| 2024 | James Cook (Buf) | 16 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs (Det) | 16 |
| Derrick Henry (Bal) | 16 |
| 2023 | Raheem Mostert (Mia) | 18 |
| 2022 | Jamaal Williams (Det) | 17 |
| 2021 | Jonathan Taylor (Ind) | 18 |
| 2020 | Derrick Henry (Ten) | 17 |
| 2019 | Derrick Henry (Ten) | 16 |
| Aaron Jones (GB) | 16 |
| 2018 | Todd Gurley (LAR) | 17 |
| 2017 | Todd Gurley (LAR) | 13 |
| 2016 | LeGarrette Blount (NE) | 18 |
| 2015 | Devonta Freeman (Atl) | 11 |
| Jeremy Hill (Cin) | 11 |
| Adrian Peterson (Min) | 11 |
| DeAngelo Williams (Pit) | 11 |
| 2014 | Marshawn Lynch (Sea) | 13 |
| DeMarco Murray (Dal) | 13 |
| 2013 | Jamaal Charles (KC) | 12 |
| Marshawn Lynch (Sea) | 12 |
| 2012 | Arian Foster (Hou) | 15 |
| 2011 | LeSean McCoy (Phi) | 17 |
| 2010 | Arian Foster (Hou) | 16 |
| 2009 | Adrian Peterson (Min) | 18 |
| 2008 | DeAngelo Williams (Car) | 18 |
| 2007 | LaDainian Tomlinson (SD) | 15 |
| 2006 | LaDainian Tomlinson (SD) | 28 |
| 2005 | Shaun Alexander (Sea) | 27 |
| 2004 | LaDainian Tomlinson (SD) | 17 |
| 2003 | Priest Holmes (KC) | 27 |
| 2002 | Priest Holmes (KC) | 21 |
| 2001 | Shaun Alexander (Sea) | 14 |
| 2000 | Marshall Faulk (StL.Rams) | 18 |
| 1999 | Stephen Davis (Was) | 17 |
| 1998 | Terrell Davis (Den) | 21 |
| 1997 | Karim Abdul-Jabbar (Mia) | 15 |
| Terrell Davis (Den) | 15 |
| 1996 | Terry Allen (Was) | 21 |
| 1995 | Emmitt Smith (Dal) | 25 |
| 1994 | Emmitt Smith (Dal) | 21 |
| 1993 | Marcus Allen (KC) | 12 |
| 1992 | Emmitt Smith (Dal) | 18 |
| 1991 | Barry Sanders (Det) | 16 |
| 1990 | Derrick Fenner (Sea) | 14 |
| Cleveland Gary (LAR) | 14 |
| 1989 | Greg Bell (LAR) | 15 |
| 1988 | Greg Bell (LAR) | 16 |
| 1987 | Johnny Hector (NYJ) | 11 |
| Charles White (LAR) | 11 |
| 1986 | George Rogers (Was) | 18 |
| 1985 | Joe Morris (NYG) | 21 |
| 1984 | Eric Dickerson (LAR) | 14 |
| John Riggins (Was) | 14 |
| 1983 | John Riggins (Was) | 24 |
| 1982 | Marcus Allen (LAR) | 11 |
| 1981 | Chuck Muncie (SD) | 19 |
| 1980 | Earl Campbell (Hou.Oilers) | 13 |
| Billy Sims (Det) | 13 |
| 1979 | Earl Campbell (Hou.Oilers) | 19 |
| 1978 | David Sims (Sea) | 14 |
| 1977 | Walter Payton (Chi) | 14 |
| 1976 | Franco Harris (Pit) | 14 |
| 1975 | Pete Banaszak (Oak) | 16 |
| O.J. Simpson (Buf) | 16 |
| 1974 | Tom Sullivan (Phi) | 11 |
| 1973 | Floyd Little (Den) | 12 |
| O.J. Simpson (Buf) | 12 |
| 1972 | Mercury Morris (Mia) | 12 |
