The 5 Worst Running Backs in NFL History to Gain 1,000 Yards in a Single Season

First off, let me say anybody that makes it into the NFL at any position and plays in a real game is a tremendous football player. This list is filled with guys who either came out of nowhere and were great for a season and disappeared or guys that simply never lived up to their potential.

5) Terdell Middleton, Green Bay Packers

Even younger Packers fans may never have heard of him and older ones may not remember him. Middleton was a third-round draft choice in the late 70’s for the Packers and not much was expected of him. In his first NFL season, he did not disappoint the people that didn’t expect much from him as he rushed for a whopping 97 yards. In his second year though, Middleton surprised everybody by rushing for over 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns. Middleton went back to being a pedestrian running back for the rest of his career and never rushed for even 500 yards again.

4) Raymont Harris, Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos

Harris could do it all and a lot was expected of him. Unfortunately for whatever reason, this talented back never quite figured out the NFL. He did run for over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns in 1997, but other than that season he was never more than a bit player for the rest of his career.

1996 Cowboys at Bears MNF Week 1

3) Tyrone Wheatley, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders

Wheatley was a beast at the University of Michigan and was deemed a can’t miss NFL prospect by most scouts. Wheatley’s talent never seemed to translate to the pro game. He had one thousand yard season with the Raiders and a season over 900 yards. Basically, a lot was expected of the Wolverine standout and he never lived up to those expectations.

Raiders at Chiefs 1999 Tyrone Wheatley amazing run….

2) Steve Slaton, Houston Texans

Slaton shocked the experts when in his rookie season he ran for over 1,200 yards. The rest of his career proved those experts that didn’t expect much from him right, as he never gained over 150 yards in a season ever again.

Every Steve Slaton Touchdown | Steve Slaton Highlights

1) John Settle, Atlanta Falcons

Settle was the first undrafted rookie to ever rush for over a thousand yards in a single season. After that he just disappeared. He accomplished his thousand yard season as a fullback but was out of the NFL two years later.

Dallas Cowboys vs Atlanta Falcons (September 17, 1989) “John Settle Runs Thru Cowboys To Paydirt”