Weekly Top 20 - thru Week #14

History Published on : 12/9/2008

Career leaders in the NFL's four main statistical categories - through Week 14 of the 2008 NFL Regular Season.

PASSER RATING   RUSHING YARDS
1
Steve Young
96.81
 
1
Emmitt Smith
18,355
2
Peyton Manning
94.24
 
2
Walter Payton
16,726
3
Kurt Warner
94.04
 
3
Barry Sanders
15,269
4
Tom Brady
92.91
 
4
Curtis Martin
14,101
5
Joe Montana
92.26
 
5
Jerome Bettis
13,662
6
Ben Roethlisberger
89.90
 
6
Eric Dickerson
13,259
7
Chad Pennington
89.71
 
7
Tony Dorsett
12,739
8
Drew Brees
89.12
 
8
Jim Brown
12,312
9
Daunte Culpepper
88.96
 
9
Marshall Faulk
12,279
10
Carson Palmer
88.86
 
10
Marcus Allen
12,243
11
Jeff Garcia
87.85
 
11
Franco Harris
12,120
12
Dan Marino
86.38
 
12
Thurman Thomas
12,074
13
Trent Green
86.03
 
13
Edgerrin James
12,002
14
Brett Favre
85.82
 
14
LaDainian Tomlinson
11,535
15
Donovan McNabb
85.72
 
15
John Riggins
11,352
16
Marc Bulger
85.65
 
16
Fred Taylor
11,271
17
Rich Gannon
84.71
 
17
Corey Dillon
11,241
18
Jake Delhomme
84.62
 
18
O.J. Simpson
11,236
19
Matt Hasselbeck
84.46
 
19
Warrick Dunn
10,870
20
Jim Kelly
84.39
 
20
Ricky Watters
10,643
             
RECEPTIONS   SCORING
1
Jerry Rice
1,549
 
1
Morten Andersen
2,544
2
Cris Carter
1,101
 
2
Gary Anderson
2,434
3
Tim Brown
1,094
 
3
George Blanda
2,002
4
Marvin Harrison
1,093
 
4
John Carney
1,928
5
Isaac Bruce
987
 
5
Matt Stover
1,911
6
Andre Reed
951
 
6
Jason Elam
1,895
7
Art Monk
940
 
7T
Jason Hanson
1,736
8
Terrell Owens
937
 
7T
Norm Johnson
1,736
9
Tony Gonzalez
898
 
9
Nick Lowery
1,711
10
Keenan McCardell
883
 
10
Jan Stenerud
1,699
11
Jimmy Smith
862
 
11
John Kasay
1,603
12
Torry Holt
855
 
12
Eddie Murray
1,594
13
Irving Fryar
851
 
13
Al Del Greco
1,584
14
Rod Smith
849
 
14
Steve Christie
1,476
15
Randy Moss
835
 
15
Pat Leahy
1,470
16
Larry Centers
827
 
16
Adam Vinatieri
1,467
17
Steve Largent
819
 
17
Jim Turner
1,439
18
Shannon Sharpe
815
 
18
Matt Bahr
1,422
19T
Henry Ellard
814
 
19
Jeff Wilkins
1,416
19T
Keyshawn Johnson
814
 
20
Mark Moseley
1,382
 
Italics denotes Hall of Famers
Bold denotes players active during the 2008 season
 
Statistics courtesy of Elias Sports Bureau

AAFC Stats: The Pro Football Hall of Fame began tracking the Top 20 career leaders at the conclusion of the 1968 season.  These lists were maintained in a museum display and later on our website.  One difference from the Hall of Fame’s lists from other similar statistical lists was that they included the stats from the defunct All-America Football Conference (AAFC) that operated from 1946-49. 

When the Hall’s Top 20 debuted in 1968, there were nine players on the lists that had connections to the AAFC.  Today, there are only two players who would rank among the Top 20 if their stats from the AAFC were included.  Otto Graham’s passer rating combining AAFC and NFL stats would equal 86.63.  Lou “The Toe” Groza’s career point total would be 1,608 points if the 259 he scored in the AAFC were recognized by the NFL.  That would place him among the Top 20 scorers of all-time.

 Related Links:
Top 20 at start of 2008 season - leaders in 15 statistical categories