16471.229.45
3Marshall Faulk200027STL14459.932.85
4Priest Holmes200330KAN1644527.81
5LaDainian Tomlinson200324SDG16443.827.74
6Priest Holmes200229KAN14440.731.48
7Marshall Faulk200128STL14419.729.98
8Steven Jackson200623STL16415.425.96
9David Johnson201625ARI16407.825.49
10Edgerrin James200022IND16395.324.71
11Chris Johnson200924TEN16392.924.56
12Arian Foster201024HOU1639224.5
13Christian McCaffrey202327SFO16391.324.46
14Saquon Barkley201821NYG16385.824.11
15Christian McCaffrey201822CAR16385.524.09
16Ahman Green200326GNB1638524.06
17LaDainian Tomlinson200223SDG16384.224.01
18Todd Gurley201723LAR15383.325.55
19Jamaal Charles201327KAN1537825.2
20Alvin Kamara202025NOR15377.825.19
21Shaun Alexander200528SEA16376.823.55
22Jonathan Taylor202122IND17373.121.95
23Ray Rice201124BAL16372.823.3
24Austin Ekeler202227LAC17372.721.92
25Todd Gurley201824LAR14372.126.58
26Larry Johnson200627KAN16370.923.18
27Le'Veon Bell201422PIT16370.523.16
28Brian Westbrook200728PHI15368.424.56
29LaDainian Tomlinson200728SDG16367.622.98
30LaDainian Tomlinson200526SDG16366.122.88
31Ricky Williams200225MIA16362.622.66
32Larry Johnson200526KAN16360.322.52
33Tiki Barber200530NYG1635922.44
34Christian McCaffrey202226CAR,SFO17356.420.96
35Alvin Kamara201823NOR15354.223.61
36DeMarco Murray201426DAL16351.121.94
37Tiki Barber200429NYG16347.621.73
38Adrian Peterson201227MIN16347.421.71
39Charlie Garner200230OAK16347.321.71
40Matt Forte201429CHI16346.621.66
41Austin Ekeler202126LAC16343.821.49
42Le'Veon Bell201725PIT15341.622.77
43Dalvin Cook202025MIN14337.824.13
44Matt Forte201328CHI16337.321.08
45LaDainian Tomlinson200425SDG15336.122.41
46Eddie George200027TEN16334.220.89
47Derrick Henry202026TEN16333.120.82
48Priest Holmes200128KAN16332.920.81
49LeSean McCoy201325PHI16330.620.66
50Brian Westbrook200627PHI15330.622.04
51Ezekiel Elliott201823DAL15329.121.94
52Shaun Alexander200225SEA16328.520.53
53LeSean McCoy201123PHI15328.421.89
54Josh Jacobs202224LVR17328.319.31
55Deuce McAllister200325NOR16326.720.42
56Ray Rice200922BAL16326.120.38
57Ezekiel Elliott201621DAL15325.421.69
58Jamal Lewis200324BAL16325.120.32
59Shaun Alexander200427SEA16323.620.23
60Domanick Williams200424HOU15323.621.57
61Maurice Jones-Drew200924JAX16323.520.22
62Frank Gore200623SFO1632320.19
63Tiki Barber200227NYG16321.420.09
64Adrian Peterson200924MIN16320.920.06
65Alvin Kamara201722NOR16320.420.03
66Curtis Martin200431NYJ16319.219.95
67Ahman Green200124GNB16318.119.88
68Le'Veon Bell201624PIT12317.426.45
69Devonta Freeman201523ATL15316.421.09
70Ahman Green200023GNB16316.419.78
71Clinton Portis200221DEN16316.219.76
72Aaron Jones201925GNB16314.819.68
73Clinton Portis200322DEN13312.524.04
74Ezekiel Elliott201924DAL16311.719.48
75Doug Martin201223TAM16311.619.48
76Deuce McAllister200224NOR1531120.73
77Edgerrin James200527IND15310.320.69
78Austin Ekeler201924LAC1630919.31
79Curtis Martin200027NYJ16307.919.24
80DeAngelo Williams200825CAR16307.619.23
81Edgerrin James200426IND16306.119.13
82Arian Foster201125HOU13305.123.47
83Shaun Alexander200326SEA1630519.06
84Maurice Jones-Drew201126JAX1630519.06
85Matt Forte200823CHI16304.519.03
86Derrick Henry202228TEN16302.818.93
87Marshawn Lynch201428SEA16302.318.89
88Arian Foster201226HOU16302.118.88
