With dynasty fantasy football leagues continuing to grow in popularity, player age is an extremely important variable to analyze in order to succeed in fantasy football. When it comes to running backs, most players generally are not enjoying long careers with long stints as a top-performing back. Reading this article will help you gain a better understanding of when running back production is likely to drop off.
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 (a low-end RB1) averages about 230 fantasy points.
To examine at what age top running backs are producing, we’ll include all running backs who finished with at least 230 PPR fantasy points. The list of 218 includes all individual running back seasons to meet the requirements since 2000 and was generated by Pro-Football-Reference.com.
| Player | Year | Age | Tm | G | PPR | Touch | Yscrm | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LaDainian Tomlinson | 2006 | 27 | SDG | 16 | 481.1 | 404 | 2323 | 31 |
| Christian McCaffrey | 2019 | 23 | CAR | 16 | 471.2 | 403 | 2392 | 19 |
| Marshall Faulk | 2000 | 27 | STL | 14 | 459.9 | 334 | 2189 | 26 |
| Priest Holmes | 2003 | 30 | KAN | 16 | 445 | 394 | 2110 | 27 |
| LaDainian Tomlinson | 2003 | 24 | SDG | 16 | 443.8 | 413 | 2370 | 17 |
| Priest Holmes | 2002 | 29 | KAN | 14 | 440.7 | 383 | 2287 | 24 |
| Marshall Faulk | 2001 | 28 | STL | 14 | 419.7 | 343 | 2147 | 21 |
| Steven Jackson | 2006 | 23 | STL | 16 | 415.4 | 436 | 2334 | 16 |
| David Johnson | 2016 | 25 | ARI | 16 | 407.8 | 373 | 2118 | 20 |
| Edgerrin James | 2000 | 22 | IND | 16 | 395.3 | 450 | 2303 | 18 |
| Chris Johnson | 2009 | 24 | TEN | 16 | 392.9 | 408 | 2509 | 16 |
| Arian Foster | 2010 | 24 | HOU | 16 | 392 | 393 | 2220 | 18 |
| Saquon Barkley | 2018 | 21 | NYG | 16 | 385.8 | 352 | 2028 | 15 |
| Christian McCaffrey | 2018 | 22 | CAR | 16 | 385.5 | 326 | 1965 | 13 |
| Ahman Green | 2003 | 26 | GNB | 16 | 385 | 405 | 2250 | 20 |
| LaDainian Tomlinson | 2002 | 23 | SDG | 16 | 384.2 | 451 | 2172 | 15 |
| Todd Gurley | 2017 | 23 | LAR | 15 | 383.3 | 343 | 2093 | 19 |
| Jamaal Charles | 2013 | 27 | KAN | 15 | 378 | 329 | 1980 | 19 |
| Shaun Alexander | 2005 | 28 | SEA | 16 | 376.8 | 385 | 1958 | 28 |
| Ray Rice | 2011 | 24 | BAL | 16 | 372.8 | 367 | 2068 | 15 |
| Todd Gurley | 2018 | 24 | LAR | 14 | 372.1 | 315 | 1831 | 21 |
| Larry Johnson | 2006 | 27 | KAN | 16 | 370.9 | 457 | 2199 | 19 |
| Le'Veon Bell | 2014 | 22 | PIT | 16 | 370.5 | 373 | 2215 | 11 |
| Brian Westbrook | 2007 | 28 | PHI | 15 | 368.4 | 368 | 2104 | 12 |
| LaDainian Tomlinson | 2007 | 28 | SDG | 16 | 367.6 | 375 | 1949 | 18 |
| LaDainian Tomlinson | 2005 | 26 | SDG | 16 | 366.1 | 390 | 1832 | 20 |
| Ricky Williams | 2002 | 25 | MIA | 16 | 362.6 | 430 | 2216 | 17 |
| Larry Johnson | 2005 | 26 | KAN | 16 | 360.3 | 369 | 2093 | 21 |
