| 2024 | Jahmyr Gibbs (Det) | 20 |
| 2023 | Christian McCaffrey (SF) | 21 |
| Raheem Mostert (Mia) | 21 |
| 2022 | Austin Ekeler (LAC) | 18 |
| 2021 | Austin Ekeler (LAC) | 20 |
| Jonathan Taylor (Ind) | 20 |
| 2020 | Alvin Kamara (NO) | 21 |
| 2019 | Aaron Jones (GB) | 19 |
| Christian McCaffrey (Car) | 19 |
| 2018 | Todd Gurley (LAR) | 21 |
| 2017 | Todd Gurley (LAR) | 19 |
| 2016 | David Johnson (Az) | 20 |
| 2015 | Doug Baldwin (Sea) | 14 |
| Devonta Freeman (Atl) | 14 |
| Brandon Marshall (NYJ) | 14 |
| Allen Robinson (Jax) | 14 |
| 2014 | Marshawn Lynch (Sea) | 17 |
| 2013 | Jamaal Charles (KC) | 19 |
| 2012 | Arian Foster (Hou) | 17 |
| 2011 | LeSean McCoy (Phi) | 20 |
| 2010 | Arian Foster (Hou) | 18 |
| 2009 | Adrian Peterson (Min) | 18 |
| 2008 | DeAngelo Williams (Car) | 20 |
| 2007 | Randy Moss (NE) | 23 |
| 2006 | LaDainian Tomlinson (SD) | 31 |
| 2005 | Shaun Alexander (Sea) | 28 |
| 2004 | Shaun Alexander (Sea) | 20 |
| 2003 | Priest Holmes (KC) | 27 |
| 2002 | Priest Holmes (KC) | 24 |
| 2001 | Marshall Faulk (StL.Rams) | 21 |
| 2000 | Marshall Faulk (StL.Rams) | 26 |
| 1999 | Stephen Davis (Was) | 17 |
| Edgerrin James (Ind) | 17 |
| 1998 | Terrell Davis (Den) | 23 |
| 1997 | Karim Abdul-Jabbar (Mia) | 16 |
| 1996 | Terry Allen (Was) | 21 |
| 1995 | Emmitt Smith (Dal) | 25 |
| 1994 | Emmitt Smith (Dal) | 22 |
| 1993 | Jerry Rice (SF) | 16 |
| 1992 | Emmitt Smith (Dal) | 19 |
| 1991 | Barry Sanders (Det) | 17 |
| 1990 | Barry Sanders (Det) | 16 |
| 1989 | Dalton Hilliard (NO) | 18 |
| 1988 | Greg Bell (LAR) | 18 |
| 1987 | Jerry Rice (SF) | 23 |
| 1986 | George Rogers (Was) | 18 |
| 1985 | Joe Morris (NYG) | 21 |
| 1984 | Marcus Allen (LAR) | 18 |
| Mark Clayton (Mia) | 18 |
| 1983 | John Riggins (Was) | 24 |
| 1982 | Marcus Allen (LAR) | 14 |
| 1981 | Chuck Muncie (SD) | 19 |
| 1980 | Billy Sims (Det) | 16 |
| 1979 | Earl Campbell (Hou.Oilers) | 19 |
| 1978 | David Sims (Sea) | 15 |
| 1977 | Walter Payton (Chi) | 16 |
| 1976 | Chuck Foreman (Min) | 14 |
| Franco Harris (Pit) | 14 |
| 1975 | O.J. Simpson (Buf) | 23 |
| 1974 | Chuck Foreman (Min) | 15 |
| 1973 | Larry Brown (Was) | 14 |
| 1972 | Emerson Boozer (NYJ) | 14 |
| Ron Johnson (NYG) | 14 |
| 1971 | Duane Thomas (Dal) | 13 |
| 1970 | Dick Gordon (Chi) | 13 |
| MacArthur Lane (StL.Cards) | 13 |
| 1969 | Warren Wells (AFL, Oak) | 14 |
| Tom Matte (Bal) | 13 |
| Lance Rentzel (Dal) | 13 |
| 1968 | Leroy Kelly (Cle) | 20 |
| Warren Wells (AFL, Oak) | 12 |
| 1967 | Homer Jones (NYG) | 14 |
| Emerson Boozer (AFL, NYJ) | 13 |
| 1966 | Leroy Kelly (Cle) | 16 |
| Dan Reeves (Dal) | 16 |
| Lance Alworth (AFL, SD) | 13 |
| 1965 | Gale Sayers (Chi) | 22 |
| Lance Alworth (AFL, SD) | 14 |
| Don Maynard (AFL, NYJ) | 14 |
| 1964 | Lenny Moore (Bal) | 20 |
| Lance Alworth (AFL, SD) | 15 |
| 1963 | Art Powell (AFL, Oak) | 16 |
| Jim Brown (Cle) | 15 |
| 1962 | Abner Haynes (AFL, Dal.Texans) | 19 |
| Jim Taylor (GB) | 19 |
| 1961 | Bill Groman (AFL, Hou.Oilers) | 18 |
| Jim Taylor (GB) | 16 |
| 1960 | Paul Hornung (GB) | 15 |
| Sonny Randle (StL.Cards) | 15 |
| Art Powell (AFL, N.Y.Titans) | 14 |
| 1959 | Raymond Berry (Bal) | 14 |
| Jim Brown (Cle) | 14 |
| 1958 | Jim Brown (Cle) | 18 |
| 1957 | Lenny Moore (Bal) | 11 |
| 1956 | Rick Casares (Chi) | 14 |
| 1955 | Alan Ameche (Bal) | 9 |
| Harlon Hill (Chi) | 9 |
| 1954 | Harlon Hill (Chi) | 12 |
| 1953 | Joe Perry (SF) | 13 |
| 1952 | Cloyce Box (Det) | 15 |
| 1951 | Elroy Hirsch (LAR) | 17 |
| 1950 | Bob Shaw (Ch.Cards) | 12 |
| 1949 | Gene Roberts (NYG) | 17 |
| Alyn Beals (AAFC, SF) | 12 |
| 1948 | Chet Mutryn (AAFC, Buf.Bisons) | 16 |
| Mal Kutner (Ch.Cards) | 15 |
| 1947 | Spec Sanders (AAFC, NYY) | 19 |
| Steve Van Buren (Phi) | 14 |
| 1946 | Spec Sanders (AAFC, NYY) | 12 |
| Ted Fritsch (GB) | 10 |
| 1945 | Steve Van Buren (Phi) | 18 |
| 1944 | Don Hutson (GB) | 9 |
| Bill Paschal (NYG) | 9 |
| 1943 | Don Hutson (GB) | 12 |
| Bill Paschal (NYG) | 12 |
| 1942 | Don Hutson (GB) | 17 |
| 1941 | Don Hutson (GB) | 12 |
| 1940 | Johnny Drake (LAR) | 9 |
| Dick Todd (Was) | 9 |
| 1939 | Andy Farkas (Was) | 11 |
| 1938 | Don Hutson (GB) | 9 |
| 1937 | Cliff Battles (Was) | 7 |
| Clarke Hinkle (GB) | 7 |
| Don Hutson (GB) | 7 |
| 1936 | Don Hutson (GB) | 8 |
| 1935 | Ernie Caddel (Det) | 6 |
| Dutch Clark (Det) | 6 |
| Don Hutson (GB) | 6 |
| Bill Karr (Chi) | 6 |
| 1934 | Beattie Feathers (Chi) | 9 |
| 1933 | Kink Richards (NYG) | 7 |
| 1932 | Red Grange (Chi) | 7 |