89Charlie Garner200028SFO16300.918.81
90Najee Harris202123PIT17300.717.69
91Tiki Barber200631NYG16298.718.67
92Ricky Watters200031SEA16298.518.66
93LeSean McCoy201628BUF15298.319.89
94Shaun Alexander200124SEA16298.118.63
95LeSean McCoy201022PHI15297.219.81
96Curtis Martin200128NYJ1629718.56
97Knowshon Moreno201326DEN16296.618.54
98Kareem Hunt201722KAN16295.218.45
99Peyton Hillis201024CLE16294.918.43
100LaMont Jordan200527OAK14294.821.06
101Derrick Henry201925TEN15294.619.64
102DeMarco Murray201628TEN16293.818.36
103Dalvin Cook201924MIN14292.420.89
104Tiki Barber200025NYG16290.518.16
105Breece Hall202322NYJ17290.517.09
106Willie Parker200626PIT16288.618.04
107Melvin Gordon201724LAC16288.118.01
108Joe Mixon202125CIN16287.917.99
109Devonta Freeman201624ATL16284.117.76
110Saquon Barkley202225NYG1628417.75
111Travis Henry200224BUF16283.717.73
112Ray Rice201225BAL16283.117.69
113Marshall Faulk200229STL1428320.21
114Jamaal Charles201024KAN16282.517.66
115Travis Etienne202324JAX17282.416.61
116Nick Chubb202227CLE17281.416.55
117Maurice Jones-Drew200823JAX16280.917.56
118Robert Smith200028MIN16280.917.56
119James Conner201823PIT1328021.54
120Fred Taylor200024JAX13279.921.53
121Frank Gore200926SFO14278.619.9
122Mark Ingram201728NOR1627817.38
123Michael Turner200826ATL1627817.38
124Maurice Jones-Drew200621JAX16277.717.36
125LaDainian Tomlinson200829SDG16277.617.35
126Darren Sproles201128NOR16277.317.33
127Joseph Addai200724IND15276.618.44
128Ray Rice201023BAL16276.617.29
129James White201826NWE16276.617.29
130Brian Westbrook200425PHI13276.521.27
131Fred Taylor200327JAX16276.217.26
132Thomas Jones200830NYJ16275.917.24
133Adrian Peterson201025MIN15275.918.39
134Melvin Gordon201825LAC12275.522.96
135Marshawn Lynch201327SEA16275.317.21
136Arian Foster201428HOU13273.521.04
137Chris Johnson201025TEN16272.917.06
138Clinton Portis200726WAS16272.717.04
139Mike Anderson200027DEN16272.617.04
140Eddie Lacy201424GNB16272.617.04
141Ricky Williams200326MIA16272.317.02
142Clinton Portis200524WAS16271.916.99
143Steve Slaton200822HOU16271.916.99
144Brian Westbrook200829PHI14269.819.27
145Marshawn Lynch201226SEA16269.616.85
146LaDainian Tomlinson200122SDG16269.316.83
147Ahman Green200225GNB14268.319.16
148Rachaad White202324TAM17267.915.76
149Raheem Mostert202331MIA15267.717.85
150Darren McFadden201023OAK13267.420.57
151Fred Taylor200226JAX16267.216.7
152Joe Mixon202327CIN1726715.71
153Reggie Bush200621NOR16266.716.67
154Edgerrin James200325IND13266.120.47
155Ricky Williams200124NOR16265.616.6
156David Montgomery202023CHI15264.817.65
157Matt Forte201025CHI16264.616.54
158LeSean McCoy201729BUF16263.616.48
159Adrian Peterson200823MIN16261.516.34
160Corey Dillon200430NWE15260.817.39
161Adrian Peterson201530MIN16260.716.29
162Eddie George200229TEN1626016.25
163Leonard Fournette201924JAX15259.417.29
164Aaron Jones202026GNB14258.918.49
165Corey Dillon200127CIN16258.316.14
166DeMarco Murray201325DAL14258.118.44
167Duce Staley200227PHI1625816.13
168James Conner202126ARI15257.717.18
169Leonard Fournette202126TAM14255.618.26
170C.J. Spiller201225BUF16255.315.96
171Nick Chubb201924CLE16255.215.95
172Lamar Smith200030MIA1525517
173Kyren Williams202323LAR1225521.25