| Tiki Barber | 2005 | 30 | NYG | 16 | 359 | 411 | 2390 | 11 |
| Alvin Kamara | 2018 | 23 | NOR | 15 | 354.2 | 275 | 1592 | 18 |
| DeMarco Murray | 2014 | 26 | DAL | 16 | 351.1 | 449 | 2261 | 13 |
| Tiki Barber | 2004 | 29 | NYG | 16 | 347.6 | 374 | 2096 | 15 |
| Adrian Peterson | 2012 | 27 | MIN | 16 | 347.4 | 388 | 2314 | 13 |
| Charlie Garner | 2002 | 30 | OAK | 16 | 347.3 | 273 | 1903 | 11 |
| Matt Forte | 2014 | 29 | CHI | 16 | 346.6 | 368 | 1846 | 10 |
| Le'Veon Bell | 2017 | 25 | PIT | 15 | 341.6 | 406 | 1946 | 11 |
| Matt Forte | 2013 | 28 | CHI | 16 | 337.3 | 363 | 1933 | 12 |
| LaDainian Tomlinson | 2004 | 25 | SDG | 15 | 336.1 | 392 | 1776 | 18 |
| Eddie George | 2000 | 27 | TEN | 16 | 334.2 | 453 | 1962 | 16 |
| Priest Holmes | 2001 | 28 | KAN | 16 | 332.9 | 389 | 2169 | 10 |
| Brian Westbrook | 2006 | 27 | PHI | 15 | 330.6 | 317 | 1916 | 11 |
| LeSean McCoy | 2013 | 25 | PHI | 16 | 330.6 | 366 | 2146 | 11 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | 2018 | 23 | DAL | 15 | 329.1 | 381 | 2001 | 9 |
| Shaun Alexander | 2002 | 25 | SEA | 16 | 328.5 | 354 | 1635 | 18 |
| LeSean McCoy | 2011 | 23 | PHI | 15 | 328.4 | 321 | 1624 | 20 |
| Deuce McAllister | 2003 | 25 | NOR | 16 | 326.7 | 420 | 2157 | 8 |
| Ray Rice | 2009 | 22 | BAL | 16 | 326.1 | 332 | 2041 | 8 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | 2016 | 21 | DAL | 15 | 325.4 | 354 | 1994 | 16 |
| Jamal Lewis | 2003 | 24 | BAL | 16 | 325.1 | 413 | 2271 | 14 |
| Domanick Williams | 2004 | 24 | HOU | 15 | 323.6 | 370 | 1776 | 14 |
| Shaun Alexander | 2004 | 27 | SEA | 16 | 323.6 | 376 | 1866 | 20 |
| Maurice Jones-Drew | 2009 | 24 | JAX | 16 | 323.5 | 365 | 1765 | 16 |
| Frank Gore | 2006 | 23 | SFO | 16 | 323 | 373 | 2180 | 9 |
| Tiki Barber | 2002 | 27 | NYG | 16 | 321.4 | 373 | 1984 | 11 |
| Adrian Peterson | 2009 | 24 | MIN | 16 | 320.9 | 357 | 1819 | 18 |
| Alvin Kamara | 2017 | 22 | NOR | 16 | 320.4 | 201 | 1554 | 13 |
| Curtis Martin | 2004 | 31 | NYJ | 16 | 319.2 | 412 | 1942 | 14 |
| Ahman Green | 2001 | 24 | GNB | 16 | 318.1 | 366 | 1981 | 11 |
| Le'Veon Bell | 2016 | 24 | PIT | 12 | 317.4 | 336 | 1884 | 9 |
| Ahman Green | 2000 | 23 | GNB | 16 | 316.4 | 336 | 1734 | 13 |
| Devonta Freeman | 2015 | 23 | ATL | 15 | 316.4 | 338 | 1634 | 14 |
| Clinton Portis | 2002 | 21 | DEN | 16 | 316.2 | 306 | 1872 | 17 |
| Aaron Jones | 2019 | 25 | GNB | 16 | 314.8 | 285 | 1558 | 19 |
| Clinton Portis | 2003 | 22 | DEN | 13 | 312.5 | 328 | 1905 | 14 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | 2019 | 24 | DAL | 16 | 311.7 | 355 | 1777 | 14 |
| Doug Martin | 2012 | 23 | TAM | 16 | 311.6 | 368 | 1926 | 12 |
| Deuce McAllister | 2002 | 24 | NOR | 15 | 311 | 372 | 1740 | 16 |
| Edgerrin James | 2005 | 27 | IND | 15 | 310.3 | 404 | 1843 | 14 |
| Austin Ekeler | 2019 | 24 | LAC | 16 | 309 | 224 | 1550 | 11 |
