Putting Up Numbers· NFL

The Bills' best running backs since 1966

Thurman Thomas has the most rushing yards of the 144 running backs who played with the Bills since 1966, 11,938 in 172 games. O.J. Simpson is 2nd with 10,183. James Cook is 4th, with 4,966; 670 more passes Fred Jackson for 3rd.

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The Bills' running backs this season

  • James Cook7 games, 101.0 a game4,966 with the Bills, the 4th-most since 1966. 670 more puts him past Fred Jackson for 3rd.707rushing yards

By decade: 2020s · 2010s · 2000s · 1990s · 1980s · 1970s · 1966–69

Compare with in · side by side

The Bills' best running backs since 1966
PlacePlayerrushing yardsrushing TDsscrimmage yards
1Thurman Thomas1988 – 1999 · 172 games11,9386516,279
2O.J. Simpson1969 – 1977 · 112 games10,1835712,107
3Fred Jackson2007 – 2014 · 105 games5,635308,275
4James Cook2022 – 2026 · still playing4,966396,250
+707 this season · passes Fred Jackson for 3rd in 7 games at his pace
5Joe Cribbs1980 – 1985 · 64 games4,445216,228
6Travis Henry2001 – 2004 · 53 games3,846274,537
7LeSean McCoy2015 – 2018 · 57 games3,814255,148
8Willis McGahee2004 – 2006 · 45 games3,365243,868
9C.J. Spiller2010 – 2014 · 70 games3,321124,516
10Devin Singletary2019 – 2022 · 61 games3,151164,122
11Antowain Smith1997 – 2000 · 56 games2,932263,172
12Jim Braxton1971 – 1978 · 80 games2,842234,268
13Marshawn Lynch2007 – 2010 · 45 games2,776173,446
14Kenneth Davis1989 – 1994 · 96 games2,460233,005
15Greg Bell1984 – 1987 · 40 games2,420193,452
16Curtis Brown1977 – 1982 · 76 games2,17182,943
17Roland Hooks1976 – 1982 · 98 games1,682122,632
18Terry Miller1978 – 1980 · 47 games1,57981,961
19Darick Holmes1995 – 1998 · 48 games1,383101,814
20Robb Riddick1981 – 1988 · 78 games1,341212,506
21Wray Carlton1966 – 1967 · 23 games1,16391,540
22Roosevelt Leaks1980 – 1983 · 53 games1,138141,411
23Wayne Patrick1968 – 1972 · 50 games1,08451,829
24Jonathan Linton1998 – 2000 · 39 games99161,236
25Ronnie Harmon1986 – 1989 · 57 games96832,420

rushing yards by decade

2020s

  1. › James Cook2022 – 2026 · 73 games4,966
  2. Devin Singletary2020 – 2022 · 49 games2,376
  3. Zack Moss2020 – 2022 · 31 games917
  4. › Ray Davis2024 – 2026 · 40 games759
  5. › Ty Johnson2023 – 2026 · 48 games555

2010s

  1. LeSean McCoy2015 – 2018 · 57 games3,814
  2. Fred Jackson2010 – 2014 · 66 games3,713
  3. C.J. Spiller2010 – 2014 · 70 games3,321
  4. Mike Gillislee2015 – 2016 · 20 games844
  5. Devin Singletary2019 · 12 games775

2000s

  1. Travis Henry2001 – 2004 · 53 games3,846
  2. Willis McGahee2004 – 2006 · 45 games3,365
  3. Marshawn Lynch2007 – 2009 · 41 games2,612
  4. Fred Jackson2007 – 2009 · 39 games1,922
  5. Shawn Bryson2000 – 2002 · 30 games963

1990s

  1. Thurman Thomas1990 – 1999 · 141 games9,813
  2. Antowain Smith1997 – 1999 · 46 games2,578
  3. Kenneth Davis1990 – 1994 · 80 games2,311
  4. Darick Holmes1995 – 1998 · 48 games1,383
  5. Jonathan Linton1998 – 1999 · 30 games890

1980s

  1. Joe Cribbs1980 – 1985 · 64 games4,445
  2. Greg Bell1984 – 1987 · 40 games2,420
  3. Thurman Thomas1988 – 1989 · 31 games2,125
  4. Robb Riddick1981 – 1988 · 78 games1,341
  5. Roosevelt Leaks1980 – 1983 · 53 games1,138

1970s

  1. O.J. Simpson1970 – 1977 · 99 games9,486
  2. Jim Braxton1971 – 1978 · 80 games2,842
  3. Terry Miller1978 – 1979 · 32 games1,544
  4. Roland Hooks1976 – 1979 · 60 games1,291
  5. Curtis Brown1977 – 1979 · 37 games1,199

1966–69

  1. Wray Carlton1966 – 1967 · 23 games1,163
  2. Bobby Burnett1966 – 1967 · 22 games862
  3. O.J. Simpson1969 · 13 games697
  4. Keith Lincoln1967 – 1968 · 18 games685
  5. Max Anderson1968 – 1969 · 24 games599

Also with the Bills: quarterbacks · receivers · tight ends · Buffalo Bills record book

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Method

  • Every running back who played with the Bills since 1966, ranked by rushing yards over his games there. Regular-season games only.
  • The numbers here start in 1966, so a running back who played with the Bills before then isn't here.
  • A decade counts his rushing yards with the Bills in its seasons.