Rank[2] |
Player |
Position primarily
played |
Seasons by team |
Total carries[3] |
Total rushing
yards gained[3] |
Total receptions[3] |
Total receiving
yards gained[3] |
Total yards from
scrimmage gained[3] |
Year of induction into
Pro Football Hall of Fame |
1 |
Jerry Rice |
Wide receiver |
San Francisco 49ers (1985–2000)
Oakland Raiders (2001–2004[4])
Seattle Seahawks (2004) |
87 |
645 |
1549 |
22,895 |
23,540 |
2010 |
2 |
Emmitt Smith |
Running back |
Dallas Cowboys (1990–2002)
Arizona Cardinals (2003–2004) |
4409 |
18,355 |
515 |
3224 |
21,579 |
2010 |
3 |
Walter Payton |
Running back |
Chicago Bears (1975–1987) |
3838 |
16,726 |
492 |
4538 |
21,264 |
1993 |
4 |
Marshall Faulk |
Running back |
Indianapolis Colts (1994–1998)
St. Louis Rams (1999–2005) |
2836 |
12,279 |
767 |
6875 |
19,154 |
Not applicable[5] |
5 |
LaDainian Tomlinson |
Running back |
San Diego Chargers (2001–2009)
New York Jets (2010–Present[6]) |
3,173 |
13,684 |
624 |
4772 |
18,456 |
Not applicable[5] |
6 |
Barry Sanders |
Running back |
Detroit Lions (1989–1998) |
3062 |
15,269 |
352 |
2921 |
18,190 |
2004 |
7 |
Marcus Allen |
Running back |
Los Angeles Raiders (1982–1992)
Kansas City Chiefs (1993–1997) |
3022 |
12,243 |
587 |
5411 |
17,654 |
2003 |
8 |
Curtis Martin |
Running back |
New England Patriots (1995–1997)
New York Jets (1998–2005) |
3518 |
14,101 |
484 |
3329 |
17,430 |
Not applicable[5] |
9 |
Thurman Thomas |
Running back |
Buffalo Bills (1988–1999)
Miami Dolphins (2000) |
2877 |
12,074 |
472 |
4458 |
16,532 |
2007 |
10 |
Tony Dorsett |
Running back |
Dallas Cowboys (1977–1987)
Denver Broncos (1988) |
2936 |
12,739 |
398 |
3554 |
16,293 |
1994 |
11 |
Tiki Barber |
Running back |
New York Giants (1997–2006[6]) |
2216 |
10,448 |
586 |
5183 |
15,631 |
Not applicable[5] |
11 |
Eric Dickerson |
Running back |
Los Angeles Rams (1983–1987[7])
Indianapolis Colts (1987–1991)
Los Angeles Raiders (1992)
Atlanta Falcons (1993) |
2996 |
13,259 |
281 |
2137 |
15,396 |
1999 |
12 |
Tim Brown |
Wide receiver |
Oakland Raiders (1988[8]–2003)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2004) |
50 |
190 |
1094 |
14,934 |
15,124 |
Not applicable [5] |
13 |
Jerome Bettis |
Running back |
Los Angeles Rams (1993–1995[9])
Pittsburgh Steelers (1996–2005) |
3479 |
13,662 |
200 |
1449 |
15,111 |
Not applicable[5] |
14 |
Ricky Watters |
Running back |
San Francisco 49ers (1992–1994)
Philadelphia Eagles (1995–1997)
Seattle Seahawks (1998–2001) |
2622 |
10,643 |
467 |
4248 |
14,891 |
None |
15 |
Jim Brown |
Running back |
Cleveland Browns (1957–1965) |
2359 |
12,312 |
262 |
2499 |
14,811 |
1971 |
16 |
Franco Harris |
Running back |
Pittsburgh Steelers (1972–1983)
Seattle Seahawks (1984) |
2949 |
12,120 |
307 |
2287 |
14,407 |
1990 |
17 |
James Lofton |
Wide receiver |
Green Bay Packers (1978–1986)
Los Angeles Raiders (1987–1988)
Buffalo Bills (1989–1992)
Los Angeles Rams (1993[10])
Philadelphia Eagles (1993) |
32 |
246 |
764 |
14,004 |
14,250 |
2003 |
18 |
Cris Carter |
Wide receiver |
Philadelphia Eagles (1987–1989)
Minnesota Vikings (1990–2001)
Miami Dolphins (2002) |
13 |
41 |
1101 |
13,899 |
13,940 |
None |
19 |
Henry Ellard |
Wide receiver |
Los Angeles Rams (1983–1993)
Washington Redskins (1994–1998[11])
New England Patriots (1998) |
19 |
50 |
814 |
13,777 |
13,827 |
None |
20 |
Marvin Harrison |
Wide receiver |
Indianapolis Colts (1996–2008[6]) |
10 |
28 |
1022 |
13,697 |
13,725 |
Not applicable [5] |
21 |
Andre Reed |
Wide receiver |
Buffalo Bills (1985–1999)
Washington Redskins (2000) |
75 |
500 |
951 |
13,198 |
13,698 |
None |
22 |
Isaac Bruce |
Wide receiver |
St. Louis Rams (1994[12]–2007
San Francisco 49ers 2008–2009) |
21 |
154 |
887 |
13,376 |
13,530 |
Not applicable [5] |
23 |
John Riggins |
Running back |
New York Jets (1971–1975)
Washington Redskins (1976–1985) |
2916 |
11,352 |
250 |
2090 |
13,442 |
1992 |
24 |
Edgerrin James |
Running back |
Indianapolis Colts (1999–2005)
Arizona Cardinals (2006–2008)
Seattle Seahawks (2009) |
2525 |
10,385 |
394 |
3056 |
13,441 |
Not applicable[5] |
25 |
O.J. Simpson |
Running back |
