Top 20 Series. There are many ways in which a player's success in the NFL is measured. One of the most obvious is a comparison of statistics. Each week during the NFL's regular season Profootballhof.com featured updated Top 20 lists for four main statistical categories.
Here, thanks to the help of Elias Sports Bureau, is an expanded look at Top 20 leaders in multiple NFL statistical categories. Check out where today’s stars compare to NFL greats at the start of the 2013 NFL Season. | Return to Top 20 at the Start of 2013>>>
CAREER NOTES. Longtime Carolina Panthers Wide Receiver Steve Smith entered the Top 20 after adding 1,201 combined net yards to his career total in 2012. In doing so, he registered his club-record seventh 1,000-yard receiving season (1,174 yards).
Smith is the only player who was active during the 2012 season and currently ranks 18th all-time.
2012 LEADER: Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers (2,342 yards)
SINGLE-SEASON NFL RECORD: Darren Sproles, New Orleans Saints (2,696 yards in 2011)
All-Purpose Yards (at start of 2013 NFL Season)
| 1 | Jerry Rice* | 23,546 |
| 2 | Brian Mitchell | 23,330 |
| 3 | Walter Payton* | 21,803 |
| 4 | Emmitt Smith* | 21,583 |
| 5 | Tim Brown | 19,682 |
| 6 | Marshall Faulk* | 19,190 |
| 7 | LaDainian Tomlinson | 18,456 |
| 8 | Barry Sanders* | 18,308 |
| 9 | Herschel Walker | 18,168 |
| 10 | Marcus Allen | 17,648 |
| 11 | Curtis Martin* | 17,430 |
| 12 | Tiki Barber | 17,359 |
| 13 | Eric Metcalf | 17,230 |
| 14 | Derrick Mason | 17,150 |
| 15 | Thurman Thomas* | 16,532 |
| 16 | Tony Dorsett* | 16,347 |
| 17 | Terrell Owens | 16,276 |
| 18 | Steve Smith | 15,869 |
| 19 | Henry Ellard | 15,718 |
| 20 | Warrick Dunn | 15,665 |
* Pro Football Hall of Fame member
Bold - players active during 2012 season
Top 20 lists courtesy of Elias Sports Bureau