174Trent Richardson201222CLE15254.716.98
175Stephen Davis200026WAS15254.116.94
176Jonathan Taylor202021IND15252.816.85
177Ezekiel Elliott202126DAL17252.114.83
178Alfred Morris201224WAS1625215.75
179Jamal Lewis200223BAL16251.915.74
180Adrian Peterson200722MIN14251.917.99
181Warrick Dunn200025TAM16251.515.72
182Melvin Gordon201623SDG13250.619.28
183Jamaal Charles201428KAN15250.416.69
184James Robinson202022JAX14250.417.89
185Moe Williams200329MIN16249.915.62
186Chris Johnson200823TEN15249.816.65
187Rudi Johnson200526CIN16249.815.61
188Rhamondre Stevenson202224NWE17249.114.65
189Tony Pollard202225DAL16248.815.55
190Aaron Jones202228GNB17248.614.62
191Alvin Kamara201924NOR14248.517.75
192Joseph Addai200926IND15248.316.55
193Ricky Williams200932MIA16247.515.47
194Jamal Lewis200728CLE15247.216.48
195Justin Forsett201429BAL16246.915.43
196Derrick Henry202329TEN17246.714.51
197David Johnson201827ARI16246.615.41
198Clinton Portis200827WAS16246.515.41
199Bijan Robinson202321ATL17246.314.49
200James Stewart200029DET16245.115.32
201Steven Jackson200926STL15244.816.32
202Tiki Barber200328NYG16244.715.29
203Saquon Barkley201922NYG13244.118.78
204Marshawn Lynch201125SEA15243.616.24
205Joe Mixon201822CIN14243.417.39
206Danny Woodhead201530SDG16243.115.19
207Mark Ingram201930BAL15242.516.17
208Eddie Lacy201323GNB15242.516.17
209Steven Jackson201027STL16242.415.15
210Mark Ingram201627NOR16242.215.14
211Jahmyr Gibbs202321DET15242.116.14
212Corey Dillon200228CIN16241.915.12
213Marion Barber III200724DAL16241.715.11
214Rashard Mendenhall201023PIT1624115.06
215Chris Johnson201328TEN16240.215.01
216Thomas Jones200931NYJ1624015
217Ahmad Bradshaw201024NYG16239.914.99
218Jamaal Charles201226KAN16239.514.97
219Joe Mixon202226CIN14239.517.11
220Reggie Bush201328DET14239.217.09
221Curtis Martin200229NYJ16238.614.91
222Tiki Barber200126NYG14238.217.01
223Dalvin Cook202227MIN17237.813.99
224Travis Henry200325BUF15237.415.83
225Ladell Betts200627WAS16236.914.81
226Frank Gore200724SFO15236.815.79
227Ryan Mathews201124SDG14236.616.9
228Clinton Portis200423WAS15235.615.71
229Fred Jackson201332BUF16234.714.67
230Alvin Kamara202126NOR13234.718.05
231Cordarrelle Patterson202130ATL16234.614.66
232Rudi Johnson200627CIN16234.314.64
233Ricky Williams200023NOR10234.323.43
234Maurice Jones-Drew201025JAX14234.116.72
235Ryan Grant200927GNB1623414.63
236Tarik Cohen201823CHI16233.914.62
237Carlos Hyde201727SFO16233.814.61
238Steven Jackson200522STL15233.615.57
239Thomas Jones200426CHI14233.516.68
240Alvin Kamara202328NOR1323317.92
241LeGarrette Blount201630NWE16232.914.56
242Rudi Johnson200425CIN16232.814.55
243Michael Pittman200025ARI16232.814.55
244James Cook202324BUF17232.713.69
245Adrian Peterson201328MIN14232.716.62
246Chris Carson201925SEA15232.615.51
247Marshawn Lynch200822BUF15232.615.51
248Doug Martin201526TAM16232.314.52
249Lamar Miller201524MIA16231.914.49
250Michael Bennett200224MIN16231.714.48
251Jamaal Charles200923KAN15231.715.45
252DeAngelo Williams201532PIT16231.414.46
253Josh Jacobs202022LVR15231.315.42
254Frank Gore201229SFO16230.814.43
255Marion Barber III200825DAL15230.215.35
256Leonard Fournette201722JAX13230.217.71
257Kareem Hunt201823KAN11230.220.93
258Jordan Howard201622CHI15230.115.34