Buffalo Bills (1969–1977)
San Francisco 49ers (1978–1979) |
2404 |
11,236 |
203 |
2142 |
13,378 |
1985 |
26 |
Ottis Anderson |
Running back |
Saint Louis Cardinals (1979–1986[13])
New York Giants (1986–1992) |
2562 |
10,273 |
376 |
3,062 |
13,335 |
None |
27 |
Warrick Dunn |
Running back |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1997–2001, 2008)
Atlanta Falcons (2002–2007[6] |
2256 |
9461 |
426 |
3771 |
13,232 |
Not applicable[5] |
28 |
Steve Largent |
Wide receiver |
Seattle Seahawks (1976–1989) |
17 |
83 |
819 |
13,089 |
13,172 |
1995 |
29 |
Corey Dillon |
Running back |
Cincinnati Bengals (1997–2003)
New England Patriots (2004–2006[6]) |
2618 |
11,241 |
244 |
1913 |
13,154 |
Not applicable[5] |
30 |
Roger Craig |
Running back |
San Francisco 49ers (1983}–1990)
Los Angeles Raiders (1991
Minnesota Vikings (1992–1993) |
1991 |
8189 |
566 |
4911 |
13,100 |
None |
31 |
Herschel Walker |
Running back |
Dallas Cowboys (1986–1989[14], 1996–1997)
Minnesota Vikings (1989–1991)
Philadelphia Eagles (1992–1994)
New York Giants (1995) |
1954 |
8225 |
512 |
4859 |
13,084 |
None |
32 |
Art Monk |
Wide receiver |
Washington Redskins (1980–1993)
New York Jets (1994)
Philadelphia Eagles (1995) |
63 |
332 |
940 |
12,721 |
13,053 |
2008 |
33 |
Irving Fryar |
Wide receiver |
New England Patriots (1984–1992)
Miami Dolphins (1993–1995)
Philadelphia Eagles (1996–1998)
Washington Redskins (1999–2000) |
44 |
242 |
851 |
12,785 |
13,027 |
None |
34 |
Earnest Byner |
Running back |
Cleveland Browns (1984–1988, 1994–1997[15])
Washington Redskins (1989–1993) |
2095 |
8261 |
512 |
4605 |
12,866 |
None |
35 |
Eddie George |
Running back |
Tennessee Titans (1996[16]–2003)
Dallas Cowboys (2004) |
2865 |
10,441 |
268 |
2227 |
12,668 |
Not applicable[5] |
36 |
Jimmy Smith |
Wide receiver |
Dallas Cowboys (1992)
Philadelphia Eagles {1994)
Jacksonville Jaguars (1995–2005) |
2 |
(1) |
862 |
12,287 |
12,286 |
Not applicable [5] |
37 |
Charlie Joiner |
Wide receiver |
Houston Oilers (1969[17]–1972[18])
Cincinnati Bengals (1972–1975)
San Diego Chargers (1976–1986) |
8 |
22 |
750 |
12,146 |
12,168 |
1996 |
39 |
Michael Irvin |
Wide receiver |
Dallas Cowboys (1988–1999) |
6 |
6 |
750 |
11,904 |
11,910 |
2007 |
40 |
Don Maynard |
Wide receiver |
New York Giants (1958
New York Jets (1960[19]–1972)
|
24 |
70 |
633 |
11,834 |
11,904 |
1987 |
41 |
Terrell Owens |
Wide receiver |
San Francisco 49ers (1996–2003)
Philadelphia Eagles (2004–2005)
Dallas Cowboys (2006–2008
Buffalo Bills (2009
Cincinnati Bengals (2010–Present[6]) |
25 |
159 |
801 |
11,715 |
11,874 |
Not applicable [5] |
42 |
Rod Smith |
Wide receiver |
Denver Broncos (1995–2007[6]) |
44 |
348 |
849 |
11,389 |
11,737 |
Not applicable [5] |
43 |
Fred Taylor |
Running back |
Jacksonville Jaguars (1998–2008
New England Patriots (2009–present[6]) |
2062 |
9513 |
261 |
2205 |
11,718 |
Not applicable[5] |
44 |
James Brooks |
Running back |
San Diego Chargers (1981–1983)
Cincinnati Bengals (1984–1991)
Cleveland Browns (1992[20])
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1992) |
1685 |
7962 |
383 |
3621 |
11,583 |
None |
45 |
Lenny Moore |
Running back |
Baltimore Colts (1956–1967) |
1068 |
5174 |
363 |
6039 |
11,213 |
1975 |
46 |
Ahman Green |
Running back |
Seattle Seahawks (1998–1999)
Green Bay Packers (2000–2006, 2009)
Houston Texans (2007–2008[6]) |
1871 |
8491 |
351 |
2717 |
11,208 |
Not applicable[5] |
47 |
Keenan McCardell |
Wide receiver |
Cleveland Browns (1992–1995)
Jacksonville Jaguars (1996–2001)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2002–2003)
San Diego Chargers (2004–2006
Washington Redskins (2007) |
6 |
16 |
861 |
11,117 |
11,133 |
Not applicable [5] |
48 |
Freeman McNeil |
Running back |
New York Jets (1981–1992) |
1798 |
8074 |
295 |
2961 |
11,035 |
49 |
Priest Holmes |
Running back |
Baltimore Ravens (1997–2000)
Kansas City Chiefs (2001–2007) |
1734 |
8035 |
334 |
2945 |
10,980 |
Not applicable[5] |
50 |
Gary Clark |
Wide receiver |
Washington Redskins (1985–1992)
Arizona Cardinals (1993[21]–1994)
Miami Dolphins (1995) |
11 |
54 |
699 |
10,856 |
10,910 |
None |