| Curtis Martin | 2000 | 27 | NYJ | 16 | 307.9 | 386 | 1712 | 11 |
| DeAngelo Williams | 2008 | 25 | CAR | 16 | 307.6 | 295 | 1636 | 20 |
| Edgerrin James | 2004 | 26 | IND | 16 | 306.1 | 385 | 2031 | 9 |
| Arian Foster | 2011 | 25 | HOU | 13 | 305.1 | 331 | 1841 | 12 |
| Shaun Alexander | 2003 | 26 | SEA | 16 | 305 | 368 | 1730 | 16 |
| Maurice Jones-Drew | 2011 | 26 | JAX | 16 | 305 | 386 | 1980 | 11 |
| Matt Forte | 2008 | 23 | CHI | 16 | 304.5 | 379 | 1715 | 12 |
| Marshawn Lynch | 2014 | 28 | SEA | 16 | 302.3 | 317 | 1673 | 17 |
| Arian Foster | 2012 | 26 | HOU | 16 | 302.1 | 391 | 1641 | 17 |
| Charlie Garner | 2000 | 28 | SFO | 16 | 300.9 | 326 | 1789 | 10 |
| Tiki Barber | 2006 | 31 | NYG | 16 | 298.7 | 385 | 2127 | 5 |
| Ricky Watters | 2000 | 31 | SEA | 16 | 298.5 | 341 | 1855 | 9 |
| LeSean McCoy | 2016 | 28 | BUF | 15 | 298.3 | 284 | 1623 | 14 |
| Shaun Alexander | 2001 | 24 | SEA | 16 | 298.1 | 353 | 1661 | 16 |
| LeSean McCoy | 2010 | 22 | PHI | 15 | 297.2 | 285 | 1672 | 9 |
| Curtis Martin | 2001 | 28 | NYJ | 16 | 297 | 386 | 1833 | 10 |
| Knowshon Moreno | 2013 | 26 | DEN | 16 | 296.6 | 301 | 1586 | 13 |
| Kareem Hunt | 2017 | 22 | KAN | 16 | 295.2 | 325 | 1782 | 11 |
| Peyton Hillis | 2010 | 24 | CLE | 16 | 294.9 | 331 | 1654 | 13 |
| LaMont Jordan | 2005 | 27 | OAK | 14 | 294.8 | 342 | 1588 | 11 |
| Derrick Henry | 2019 | 25 | TEN | 15 | 294.6 | 321 | 1746 | 18 |
| DeMarco Murray | 2016 | 28 | TEN | 16 | 293.8 | 346 | 1664 | 12 |
| Dalvin Cook | 2019 | 24 | MIN | 14 | 292.4 | 303 | 1654 | 13 |
| Tiki Barber | 2000 | 25 | NYG | 16 | 290.5 | 283 | 1725 | 9 |
| Willie Parker | 2006 | 26 | PIT | 16 | 288.6 | 368 | 1716 | 16 |
| Melvin Gordon | 2017 | 24 | LAC | 16 | 288.1 | 342 | 1581 | 12 |
| Devonta Freeman | 2016 | 24 | ATL | 16 | 284.1 | 281 | 1541 | 13 |
| Travis Henry | 2002 | 24 | BUF | 16 | 283.7 | 368 | 1747 | 14 |
| Ray Rice | 2012 | 25 | BAL | 16 | 283.1 | 318 | 1621 | 10 |
| Marshall Faulk | 2002 | 29 | STL | 14 | 283 | 292 | 1490 | 10 |
| Jamaal Charles | 2010 | 24 | KAN | 16 | 282.5 | 275 | 1935 | 8 |
| Maurice Jones-Drew | 2008 | 23 | JAX | 16 | 280.9 | 259 | 1389 | 14 |
| Robert Smith | 2000 | 28 | MIN | 16 | 280.9 | 331 | 1869 | 10 |
| James Conner | 2018 | 23 | PIT | 13 | 280 | 270 | 1470 | 13 |
| Fred Taylor | 2000 | 24 | JAX | 13 | 279.9 | 328 | 1639 | 14 |
| Frank Gore | 2009 | 26 | SFO | 14 | 278.6 | 281 | 1526 | 13 |
| Mark Ingram | 2017 | 28 | NOR | 16 | 278 | 288 | 1540 | 12 |
| Michael Turner | 2008 | 26 | ATL | 16 | 278 | 382 | 1740 | 17 |
| Maurice Jones-Drew | 2006 | 21 | JAX | 16 | 277.7 | 212 | 1377 | 15 |
| LaDainian Tomlinson | 2008 | 29 | SDG | 16 | 277.6 | 344 | 1536 | 12 |
| Darren Sproles | 2011 | 28 | NOR | 16 | 277.3 | 173 | 1313 | 9 |
| Joseph Addai | 2007 | 24 | IND | 15 | 276.6 | 302 | 1436 | 15 |
