NFL Stats Leader 2021: Who has the most rushing yards heading into Week 17?

Las Vegas Raiders v Cleveland Browns

NFL rushing leaders entering Week 17

#3 - Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns - 1,143 yards

Nick Chubb has 1,143 yards on only 207 attempts this NFL season. That gives the Cleveland Browns running back a mind-blowing average of 5.5 yards per carry. His latest performance saw him run for 126 yards on only 17 carries against the Green Bay Packers.

It remains a question why Chubb does not get more carries in the Cleveland offense, especially with Kareem Hunt out. That is a question for head coach and play-caller Kevin Stefanski. There is no excuse to rest Chubb at this point in the season as the team chases a playoff spot.

No matter the workload, Chubb always produces in a big way. This is his third consecutive 1,000-yard season, and it could be his fourth, if not for a final total of 996 yards as a rookie.

Chubb is third in the NFL in only 12 games this season. A full season of work, along with more carries in general, could have Chubb in the MVP conversation in the future, if he keeps up his current pace.

Baltimore Ravens v Cincinnati Bengals

#2 - Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals - 1,159 yards

Most of the talk surrounding the Cincinnati Bengals has to do with Joe Burrow leading the offense. But Joe Mixon has been a reliable veteran presence in the backfield and is second in the NFL in rushing yards.

Mixon has helped by being durable and just doing his job. He only has three 100-yard performances in 2021 and has not had more than 65 yards in any of his past four games. Yet the Bengals are in playoff contention, and Mixon is well over 1,000 yards.

Week 16 proved his value to the offense. While he only had 65 rushing yards, he added 70 as a receiver and had a touchdown, both, on the ground and via a reception.

The Bengals offense runs through Burrow. Yet having a reliable veteran like Mixon stay so consistent all year makes him a bit of an unsung hero in the turnaround seen in Cincinnati.

New England Patriots v Indianapolis Colts

#1 - Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts - 1,626 yards

One cannot talk about NFL running backs this year without mentioning the name of Jonathan Taylor. He has vaulted himself into the MVP discussion with his play and just notched another 100-yard game in Week 16.

Taylor ran for 108 yards in a big win over the Arizona Cardinals to increase his season total to 1,626 yards. He has gone for, at least, 100 yards nine times this year and is also leading the NFL with 17 rushing touchdowns.

Taylor is not likely to win the NFL MVP award this season. But just putting his name in the discussion proves how valuable he is to the Indianapolis Colts. The team began the year with a 1-4 record and major questions surrounding Carson Wentz.

That is right around the time when Taylor took off, and the Colts are now 9-6 at this late stage of the season. Opposing defenses not being able to stop Taylor may mean the Colts make a surprising Super Bowl run, thanks to a good old-fashioned power rushing attack.