| 1971 | Duane Thomas (Dal) | 11 |
| 1970 | MacArthur Lane (StL.Cards) | 11 |
| 1969 | Tom Matte (Bal) | 11 |
| Jim Kiick (AFL, Mia) | 9 |
| 1968 | Leroy Kelly (Cle) | 16 |
| Paul Robinson (AFL, Cin) | 8 |
| 1967 | Leroy Kelly (Cle) | 11 |
| Emerson Boozer (AFL, NYJ) | 10 |
| 1966 | Leroy Kelly (Cle) | 15 |
| Jim Nance (AFL, Bos) | 11 |
| 1965 | Jim Brown (Cle) | 17 |
| Wray Carlton (AFL, Buf) | 6 |
| Cookie Gilchrist (AFL, Den) | 6 |
| Paul Lowe (AFL, SD) | 6 |
| Curtis McClinton (AFL, KC) | 6 |
| 1964 | Lenny Moore (Bal) | 16 |
| Sid Blanks (AFL, Hou.Oilers) | 6 |
| Cookie Gilchrist (AFL, Buf) | 6 |
| Daryle Lamonica (AFL, Buf) | 6 |
| 1963 | Jim Brown (Cle) | 12 |
| Cookie Gilchrist (AFL, Buf) | 12 |
| 1962 | Jim Taylor (GB) | 19 |
| Cookie Gilchrist (AFL, Buf) | 13 |
| Abner Haynes (AFL, Dal.Texans) | 13 |
| 1961 | Jim Taylor (GB) | 15 |
| Abner Haynes (AFL, Dal.Texans) | 9 |
| Paul Lowe (AFL, SD) | 9 |
| 1960 | Paul Hornung (GB) | 13 |
| Abner Haynes (AFL, Dal.Texans) | 9 |
| 1959 | Jim Brown (Cle) | 14 |
| 1958 | Jim Brown (Cle) | 17 |
| 1957 | Jim Brown (Cle) | 9 |
| 1956 | Rick Casares (Chi) | 12 |
| 1955 | Alan Ameche (Bal) | 9 |
| 1954 | Dan Towler (LAR) | 11 |
| 1953 | Joe Perry (SF) | 10 |
| 1952 | Dan Towler (LAR) | 10 |
| 1951 | Rob Goode (Was) | 9 |
| 1950 | Johnny Lujack (Chi) | 11 |
| 1949 | Steve Van Buren (Phi) | 11 |
| Marion Motley (AAFC, SF) | 8 |
| Joe Perry (AAFC, SF) | 8 |
| 1948 | Chet Mutryn (AAFC, Buf.Bisons) | 10 |
| Joe Perry (AAFC, SF) | 10 |
| Steve Van Buren (Phi) | 10 |
| 1947 | Spec Sanders (AAFC, NYY) | 18 |
| Steve Van Buren (Phi) | 13 |
| 1946 | Ted Fritsch (GB) | 9 |
| Len Eshmont (AAFC, SF) | 6 |
| Don Greenwood (AAFC, Cle) | 6 |
| John Kimbrough (AAFC, LAD) | 6 |
| Spec Sanders (AAFC, NYY) | 6 |
| 1945 | Steve Van Buren (Phi) | 15 |
| 1944 | Bill Paschal (NYG) | 9 |
| 1943 | Bill Paschal (NYG) | 10 |
| 1942 | Gary Famiglietti (Chi) | 8 |
| 1941 | Hugh Gallarneau (Chi) | 8 |
| 1940 | Johnny Drake (Cle.Rams) | 9 |
| 1939 | Johnny Drake (Cle.Rams) | 9 |
| 1938 | Andy Farkas (Was) | 6 |
| 1937 | Cliff Battles (Was) | 5 |
| 1937 | Dutch Clark (Det) | 5 |
| 1937 | Clarke Hinkle (GB) | 5 |
| 1936 | Dutch Clark (Det) | 7 |
| 1935 | Ernie Caddel (Det) | 6 |
| 1934 | Dutch Clark (Det) | 8 |
| 1934 | Beattie Feathers (Chi) | 8 |
| 1933 | Glenn Presnell (Port) | 6 |
| 1932 | Bronko Nagurski (Chi) | 4 |