| Ray Rice | 2010 | 23 | BAL | 16 | 276.6 | 370 | 1776 | 6 |
| James White | 2018 | 26 | NWE | 16 | 276.6 | 181 | 1176 | 12 |
| Brian Westbrook | 2004 | 25 | PHI | 13 | 276.5 | 250 | 1515 | 9 |
| Fred Taylor | 2003 | 27 | JAX | 16 | 276.2 | 393 | 1942 | 7 |
| Thomas Jones | 2008 | 30 | NYJ | 16 | 275.9 | 326 | 1519 | 15 |
| Adrian Peterson | 2010 | 25 | MIN | 15 | 275.9 | 319 | 1639 | 13 |
| Melvin Gordon | 2018 | 25 | LAC | 12 | 275.5 | 225 | 1375 | 14 |
| Marshawn Lynch | 2013 | 27 | SEA | 16 | 275.3 | 337 | 1573 | 14 |
| Arian Foster | 2014 | 28 | HOU | 13 | 273.5 | 298 | 1573 | 13 |
| Chris Johnson | 2010 | 25 | TEN | 16 | 272.9 | 360 | 1609 | 12 |
| Clinton Portis | 2007 | 26 | WAS | 16 | 272.7 | 372 | 1651 | 11 |
| Mike Anderson | 2000 | 27 | DEN | 16 | 272.6 | 320 | 1656 | 15 |
| Eddie Lacy | 2014 | 24 | GNB | 16 | 272.6 | 288 | 1566 | 13 |
| Ricky Williams | 2003 | 26 | MIA | 16 | 272.3 | 442 | 1723 | 10 |
| Steve Slaton | 2008 | 22 | HOU | 16 | 271.9 | 318 | 1659 | 10 |
| Clinton Portis | 2005 | 24 | WAS | 16 | 271.9 | 382 | 1732 | 11 |
| Brian Westbrook | 2008 | 29 | PHI | 14 | 269.8 | 287 | 1338 | 14 |
| Marshawn Lynch | 2012 | 26 | SEA | 16 | 269.6 | 338 | 1786 | 12 |
| LaDainian Tomlinson | 2001 | 22 | SDG | 16 | 269.3 | 398 | 1603 | 10 |
| Ahman Green | 2002 | 25 | GNB | 14 | 268.3 | 343 | 1633 | 9 |
| Darren McFadden | 2010 | 23 | OAK | 13 | 267.4 | 270 | 1664 | 10 |
| Fred Taylor | 2002 | 26 | JAX | 16 | 267.2 | 336 | 1722 | 8 |
| Reggie Bush | 2006 | 21 | NOR | 16 | 266.7 | 243 | 1307 | 8 |
| Edgerrin James | 2003 | 25 | IND | 13 | 266.1 | 361 | 1551 | 11 |
| Ricky Williams | 2001 | 24 | NOR | 16 | 265.6 | 373 | 1756 | 7 |
| Matt Forte | 2010 | 25 | CHI | 16 | 264.6 | 288 | 1616 | 9 |
| LeSean McCoy | 2017 | 29 | BUF | 16 | 263.6 | 346 | 1586 | 8 |
| Adrian Peterson | 2008 | 23 | MIN | 16 | 261.5 | 384 | 1885 | 10 |
| Corey Dillon | 2004 | 30 | NWE | 15 | 260.8 | 360 | 1738 | 13 |
| Adrian Peterson | 2015 | 30 | MIN | 16 | 260.7 | 357 | 1707 | 11 |
| Eddie George | 2002 | 29 | TEN | 16 | 260 | 379 | 1420 | 14 |
| Leonard Fournette | 2019 | 24 | JAX | 15 | 259.4 | 341 | 1674 | 3 |
| Corey Dillon | 2001 | 27 | CIN | 16 | 258.3 | 374 | 1543 | 13 |
| DeMarco Murray | 2013 | 25 | DAL | 14 | 258.1 | 270 | 1471 | 10 |
| Duce Staley | 2002 | 27 | PHI | 16 | 258 | 320 | 1570 | 8 |
| C.J. Spiller | 2012 | 25 | BUF | 16 | 255.3 | 250 | 1703 | 8 |
| Nick Chubb | 2019 | 24 | CLE | 16 | 255.2 | 334 | 1772 | 8 |
| Lamar Smith | 2000 | 30 | MIA | 15 | 255 | 340 | 1340 | 16 |
| Trent Richardson | 2012 | 22 | CLE | 15 | 254.7 | 318 | 1317 | 12 |
| Stephen Davis | 2000 | 26 | WAS | 15 | 254.1 | 365 | 1631 | 11 |
| Alfred Morris | 2012 | 24 | WAS | 16 | 252 | 346 | 1690 | 13 |
| Jamal Lewis | 2002 | 23 | BAL | 16 | 251.9 | 355 | 1769 | 7 |
| Adrian Peterson | 2007 | 22 | MIN | 14 | 251.9 | 257 | 1609 | 13 |
