Nick Chubb is arguably the NFL’s best running back after a third of the season, taking the throne from Derrick Henry after his strong start to the year. Chubb leads the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns as he’s on the best start for a running back this century — when average yards per carry is taken into account.
Chubb has five seasons averaging 5.0 yards per carry (minimum 100 carries), trailing only Joe Perry (six) for the most in NFL history. If Chubb finishes averaging 5.0 yards per carry, he will become the first player in NFL history to start his career averaging 5.0 yards per carry in each of his first five seasons. Already averaging 5.9 yards per carry, Chubb is poised to break the 0.50 yards per carry mark.
Chubb is on pace for a historic season, which would rival Brown for the best in franchise history. Brown has the most rushing yards (1,864 in 1963) in a season in Cleveland Browns history and the most rushing touchdowns in a season (17 twice in 1958 and 1965). With the start of Chubb’s 2022 season, he’s poised to rival Brown for those franchise records.
In this week’s edition of “By The Numbers,” Chubb gets an in-depth look at his historic start to the 2022 season — as well as the historic start to his career — and how he stacks up against Brown while he’s in the game. midway through his fifth NFL season.
NFL rushing yards leaders – 2022 season
- Nick Chubb — 649
- Saquon Barkley — 616
- Josh Jacobs — 490
- Miles Sanders – 485
- Lamar Jackson – 451
NFL rushes TD leaders – 2022 season
- Nick Chubb — 7
- Jamal Williams — 6
- Jalen Hurts — 6
- Derrick Henry — 5
- Taysom Hill — 5
NFL yards per carry leaders – 2022 season
- Lamar Jackson — 8.1
- Khalil Herbert — 6.4
- Rashaad Penny — 6.1
- Kyler Murray — 6.1
- Nick Chubb — 5.9
Chubb is off to one of the best starts for a running back in NFL history, becoming the first running back since Terrell Davis in 1998 to have over 600 yards rushing, over seven rushing touchdowns and over 5.9 yards per average range. six games. Jim Brown accomplished the feat before Davis in 1958 and 1963.
Chubb is the 20th player in NFL history to have at least 640 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns in six games, and the first Brown to reach those numbers since Brown in 1963 (Brown also reached those totals in 1958 and 1959). The 649 rushing yards in six games is the most by a Browns player since Brown had 738 in 1965.
Not only does Chubb lead the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, he’s first in first rushing runs (29), first in rushes over 10 yards (21), first in rushes over 20 yards (seven) and first in rushing yards per game (108.2).
Pacing 1,839 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns, Chubb would become the fourth player in history to hit those totals in a season – joining Terrell Davis (1998), Shaun Alexander (2005) and LaDainian Tomlinson (2006). If Chubb maintains his 5.9 yards per carry average, he’ll have significantly more yards per carry among players with 1,800 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns (assuming he stays on that pace) than Tomlinson (5.2 yards per carry in 2006).
Chubb enters Jim Brown territory for the best starts by a running back in Browns history. Here’s how he ranks among the Browns’ top running backs over five seasons (Chubb is currently in his fifth season).
Most rushing yards – first five seasons (Browns history)
- Jim Brown — 6,463
- Nick Chubb – 5,465
- Greg Pruitt – 4,062
- Leroy Kelly — 3,736
- Mike Pruitt – 3,231
Most Pressed TDs – First Five Seasons (Browns History)
- Jim Brown — 57
- Nick Chubb — 43
- Leroy Kelly — 42
- Kevin Mack — 26
- Serious Byner — 23
Highest yards per carry average – first five seasons (Browns history)
- Nick Chubb — 5.4
- Jim Brown — 5.1
- Leroy Kelly — 5.1
- Greg Pruitt — 4.8
- Mike Pruitt — 4.3
Chubb can outrun Brown in most rushing yards by a Browns player in his first five seasons, needing just 999 rushing yards in his last 11 games (90.8 rushing yards per game) . Getting 15 rushing touchdowns in his last 11 games will be a tall order, but the yards-per-carry average should stay above Brown given Chubb’s incredible production once he gets the ball in his hands.
Among players with a minimum of 1,000 carries, Chubb’s official yards per carry average of 5.368 runs just Jamaal Charles for the highest in NFL history (5.375). Chubb has three 1,000-yard rushing seasons and a 5.0-yard-per-carry average, tied for fourth on the all-time list — behind only Jamaal Charles, Barry Sanders and Jim Brown (five). Chubb joined Charles and Leroy Kelly as the only players to have 1,000 yards rushing and 5.0 yards per carry in three of their first five seasons.
If Chubb rushes for 1,000 yards, averages 5.0 yards per carry and has eight rushing touchdowns this season, he will join Jim Brown and Barry Sanders as the only players to reach those numbers in four different seasons. Chubb needs one more touchdown this season to give him eight for five consecutive seasons — only the fifth player in league history to rush for more than eight touchdowns in each of his first five seasons. Other players to accomplish the feat were LaDainian Tomlinson (nine), Jim Brown (seven), Adrian Peterson (seven) and Emmitt Smith (seven).
Chubb is already in the conversation among Hall of Fame running backs with his incredible career start. If Chubb is able to play at this high level for a few more seasons, he will be a future Hall of Famer himself.