The average age of this cohort is 25.51. Below is a distribution graph of the ages of the peak seasons:

5ppdev.com/web/apex/public


The youngest players to accomplish a peak season were 21: Clinton Portis, Saquon Barkley, Maurice Jones-Drew, Ezekiel Elliott, Reggie Bush, and Jonathan Taylor. This season Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs joined the list. The oldest players to accomplish the feat were 32: Ricky Williams, Fred Jackson, and DeAngelo Williams. The peak is from ages 22 to 28, as an incredible 84.11 percent of the seasons fall within this range.

While 9.69 percent of the peak seasons have taken place at age 28, just 5.43 percent have taken place at age 29 – a noticeable drop-off. From there, just 4.26 percent of the seasons happen at age 30. Father time has a big impact, as no running back since 2000 has scored at least 230 PPR fantasy points at the age of 33 or older.

The age distribution of running backs confirms our previous studies that wide receivers have longer careers than running backs.

Redefining The Time-Period

Each year that I do this study, I wonder when to remove the oldest seasons. It appears that running backs are playing earlier than ever and having shorter careers than ever. Let’s analyze how running backs seasons from 2000-2009 compare with 2010-present. We’ll keep the threshold for scoring at a 230 PPR fantasy-point minimum.

2000-09 2010-Present
Qualifiers 120 138
Average Qualifiers Per Season 12.0 9.9
Average Age 25.88 25.19
Players Age 21-28 83.33% 90.58%
Players Age 29 or Older 16.67% 9.42%

First off, we see that running backs aren’t hitting the threshold as frequently. The average qualifiers per year has dropped from 12 in 2000-09 to 9.9 since. This is likely due to the usage rate of starting running backs dropping. Now NFL teams are more willing to rely on multiple running backs or specialists for the goal-line or passing downs.

The average age drops by 0.69, so running backs are certainly getting younger. In the past, running backs fell within the 21-28 range in 83.33 percent of seasons. Incredibly that number is now 90.58 percent – showing how hard it is to produce as a running back after turning 29. Starting in 2010, just 9.42 percent of the seasons take place at age 29 or older.

Filtering For The Elite

I suspect that the age discrepancy will grow if we filter for higher-end seasons. Let’s raise the floor of a peak season to 250 PPR fantasy points and compare the difference between before and after 2010.

2000-09 2010-Present
Qualifiers 90 94
Average Qualifiers Per Season 9.0 6.7
Average Age 25.88 24.87
Players Age 21-28 83.33% 95.74%
Players Age 29 or Older 16.67% 4.26%

Again, the difference in qualifiers is noticeable – 2.3 fewer running backs per season qualify. The average age drop increases by 1.01 years. While the 2000-2009 cohort remains the same in terms of the proportion of peak seasons, the 2010+ cohort increases to 95.74 percent of the peak seasons taking place before the age 29 season. That means, in 2000-2009 a running back age 29 or older was nearly four times more likely to account for a peak season! The league has gotten much younger.

The Elite Since 2010

Since it appears that the 2000’s data is irrelevant. Here are the 94 running back seasons since 2010 to score 250 or more PPR fantasy points.

