With 18,355 rushing yards, Emmitt Smith is the all-time NFL rushing yards leader, ahead of Walter Payton and Frank Gore.

Smith had over 4,400 rushing attempts in his career and finished with an average of 4.2 yards per carry.

Of the top 30 running backs in NFL history, only Jim Brown and Barry Sanders averaged at least 5 yards per carry.

Christian McCaffrey Won’t Run Away With Another Rushing Yards Title

Leading the NFL in rushing yards is no easy task. Not only do you have to be consistent throughout the entire season, but you also need to remain injury-free.

That is something last year’s rushing yards leader was not to start this season.

49ers running back Christian McCaffrey was placed on Injured Reserve with a calf/achilles injury, all but ending his chance to win back-to-back rushing titles.

This, after a season that earned him Offensive Player of the Year.

Christian McCaffrey – 2023 Rushing Statistics

Attempts	272
Yards	1,459
Avg. Per Play	5.4
Touchdowns	14

Most Rushing Yards in a Season

This futures bet is a long-term investment for a bettor.

It’s a pretty straightforward wager, where the only goal is to predict which running back will rush for the most yards throughout the season.

Remember that we are talking about total yards, not yards per carry.

Who will have the most rushing yards this season?

Read below for a short list of players who could dethrone CMC and end the season as the NFL’s rushing leader.

2024 Favorites

Saquon Barkley (+400) – Philadelphia Eagles

He’s been one of the most explosive running backs since he entered the league in 2018. But injuries have derailed him at times.

In the two seasons he managed to play 16 games, he ran for over 1,300 yards. The change of scenery, going from the New York Giants to the Philadelphia Eagles, will likely do wonders for him.

He will now run behind one of the league’s best offensive lines after playing six seasons with limited protection.

Barkley was brilliant in Week 1 vs. the Packers rushing for 109 yards. Last year, he topped the 100-yard rushing mark in a game just once.

Jonathan Taylor (+500) – Indianapolis Colts

There is no doubting his skills. When healthy, Jonathan Taylor is one of the best backs in the league. Just look at his 2021 season for proof.

He played all 17 games that year and ran away with the rushing title. He finished with 1,811 yards, more than 550 yards better than any other player.

Unfortunately, he’s been limited to just 21 games over the last two seasons.

The sky’s the limit for him if he avoids injury. And with a rookie quarterback in Indy, Taylor should be a major part of the Colts game plan this season.

Kyren Williams (+900) – Los Angeles Rams

What will Kyren Williams do for an encore this year?

The Rams’ running back made a name for himself last season, finishing with the third most rushing yards (1,144).

The impressive thing is that he did so in just 12 games, averaging over 95 yards per contest. That was the highest in the league.

It seemed to come out of nowhere after amassing just 139 yards in 10 games back in 2022, his rookie season.

Derrick Henry (+1200) – Baltimore Ravens

Barkley isn’t the only high-profile back to switch clubs this season.

Derrick Henry is now part of arguably the best rush attack in the NFL, alongside quarterback Lamar Jackson in Baltimore.

Henry led the league in rushing in both 2019 and 2020 as a member of the Tennessee Titans. A foot injury limited him to eight games in 2021, but he finished second in rushing each of the last two seasons.

The big question is whether Jackson’s ability to run will affect Henry’s numbers and how many touches he gets.

Longshot – David Montgomery (+2500) – Detroit Lions

David Montgomery’s first season with the Detroit Lions can be classified as a success, running for 1,015 yards in just 14 games.

And now, the team is hoping for even more from him this year.

While he’s always been a consistent threat, this could be a breakout season for the 27-year-old.

The Lions are one of the best teams in the league and will likely play with the lead quite a bit, meaning Montgomery could see a lot of fourth-quarter touches throughout the season.

NFL Scrimmage Yards Leaders – Last 10 Seasons

Year	Player	Rushing Yards	Team
2023	Christian McCaffrey	2,023	49ers
2022	Josh Jacobs	2,053	Raiders
2021	Jonathan Taylor	1,811	Colts
2020	Derrick Henry	2.027	Titans
2019	Derrick Henry	1,540	Titans
2018	Ezekiel Elliott	1,434	Cowboys
2017	Kareem Hunt	1,327	Chiefs
2016	Ezekiel Elliott	1,631	Cowboys
2015	Adrian Peterson	1,485	Vikings
2014	DeMarco Murray	1,845	Cowboys

RB Totals: Rushing Yards Over/Under

NFL betting odds on NFL player props are available at all legal sportsbooks in your state/province.