| Warrick Dunn | 2000 | 25 | TAM | 16 | 251.5 | 292 | 1555 | 9 |
| Melvin Gordon | 2016 | 23 | SDG | 13 | 250.6 | 295 | 1416 | 12 |
| Jamaal Charles | 2014 | 28 | KAN | 15 | 250.4 | 246 | 1324 | 14 |
| Moe Williams | 2003 | 29 | MIN | 16 | 249.9 | 239 | 1389 | 8 |
| Chris Johnson | 2008 | 23 | TEN | 15 | 249.8 | 294 | 1488 | 10 |
| Rudi Johnson | 2005 | 26 | CIN | 16 | 249.8 | 360 | 1548 | 12 |
| Alvin Kamara | 2019 | 24 | NOR | 14 | 248.5 | 252 | 1330 | 6 |
| Joseph Addai | 2009 | 26 | IND | 15 | 248.3 | 270 | 1164 | 13 |
| Ricky Williams | 2009 | 32 | MIA | 16 | 247.5 | 276 | 1385 | 13 |
| Jamal Lewis | 2007 | 28 | CLE | 15 | 247.2 | 328 | 1552 | 11 |
| Justin Forsett | 2014 | 29 | BAL | 16 | 246.9 | 279 | 1529 | 8 |
| David Johnson | 2018 | 27 | ARI | 16 | 246.6 | 308 | 1386 | 10 |
| Clinton Portis | 2008 | 27 | WAS | 16 | 246.5 | 370 | 1705 | 9 |
| James Stewart | 2000 | 29 | DET | 16 | 245.1 | 371 | 1471 | 11 |
| Steven Jackson | 2009 | 26 | STL | 15 | 244.8 | 375 | 1738 | 4 |
| Tiki Barber | 2003 | 28 | NYG | 16 | 244.7 | 347 | 1677 | 3 |
| Saquon Barkley | 2019 | 22 | NYG | 13 | 244.1 | 269 | 1441 | 8 |
| Marshawn Lynch | 2011 | 25 | SEA | 15 | 243.6 | 313 | 1416 | 13 |
| Joe Mixon | 2018 | 22 | CIN | 14 | 243.4 | 280 | 1464 | 9 |
| Danny Woodhead | 2015 | 30 | SDG | 16 | 243.1 | 178 | 1091 | 9 |
| Mark Ingram | 2019 | 30 | BAL | 15 | 242.5 | 228 | 1265 | 15 |
| Eddie Lacy | 2013 | 23 | GNB | 15 | 242.5 | 319 | 1435 | 11 |
| Steven Jackson | 2010 | 27 | STL | 16 | 242.4 | 376 | 1624 | 6 |
| Mark Ingram | 2016 | 27 | NOR | 16 | 242.2 | 251 | 1362 | 10 |
| Corey Dillon | 2002 | 28 | CIN | 16 | 241.9 | 357 | 1609 | 7 |
| Marion Barber | 2007 | 24 | DAL | 16 | 241.7 | 248 | 1257 | 12 |
| Rashard Mendenhall | 2010 | 23 | PIT | 16 | 241 | 347 | 1440 | 13 |
| Chris Johnson | 2013 | 28 | TEN | 16 | 240.2 | 321 | 1422 | 10 |
| Thomas Jones | 2009 | 31 | NYJ | 16 | 240 | 341 | 1460 | 14 |
| Ahmad Bradshaw | 2010 | 24 | NYG | 16 | 239.9 | 323 | 1549 | 8 |
| Jamaal Charles | 2012 | 26 | KAN | 16 | 239.5 | 320 | 1745 | 6 |
| Reggie Bush | 2013 | 28 | DET | 14 | 239.2 | 277 | 1512 | 7 |
| Curtis Martin | 2002 | 29 | NYJ | 16 | 238.6 | 310 | 1456 | 7 |
| Tiki Barber | 2001 | 26 | NYG | 14 | 238.2 | 238 | 1442 | 4 |
| Travis Henry | 2003 | 25 | BUF | 15 | 237.4 | 359 | 1514 | 11 |
| Ladell Betts | 2006 | 27 | WAS | 16 | 236.9 | 298 | 1599 | 5 |
| Frank Gore | 2007 | 24 | SFO | 15 | 236.8 | 313 | 1538 | 6 |
| Ryan Mathews | 2011 | 24 | SDG | 14 | 236.6 | 272 | 1546 | 6 |
| Clinton Portis | 2004 | 23 | WAS | 15 | 235.6 | 383 | 1550 | 7 |
| Fred Jackson | 2013 | 32 | BUF | 16 | 234.7 | 253 | 1277 | 10 |
| Rudi Johnson | 2006 | 27 | CIN | 16 | 234.3 | 364 | 1433 | 12 |
| Ricky Williams | 2000 | 23 | NOR | 10 | 234.3 | 292 | 1409 | 9 |
