Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy has eclipsed 1,100 rushing yards in each of his first two seasons in the NFL and there's no reason to expect otherwise in 2015.
"I think it can be," quarterback Aaron Rodgers said of the numerical benchmark becoming the standard for Lacy. "In order to elongate his career, we're going to continue to keep him at that 20-touches-a-game mark. But he's been averaging over 4 [yards] a clip, and that's going to put him at that 1,100 to 1,200 yards for the year."
Since 2000, 49 total running backs have produced back-to-back seasons with at least 1,100 rushing yards in the NFL. That list includes rushers such as DeMarco Murray and LeSean McCoy, who joined Lacy in accomplishing that feat over the last two seasons. Only about half of those running backs followed up with a third straight season of 1,100 rushing yards.
If Lacy is able to hit that mark, he'll become the third back in Packers history to do so. Ahman Green did it in five straight seasons (2000-04) and Jim Taylor did it for three (1960-62).
"I don't think there's any reason why we shouldn't as long as we make a commitment to get a certain amount of runs," Lacy said. "With the threat of Aaron throwing the ball, it opens it up for us, and there's no reason we shouldn't."
Assuming Rodgers is healthy, it may be difficult for Lacy to approach 20 carries per game. Last year, he crossed that mark just four times in 18 outings (including playoffs). In 31 career games, Lacy has averaged 17.1 rushing attempts. But the somewhat lighter workload is to keep the big back fresh for when it matters.
"I think they do a good job of watching his rep count, especially early in the season," left guard Josh Sitton said. "He might not have gotten 15 carries in any of the first games."
Actually, Lacy did receive more than 15 carries in the first half of the season...but only once. Now his strong finish to the season in which he racked up 711 yards makes more sense.
"He's a beast, man," Sitton said. "It seems like the more carries he gets, the tougher he gets."
But things could be a little more difficult for Lacy in 2015. Rodgers notes that last season was the first time in four years that opposing defenses were bold enough to bring a safety into the box to try and stop the running game.
"If we keep doing that and getting the one-on-one matchups [in the passing game] we're going to be tough to stop," Rodgers said.
Either way, the Packers will be a good source of quality fantasy football players in 2015.