If you enjoy the running back position, there are plenty of player props to bet on.

A running back total for rushing yards can be played as a season-long futures bet or weekly prop bet.

RB Totals: Rushing + Receiving Yards Over/Under

Today, an NFL offense is designed to throw the ball more than ever before, and that means running backs must possess the threat to run and catch the ball.

No longer is the NFL a game of handing the ball off on first down and trying for 3-yards and a cloud of dust.

Instead, RBs have become specialized at catching the ball as well.

When evaluating an NFL RB in today’s game, we must factor in their total yards from scrimmage, a combination of their rushing and receiving totals.

2023 NFL Running Back Yards From Scrimmage Leaders

Player	Rushing	Receiving	Total
Christian McCaffrey	1,459	564	2,023
Derrick Henry	1,167	214	1,381
Kyren Williams	1,144	206	1,350
James Cook	1,122	445	1,567
D’Andre Swift	1,049	214	1,263
Joe Mixon	1,034	376	1,410
Travis Etienne	1,008	476	1,484
Tony Pollard	1,005	311	1,316
Breece Hall	994	591	1,585
Rachaad White	990	549	1,539

NFL Rushing Leaders – Last 15 Seasons

Year	Player	Team	Rushing Yards
2023	Christian McCaffrey	49ers	1,459
2022	Josh Jacobs	Raiders	1,653
2021	Jonathan Taylor	Colts	1,811
2020	Derrick Henry	Titans	2,027
2019	Derrick Henry	Titans	1,540
2018	Ezekiel Elliott	Cowboys	1,434
2017	Kareem Hunt	Chiefs	1,327
2016	Ezekiel Elliott	Cowboys	1,631
2015	Adrian Peterson	Vikings	1,485
2014	DeMarco Murray	Cowboys	1,845
2013	LeSean McCoy	Eagles	1,607
2012	Adrian Peterson	Vikings	2,097
2011	Maurice Jones-Drew	Jaguars	1,606
2010	Arian Foster	Texans	1,616
2009	Chris Johnson	Titans	2,006

RB Totals: Rushing TDs Over/Under

Betting the Over / Under for an RB’s total touchdowns is another type of wager that can be done as a season-long future bet or as a week-to-week player prop bet.

This is just like the total rushing yards bet options, except with touchdowns, there can be much more variability and chance in play.

From a strategy standpoint, using some trusted projection sites can once again be a gambler’s friend.

Sportsbooks must account for the general public’s viewpoint and tendencies when setting odds. Projection sites try to remain neutral and objective with their analysis.

Most Rushing Touchdowns by a Running Back

When predicting the RB with the most rushing TDs at the end of the season, there is probably a lot more variability and chance involved with this bet compared to total rushing yards.

Touchdowns are great, but they can be out of their control most of the time for a running back.

If a coach calls a pass play while inside the 5-yard line or the quarterback keeps it at the 1-yard line, there isn’t much an RB can do.

Often there is little correlation between RBs who score a lot of TDs and RBs who run for a lot of yards.

In 2021, James Connor, Damien Harris, and Austin Ekeler all finished inside the Top 5 for RB touchdowns, yet none of those running backs reached 1,000 yards on the ground.

This bet requires a lot of homework and maybe just a little luck.

2023 NFL Running Back Touchdown Leaders

Player	Rushing TDs
Raheem Mostert	18
David Montgomery	15
Derrick Henry	14

What Is The Best Way To Handicap The Odds?

If you enjoy betting on the NFL, or even if you are new to it, you likely know that sportsbooks know what they are doing.

They research every little stat to set the line at a number that will have bettors scratching their heads and betting both sides.

Most bettors don’t have time to spend hours in front of a computer trying to figure out how they can get the upper hand.

That’s where tools like Anytime TD PRO come into play.

If you enjoy making prop bets involving anytime touchdowns, this is a must-have to give you, the bettor, a higher chance to win your wager.

Always Shop Around

The one suggestion I have is that if you like a particular running back to go off this season, don’t just settle on the first set of odds you see.

Shop around for the best odds. The chance of finding a better number elsewhere is extremely high.

For example, you can bet Saquon Barkley at +500 on DraftKings, but wouldn’t it make more sense to bet him at +750 on FanDuel?

That is a considerable difference in profit and ROI. So shop around for your Best Odds and get every edge you can over the sportsbooks.