Weekly Top 20 - thru Week #4

History Published on : 9/30/2008

Career leaders in the NFL's four main statistical categories - through Week 4 of the 2008 NFL Regular Season.

PASSER RATING   RUSHING YARDS
1
Steve Young
96.81
 
1
Emmitt Smith
18,355
2
Peyton Manning
94.25
 
2
Walter Payton
16,726
3
Kurt Warner
93.52
 
3
Barry Sanders
15,269
4
Tom Brady
92.91
 
4
Curtis Martin
14,101
5
Ben Roethlisberger
92.52
 
5
Jerome Bettis
13,662
6
Joe Montana
92.26
 
6
Eric Dickerson
13,259
7
Daunte Culpepper
89.95
 
7
Tony Dorsett
12,739
8
Carson Palmer
89.01
 
8
Jim Brown
12,312
9
Chad Pennington
88.84
 
9
Marshall Faulk
12,279
10
Drew Brees
88.83
 
10
Marcus Allen
12,243
11
Marc Bulger
87.56
 
11
Franco Harris
12,120
12
Jeff Garcia
87.05
 
12
Thurman Thomas
12,074
13
Trent Green
86.71
 
13
Edgerrin James
11,884
14
Dan Marino
86.38
 
14
John Riggins
11,352
15
Donovan McNabb
86.15
 
15
Corey Dillon
11,241
16
Brett Favre
86.05
 
16
O.J. Simpson
11,236
17
Matt Hasselbeck
85.45
 
17
LaDainian Tomlinson
10,946
18
Jake Delhomme
85.32
 
18
Fred Taylor
10,928
19
Rich Gannon
84.71
 
19
Ricky Watters
10,643
20
Jim Kelly
84.39
 
20
Tiki Barber
10,449
   
 
 
 
 
 
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
1,055
 
4
John Carney
1,847
5
Isaac Bruce
953
 
5
Matt Stover
1,839
6
Andre Reed
951
 
6
Jason Elam
1,822
7
Art Monk
940
 
7
Norm Johnson
1,736
8
Terrell Owens
899
 
8
Nick Lowery
1,711
9
Keenan McCardell
883
 
9
Jan Stenerud
1,699
10
Jimmy Smith
862
 
10
Jason Hanson
1,680
11
Irving Fryar
851
 
11
Eddie Murray
1,594
12
Rod Smith
849
 
12
Al Del Greco
1,584
13
Tony Gonzalez
838
 
13
John Kasay
1,536
14
Larry Centers
827
 
14
Steve Christie
1,476
15
Torry Holt
820
 
15
Pat Leahy
1,470
16
Steve Largent
819
 
16
Jim Turner
1,439
17
Shannon Sharpe
815
 
17
Matt Bahr
1,422
18
Henry Ellard
814
 
18
Jeff Wilkins
1,416
19
Keyshawn Johnson
814
 
19
Adam Vinatieri
1,403
20
Randy Moss
786
 
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