| Maurice Jones-Drew | 2010 | 25 | JAX | 14 | 234.1 | 333 | 1641 | 7 |
| Ryan Grant | 2009 | 27 | GNB | 16 | 234 | 307 | 1450 | 11 |
| Tarik Cohen | 2018 | 23 | CHI | 16 | 233.9 | 170 | 1169 | 8 |
| Carlos Hyde | 2017 | 27 | SFO | 16 | 233.8 | 299 | 1288 | 8 |
| Steven Jackson | 2005 | 22 | STL | 15 | 233.6 | 297 | 1366 | 10 |
| Thomas Jones | 2004 | 26 | CHI | 14 | 233.5 | 296 | 1375 | 7 |
| LeGarrette Blount | 2016 | 30 | NWE | 16 | 232.9 | 306 | 1199 | 18 |
| Rudi Johnson | 2004 | 25 | CIN | 16 | 232.8 | 376 | 1538 | 12 |
| Michael Pittman | 2000 | 25 | ARI | 16 | 232.8 | 257 | 1298 | 6 |
| Adrian Peterson | 2013 | 28 | MIN | 14 | 232.7 | 308 | 1437 | 11 |
| Chris Carson | 2019 | 25 | SEA | 15 | 232.6 | 315 | 1496 | 9 |
| Marshawn Lynch | 2008 | 22 | BUF | 15 | 232.6 | 297 | 1336 | 9 |
| Doug Martin | 2015 | 26 | TAM | 16 | 232.3 | 321 | 1673 | 7 |
| Lamar Miller | 2015 | 24 | MIA | 16 | 231.9 | 241 | 1269 | 10 |
| Michael Bennett | 2002 | 24 | MIN | 16 | 231.7 | 292 | 1647 | 6 |
| Jamaal Charles | 2009 | 23 | KAN | 15 | 231.7 | 230 | 1417 | 8 |
| DeAngelo Williams | 2015 | 32 | PIT | 16 | 231.4 | 240 | 1274 | 11 |
| Frank Gore | 2012 | 29 | SFO | 16 | 230.8 | 286 | 1448 | 9 |
| Marion Barber | 2008 | 25 | DAL | 15 | 230.2 | 290 | 1302 | 9 |
| Leonard Fournette | 2017 | 22 | JAX | 13 | 230.2 | 304 | 1342 | 10 |
| Kareem Hunt | 2018 | 23 | KAN | 11 | 230.2 | 207 | 1202 | 14 |
| Jordan Howard | 2016 | 22 | CHI | 15 | 230.1 | 281 | 1611 | 7 |
The table includes total touches, yards from scrimmage, and touchdowns.
The average age of the running backs to meet the criteria is 25.57. Below is a distribution graph of the ages of the peak seasons.
Saquon Barkley is one of five running backs to score at least 230 fantasy points at age 21 since 2000. The oldest players to accomplish the feat were 32 – Ricky Williams, Fred Jackson, and DeAngelo Williams. The peak is from age 22 to 28 as 83.9 percent of the seasons fall within this range.
While 10 percent of the peak seasons have taken place at age 28, just 5.96 percent have taken place at age 29 – a noticeable drop-off. From there, just 3.21 percent of the seasons happen at age 30. Father time has a big impact after that as no running back since 2000 has scored at least 230 fantasy points at the age of 33 or older.
The age distribution of running backs confirms with our previous studies that wide receivers have longer careers than running backs.
Filtering For The Elite
From looking at these seasons, I’m beginning to believe that older players were producing more frequently in the early 2000s. Let’s remove all running back seasons that took place prior to 2010.
In addition, we’ll raise the floor of a peak season, to see how the age is impacted. Including all peak seasons since 2010 with at least 250 PPR fantasy points, the sample size of player seasons is 67.