PlayerSeasonAgeTeamGPPRPPR/G
Christian McCaffrey201923CAR16471.229.45
David Johnson201625ARI16407.825.49
Arian Foster201024HOU1639224.5
Christian McCaffrey202327SFO16391.324.46
Saquon Barkley201821NYG16385.824.11
Christian McCaffrey201822CAR16385.524.09
Todd Gurley201723LAR15383.325.55
Jamaal Charles201327KAN1537825.2
Alvin Kamara202025NOR15377.825.19
Jonathan Taylor202122IND17373.121.95
Ray Rice201124BAL16372.823.3
Austin Ekeler202227LAC17372.721.92
Todd Gurley201824LAR14372.126.58
Le'Veon Bell201422PIT16370.523.16
Christian McCaffrey202226CAR,SFO17356.420.96
Alvin Kamara201823NOR15354.223.61
DeMarco Murray201426DAL16351.121.94
Adrian Peterson201227MIN16347.421.71
Matt Forte201429CHI16346.621.66
Austin Ekeler202126LAC16343.821.49
Le'Veon Bell201725PIT15341.622.77
Dalvin Cook202025MIN14337.824.13
Matt Forte201328CHI16337.321.08
Derrick Henry202026TEN16333.120.82
LeSean McCoy201325PHI16330.620.66
Ezekiel Elliott201823DAL15329.121.94
LeSean McCoy201123PHI15328.421.89
Josh Jacobs202224LVR17328.319.31
Ezekiel Elliott201621DAL15325.421.69
Alvin Kamara201722NOR16320.420.03
Le'Veon Bell201624PIT12317.426.45
Devonta Freeman201523ATL15316.421.09
Aaron Jones201925GNB16314.819.68
Ezekiel Elliott201924DAL16311.719.48
Doug Martin201223TAM16311.619.48
Austin Ekeler201924LAC1630919.31
Arian Foster201125HOU13305.123.47
Maurice Jones-Drew201126JAX1630519.06
Derrick Henry202228TEN16302.818.93
Marshawn Lynch201428SEA16302.318.89
Arian Foster201226HOU16302.118.88
Najee Harris202123PIT17300.717.69
LeSean McCoy201628BUF15298.319.89
LeSean McCoy201022PHI15297.219.81
Knowshon Moreno201326DEN16296.618.54
Kareem Hunt201722KAN16295.218.45
Peyton Hillis201024CLE16294.918.43
Derrick Henry201925TEN15294.619.64
DeMarco Murray201628TEN16293.818.36
Dalvin Cook201924MIN14292.420.89
Breece Hall202322NYJ17290.517.09
Melvin Gordon201724LAC16288.118.01
Joe Mixon202125CIN16287.917.99
Devonta Freeman201624ATL16284.117.76
Saquon Barkley202225NYG1628417.75
Ray Rice201225BAL16283.117.69
Jamaal Charles201024KAN16282.517.66
Travis Etienne202324JAX17282.416.61
Nick Chubb202227CLE17281.416.55
James Conner201823PIT1328021.54
Mark Ingram201728NOR1627817.38
Darren Sproles201128NOR16277.317.33
James White201826NWE16276.617.29
Ray Rice201023BAL16276.617.29
Adrian Peterson201025MIN15275.918.39
Melvin Gordon201825LAC12275.522.96
Marshawn Lynch201327SEA16275.317.21
Arian Foster201428HOU13273.521.04
Chris Johnson201025TEN16272.917.06
Eddie Lacy201424GNB16272.617.04
Marshawn Lynch201226SEA16269.616.85
Rachaad White202324TAM17267.915.76
Raheem Mostert202331MIA15267.717.85
Darren McFadden201023OAK13267.420.57
Joe Mixon202327CIN1726715.71
David Montgomery202023CHI15264.817.65
Matt Forte201025CHI16264.616.54
LeSean McCoy201729BUF16263.616.48
Adrian Peterson201530MIN16260.716.29
Leonard Fournette201924JAX15259.417.29
Aaron Jones202026GNB14258.918.49
DeMarco Murray201325DAL14258.118.44
James Conner202126ARI15257.717.18
Leonard Fournette202126TAM14255.618.26
C.J. Spiller201225BUF16255.315.96
Nick Chubb201924CLE16255.215.95
Kyren Williams202323LAR1225521.25
Trent Richardson201222CLE15254.716.98
Jonathan Taylor202021IND15252.816.85
Ezekiel Elliott202126DAL17252.114.83
Alfred Morris201224WAS1625215.75
Melvin Gordon201623SDG13250.619.28
James Robinson202022JAX14250.417.89
Jamaal Charles201428KAN15250.416.69

The average age of this group is 24.87. Below is a distribution graph of the ages of the elite peak seasons:

5ppdev.com/web/apex/public


The peak of 23 to 26 includes 65.96 percent of the individual seasons. As noted above, 95.74 percent of the seasons take place before a running back’s age 29 season. The two most common ages are 24 and 25 years old.

When searching for top-end production, a running back is more likely to produce in his prime (typically prior to turning 27). Owners should be looking to sell dynasty assets before they turn 26 years old to be ahead of the curve. This meshes with a previous conclusion that dynasty owners aren’t selling running backs early enough.