| 2024 | Saquon Barkley (Phi) | 2,283 |
| 2023 | Christian McCaffrey (SF) | 2,023 |
| 2022 | Josh Jacobs (LVR) | 2,053 |
| 2021 | Jonathan Taylor (Ind) | 2,171 |
| 2020 | Derrick Henry (Ten) | 2,141 |
| 2019 | Christian McCaffrey (Car) | 2,392 |
| 2018 | Saquon Barkley (NYG) | 2,028 |
| 2017 | Todd Gurley (LAR) | 2,093 |
| 2016 | David Johnson (Az) | 2,118 |
| 2015 | Antonio Brown (Pit) | 2,074 |
| 2014 | DeMarco Murray (Dal) | 2,261 |
| 2013 | LeSean McCoy (Phi) | 2,146 |
| 2012 | Randall Cobb (GB) | 2,342 |
| 2011 | Darren Sproles (NO) | 2,696 |
| 2010 | Danny Amendola (StL.Rams) | 2,364 |
| 2009 | Fred Jackson (Buf) | 2,516 |
| 2008 | Leon Washington (NYJ) | 2,332 |
| 2007 | Josh Cribbs (Cle) | 2,312 |
| 2006 | Steven Jackson (StL.Rams) | 2,334 |
| 2005 | Tiki Barber (NYG) | 2,390 |
| 2004 | Dante Hall (KC) | 2,236 |
| 2003 | Dante Hall (KC) | 2,446 |
| 2002 | Michael Lewis (NO) | 2,647 |
| 2001 | Priest Holmes (KC) | 2,169 |
| 2000 | Derrick Mason (Ten) | 2,690 |
| 1999 | Marshall Faulk (StL.Rams) | 2,429 |
| 1998 | Brian Mitchell (Was) | 2,357 |
| 1997 | Barry Sanders (Det) | 2,358 |
| 1996 | Brian Mitchell (Was) | 1,995 |
| 1995 | Brian Mitchell (Was) | 2,348 |
| 1994 | Brian Mitchell (Was) | 2,477 |
| 1993 | Eric Metcalf (Cle) | 1,932 |
| 1992 | Thurman Thomas (Buf) | 2,113 |
| 1991 | Thurman Thomas (Buf) | 2,038 |
| 1990 | Herschel Walker (Min) | 2,051 |
| 1989 | Thurman Thomas (Buf) | 1,913 |
| 1988 | Tim Brown (LAR) | 2,317 |
| 1987 | Herschel Walker (Dal) | 1,606 |
| 1986 | Eric Dickerson (LAR) | 2,026 |
| 1985 | Lionel James (SD) | 2,535 |
| 1984 | Eric Dickerson (LAR) | 2,259 |
| 1983 | Eric Dickerson (LAR) | 2,212 |
| 1982 | James Brooks (SD) | 1,383 |
| 1981 | James Brooks (SD) | 2,093 |
| 1980 | Bruce Harper (NYJ) | 2,072 |
| 1979 | Wilbert Montgomery (Phi) | 2,012 |
| 1978 | Bruce Harper (NYJ) | 2,157 |
| 1977 | Walter Payton (Chi) | 2,216 |
| 1976 | O.J. Simpson (Buf) | 1,762 |
| 1975 | Terry Metcalf (StL.Cards) | 2,462 |
| 1974 | Mack Herron (NE) | 2,444 |
| 1973 | O.J. Simpson (Buf) | 2,073 |
| 1972 | Dave Hampton (Atl) | 1,780 |
| 1971 | Vic Washington (SF) | 1,986 |
| 1970 | Ed Podolak (KC) | 1,715 |
| 1969 | Jerry LeVias (AFL, Hou.Oilers) | 1,946 |
| Travis Williams (GB) | 1,517 |
| 1968 | Floyd Little (AFL, Den) | 1,825 |
| Chuck Latourette (StL.Cards) | 1,597 |
| 1967 | Gale Sayers (Chi) | 1,689 |
| Floyd Little (AFL, Den) | 1,626 |
| 1966 | Gale Sayers (Chi) | 2,440 |
| Jim Nance (AFL, Bos) | 1,561 |
| 1965 | Gale Sayers (Chi) | 2,272 |
| Lance Alworth (AFL, SD) | 1,590 |
| 1964 | Jim Brown (Cle) | 1,786 |
| Bo Roberson (AFL, Oak) | 1,615 |
| 1963 | Timmy Brown (Phi) | 2,428 |
| Larry Garron (AFL, Bos) | 1,884 |
| 1962 | Timmy Brown (Phi) | 2,306 |
| Dick Christy (AFL, N.Y.Titans) | 2,147 |
| 1961 | Billy Cannon (AFL, Hou.Oilers) | 2,043 |
| Jim Brown (Cle) | 1,917 |
| 1960 | Abner Haynes (AFL, Dal.Texans) | 2,100 |
| Jim Brown (Cle) | 1,761 |
| 1959 | Jim Brown (Cle) | 1,607 |
| 1958 | Jim Brown (Cle) | 1,739 |
| 1957 | Woodley Lewis (Ch.Card) | 1,315 |
| 1956 | Ollie Matson (Ch.Card) | 1,524 |
| 1955 | Ron Waller (LAR) | 1,465 |
| 1954 | Ollie Matson (Ch.Card) | 1,666 |
| 1953 | Lynn Chandnois (Pit) | 1,593 |
| 1952 | Hugh McElhenny (SF) | 1,731 |
| 1951 | Elroy Hirsch (LAR) | 1,501 |
| 1950 | Billy Grimes (GB) | 1,896 |
| 1949 | Charley Trippi (Ch.Card) | 1,552 |
| Chet Mutryn (AAFC, Buf.Bisons) | 1,330 |
| 1948 | Chet Mutryn (AAFC, Buf.Bisons) | 2,288 |
| Charley Trippi (Ch.Cards) | 1,485 |
| 1947 | Spec Sanders (AAFC, NYY) | 2,265 |
| Eddie Saenz (Was) | 1,846 |
| 1946 | Spec Sanders (AAFC, NYY) | 1,691 |
| Bill Dudley (Pit) | 1,650 |
| 1945 | Steve Van Buren (Phi) | 1,478 |
| 1944 | John Grigas (Ch.Card) | 1,156 |
| 1943 | Harry Clarke (Chi) | 1,607 |
| 1942 | Bill Dudley (Pit) | 1,349 |
| 1941 | Marshall Goldberg (Ch.Card) | 1,236 |
| 1940 | Dick Todd (Was) | 813 |
| 1939 | Andy Farkas (Was) | 984 |
| 1938 | Whizzer White (Pit) | 655 |
| 1937 | Cliff Battles (Was) | 955 |
| 1936 | Ace Gutowsky (Det) | 857 |
| 1935 | Ernie Caddel (Det) | 621 |
| 1934 | Beattie Feathers (Chi) | 1,178 |
| 1933 | Cliff Battles (Bos) | 922 |
| 1932 | Cliff Battles (Bos) | 636 |