| Player | Year | Age | Tm | G | PPR | Touch | Yscrm | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian McCaffrey | 2019 | 23 | CAR | 16 | 471.2 | 403 | 2392 | 19 |
| David Johnson | 2016 | 25 | ARI | 16 | 407.8 | 373 | 2118 | 20 |
| Arian Foster | 2010 | 24 | HOU | 16 | 392 | 393 | 2220 | 18 |
| Saquon Barkley | 2018 | 21 | NYG | 16 | 385.8 | 352 | 2028 | 15 |
| Christian McCaffrey | 2018 | 22 | CAR | 16 | 385.5 | 326 | 1965 | 13 |
| Todd Gurley | 2017 | 23 | LAR | 15 | 383.3 | 343 | 2093 | 19 |
| Jamaal Charles | 2013 | 27 | KAN | 15 | 378 | 329 | 1980 | 19 |
| Ray Rice | 2011 | 24 | BAL | 16 | 372.8 | 367 | 2068 | 15 |
| Todd Gurley | 2018 | 24 | LAR | 14 | 372.1 | 315 | 1831 | 21 |
| Le'Veon Bell | 2014 | 22 | PIT | 16 | 370.5 | 373 | 2215 | 11 |
| Alvin Kamara | 2018 | 23 | NOR | 15 | 354.2 | 275 | 1592 | 18 |
| DeMarco Murray | 2014 | 26 | DAL | 16 | 351.1 | 449 | 2261 | 13 |
| Adrian Peterson | 2012 | 27 | MIN | 16 | 347.4 | 388 | 2314 | 13 |
| Matt Forte | 2014 | 29 | CHI | 16 | 346.6 | 368 | 1846 | 10 |
| Le'Veon Bell | 2017 | 25 | PIT | 15 | 341.6 | 406 | 1946 | 11 |
| Matt Forte | 2013 | 28 | CHI | 16 | 337.3 | 363 | 1933 | 12 |
| LeSean McCoy | 2013 | 25 | PHI | 16 | 330.6 | 366 | 2146 | 11 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | 2018 | 23 | DAL | 15 | 329.1 | 381 | 2001 | 9 |
| LeSean McCoy | 2011 | 23 | PHI | 15 | 328.4 | 321 | 1624 | 20 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | 2016 | 21 | DAL | 15 | 325.4 | 354 | 1994 | 16 |
| Alvin Kamara | 2017 | 22 | NOR | 16 | 320.4 | 201 | 1554 | 13 |
| Le'Veon Bell | 2016 | 24 | PIT | 12 | 317.4 | 336 | 1884 | 9 |
| Devonta Freeman | 2015 | 23 | ATL | 15 | 316.4 | 338 | 1634 | 14 |
| Aaron Jones | 2019 | 25 | GNB | 16 | 314.8 | 285 | 1558 | 19 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | 2019 | 24 | DAL | 16 | 311.7 | 355 | 1777 | 14 |
| Doug Martin | 2012 | 23 | TAM | 16 | 311.6 | 368 | 1926 | 12 |
| Austin Ekeler | 2019 | 24 | LAC | 16 | 309 | 224 | 1550 | 11 |
| Arian Foster | 2011 | 25 | HOU | 13 | 305.1 | 331 | 1841 | 12 |
| Maurice Jones-Drew | 2011 | 26 | JAX | 16 | 305 | 386 | 1980 | 11 |
| Marshawn Lynch | 2014 | 28 | SEA | 16 | 302.3 | 317 | 1673 | 17 |
| Arian Foster | 2012 | 26 | HOU | 16 | 302.1 | 391 | 1641 | 17 |
| LeSean McCoy | 2016 | 28 | BUF | 15 | 298.3 | 284 | 1623 | 14 |
| LeSean McCoy | 2010 | 22 | PHI | 15 | 297.2 | 285 | 1672 | 9 |
| Knowshon Moreno | 2013 | 26 | DEN | 16 | 296.6 | 301 | 1586 | 13 |
| Kareem Hunt | 2017 | 22 | KAN | 16 | 295.2 | 325 | 1782 | 11 |
| Peyton Hillis | 2010 | 24 | CLE | 16 | 294.9 | 331 | 1654 | 13 |
| Derrick Henry | 2019 | 25 | TEN | 15 | 294.6 | 321 | 1746 | 18 |
| DeMarco Murray | 2016 | 28 | TEN | 16 | 293.8 | 346 | 1664 | 12 |
| Dalvin Cook | 2019 | 24 | MIN | 14 | 292.4 | 303 | 1654 | 13 |
| Melvin Gordon | 2017 | 24 | LAC | 16 | 288.1 | 342 | 1581 | 12 |
| Devonta Freeman | 2016 | 24 | ATL | 16 | 284.1 | 281 | 1541 | 13 |
| Ray Rice | 2012 | 25 | BAL | 16 | 283.1 | 318 | 1621 | 10 |
| Jamaal Charles | 2010 | 24 | KAN | 16 | 282.5 | 275 | 1935 | 8 |
| James Conner | 2018 | 23 | PIT | 13 | 280 | 270 | 1470 | 13 |
| Mark Ingram | 2017 | 28 | NOR | 16 | 278 | 288 | 1540 | 12 |
| Darren Sproles | 2011 | 28 | NOR | 16 | 277.3 | 173 | 1313 | 9 |
| Ray Rice | 2010 | 23 | BAL | 16 | 276.6 | 370 | 1776 | 6 |
| James White | 2018 | 26 | NWE | 16 | 276.6 | 181 | 1176 | 12 |
| Adrian Peterson | 2010 | 25 | MIN | 15 | 275.9 | 319 | 1639 | 13 |
| Melvin Gordon | 2018 | 25 | LAC | 12 | 275.5 | 225 | 1375 | 14 |
| Marshawn Lynch | 2013 | 27 | SEA | 16 | 275.3 | 337 | 1573 | 14 |
| Arian Foster | 2014 | 28 | HOU | 13 | 273.5 | 298 | 1573 | 13 |
| Chris Johnson | 2010 | 25 | TEN | 16 | 272.9 | 360 | 1609 | 12 |
| Eddie Lacy | 2014 | 24 | GNB | 16 | 272.6 | 288 | 1566 | 13 |
| Marshawn Lynch | 2012 | 26 | SEA | 16 | 269.6 | 338 | 1786 | 12 |
| Darren McFadden | 2010 | 23 | OAK | 13 | 267.4 | 270 | 1664 | 10 |
| Matt Forte | 2010 | 25 | CHI | 16 | 264.6 | 288 | 1616 | 9 |
| LeSean McCoy | 2017 | 29 | BUF | 16 | 263.6 | 346 | 1586 | 8 |
| Adrian Peterson | 2015 | 30 | MIN | 16 | 260.7 | 357 | 1707 | 11 |
| Leonard Fournette | 2019 | 24 | JAX | 15 | 259.4 | 341 | 1674 | 3 |
| DeMarco Murray | 2013 | 25 | DAL | 14 | 258.1 | 270 | 1471 | 10 |
| C.J. Spiller | 2012 | 25 | BUF | 16 | 255.3 | 250 | 1703 | 8 |
| Nick Chubb | 2019 | 24 | CLE | 16 | 255.2 | 334 | 1772 | 8 |
| Trent Richardson | 2012 | 22 | CLE | 15 | 254.7 | 318 | 1317 | 12 |
| Alfred Morris | 2012 | 24 | WAS | 16 | 252 | 346 | 1690 | 13 |
| Melvin Gordon | 2016 | 23 | SDG | 13 | 250.6 | 295 | 1416 | 12 |
| Jamaal Charles | 2014 | 28 | KAN | 15 | 250.4 | 246 | 1324 | 14 |
The average age of this group drops significantly to 24.79. Below is a distribution graph of the ages of the elite peak seasons.
The peak of 23 to 25 includes 58.2 percent of the individual seasons. 92.5 percent of the seasons take place between the ages of 22 and 28. With the previous peak season, 86.2 percent of the seasons took place prior to the age-29 season. With the new peak, 95.5 percent of the seasons take place before the age-29 season. The two most common ages are 24 and 25 years old.
When searching for top-end production, the player is more likely to produce in his prime – which is typically prior to turning 29.
What does this mean for 2020?
12 running backs scored at least 230 fantasy points last season. The players are listed below.
| Player | Year | Age | Tm | G | PPR | Touch | Yscrm | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian McCaffrey | 2019 | 23 | CAR | 16 | 471.2 | 403 | 2392 | 19 |
| Aaron Jones | 2019 | 25 | GNB | 16 | 314.8 | 285 | 1558 | 19 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | 2019 | 24 | DAL | 16 | 311.7 | 355 | 1777 | 14 |
| Austin Ekeler | 2019 | 24 | LAC | 16 | 309 | 224 | 1550 | 11 |
| Derrick Henry | 2019 | 25 | TEN | 15 | 294.6 | 321 | 1746 | 18 |
| Dalvin Cook | 2019 | 24 | MIN | 14 | 292.4 | 303 | 1654 | 13 |
| Leonard Fournette | 2019 | 24 | JAX | 15 | 259.4 | 341 | 1674 | 3 |
| Nick Chubb | 2019 | 24 | CLE | 16 | 255.2 | 334 | 1772 | 8 |
| Alvin Kamara | 2019 | 24 | NOR | 14 | 248.5 | 252 | 1330 | 6 |
| Saquon Barkley | 2019 | 22 | NYG | 13 | 244.1 | 269 | 1441 | 8 |
| Mark Ingram | 2019 | 30 | BAL | 15 | 242.5 | 228 | 1265 | 15 |
| Chris Carson | 2019 | 25 | SEA | 15 | 232.6 | 315 | 1496 | 9 |
Turning 31 next season, Mark Ingram is five years older than any of the other RB1’s. While he didn’t show any signs of slowing down last season, Ingram remains a shaky investment due to age concerns.
Derrick Henry, Aaron Jones, and Chris Carson will play the 2020 season at 26 years old. Recognize that when we filtered for the elite recent seasons, there were over twice as many seasons taking place at age 25 than 26. The sample size isn’t extremely large but it’s a good reminder that the decline is coming.
Half of the RB1’s from last season were 24 years old. That’s favorable for each player as the age-25 season remains directly in a running back’s prime.
All-world running backs Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley remain the best dynasty investments in terms of age. McCaffrey will be 24 this season, while Barkley turns 23 this February. Both likely have plenty of good football ahead of them.
