Ezekiel Elliott isn’t having a great year, but it’s not for a lack of work. Entering Week 13, he’s got 20 carries inside the 5-yard line. That ties for most in the league.
It’s just that Elliott hasn’t done all that much with all those carries. His 20 carries have generated only 14 yards, with 4 scores. The other player with 20 attempts (Dalvin Cook) has gained 34 yards in that part of the field, and with 11 scores.
Cam Newton has been the 3rd-busiest ball carrier in this part of the field, with 17 attempts. Seven other players have averaged at least a carry per week (inside the 5).
Two players have had all of their team’s rushing attempted inside the 5: Josh Jacobs and James Robinson.
Lamar Jackson has been one of the bigger surprises. The Ravens have run the ball 15 times inside the 5-yard line, and he hasn’t handled the ball on any of those plays.
Three teams have two players who’ve carried the ball at least 8 times inside the 5: the Bills (Allen/Moss), Packers (Jones/Williams) and Steelers (Conner/Snell).
The stats here are ones we compile ourselves (working with the league-supplied play-by-play data). Rather than touchdowns, I’m listing “end zone” plays, which include both touchdowns and 2-point conversions. Two-point conversions technically aren’t official NFL plays, but they help paint the picture, so I’m including them.
| PLAYERS WITH 8 RUSHING ATTEMPTS INSIDE THE 5 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Att | Yards | Avg | EZ |
| D.Cook, Min. | 20 | 34 | 1.7 | 11 |
| E.Elliott, Dall. | 20 | 14 | .7 | 4 |
| C.Newton, N.E. | 17 | 27 | 1.6 | 8 |
| D.Henry, Ten. | 15 | 21 | 1.4 | 7 |
| T.Gurley, Atl. | 13 | 19 | 1.5 | 6 |
| J.Jacobs, L.V. | 13 | 12 | .9 | 4 |
| K.Drake, Ariz. | 13 | 11 | .8 | 6 |
| A.Gibson, Was. | 12 | 28 | 2.3 | 7 |
| A.Kamara, N.O. | 11 | 14 | 1.3 | 7 |
| D.Henderson, LAR | 11 | 10 | .9 | 4 |
| W.Gallman, NYG | 10 | 13 | 1.3 | 6 |
| K.Hunt, Cle. | 10 | 10 | 1.0 | 3 |
| J.Conner, Pitt. | 9 | 14 | 1.6 | 4 |
| A.Jones, G.B. | 9 | 13 | 1.4 | 4 |
| J.Taylor, Ind. | 9 | 13 | 1.4 | 4 |
| J.Allen, Buff. | 9 | 11 | 1.2 | 6 |
| M.Sanders, Phil. | 9 | 10 | 1.1 | 4 |
| D.Montgomery, Chi. | 9 | 7 | .8 | 2 |
| J.Howard, Mia. | 9 | 6 | .7 | 4 |
| Da.Johnson, Hou. | 9 | 3 | .3 | 2 |
| Z.Moss, Buff. | 8 | 15 | 1.9 | 2 |
| R.Jones, T.B. | 8 | 12 | 1.5 | 3 |
| A.Peterson, Det. | 8 | 9 | 1.1 | 4 |
| J.Williams, G.B. | 8 | 5 | .6 | 3 |
| B.Snell, Pitt. | 8 | 4 | .5 | 3 |
| G.Edwards, Balt. | 8 | 3 | .4 | 3 |
| C.Edwards-Helaire, K.C. | 8 | 0 | .0 | 1 |
If you want to look through all of the team numbers, I’ve got them listed below. I’ve got them alphabetically by team, with the busiest player for each team in bold.
| TEAM-BY-TEAM BREAKDOWNS (rushing inside 5) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Att | Yards | Avg | EZ |
| K.Drake, Ariz. | 13 | 11 | .8 | 6 |
| K.Murray, Ariz. | 7 | 9 | 1.3 | 5 |
| C.Edmonds, Ariz. | 1 | -1 | -1.0 | 0 |
| T.Gurley, Atl. | 13 | 19 | 1.5 | 6 |
| B.Hill, Atl. | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 0 |
| I.Smith, Atl. | 1 | -2 | -2.0 | 0 |
| G.Edwards, Balt. | 8 | 3 | .4 | 3 |
| J.Dobbins, Balt. | 3 | 7 | 2.3 | 3 |
| J.Hill, Balt. | 2 | 6 | 3.0 | 0 |
| M.Ingram, Balt. | 2 | 1 | .5 | 1 |
| J.Allen, Buff. | 9 | 11 | 1.2 | 6 |
| Z.Moss, Buff. | 8 | 15 | 1.9 | 2 |
| D.Singletary, Buff. | 4 | 1 | .3 | 1 |
| T.Yeldon, Buff. | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 |
| M.Davis, Car. | 7 | 4 | .6 | 3 |
| C.McCaffrey, Car. | 4 | 5 | 1.3 | 3 |
| T.Bridgewater, Car. | 3 | 8 | 2.7 | 2 |
| C.Samuel, Car. | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 1 |
| P.Walker, Car. | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 0 |
| A.Armah, Car. | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 |
| D.Montgomery, Chi. | 9 | 7 | .8 | 2 |
| N.Foles, Chi. | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 |
| M.Trubisky, Chi. | 1 | 0 | .0 | 0 |
| J.Burrow, Cin. | 6 | -1 | -.2 | 2 |
| G.Bernard, Cin. | 5 | 8 | 1.6 | 1 |
| J.Mixon, Cin. | 5 | 1 | .2 | 0 |
| S.Perine, Cin. | 3 | 0 | .0 | 1 |
| K.Hunt, Cle. | 10 | 10 | 1.0 | 3 |
| N.Chubb, Cle. | 6 | 4 | .7 | 2 |
| S.Carlson, Cle. | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 1 |
| E.Elliott, Dall. | 20 | 14 | .7 | 4 |
| D.Prescott, Dall. | 5 | 4 | .8 | 4 |
| T.Pollard, Dall. | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 1 |
| C.Lamb, Dall. | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 1 |
| A.Cooper, Dall. | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 1 |
| M.Gordon, Den. | 6 | 10 | 1.7 | 4 |
| P.Lindsay, Den. | 3 | 0 | .0 | 0 |
| D.Lock, Den. | 2 | 5 | 2.5 | 1 |
| R.Freeman, Den. | 1 | 0 | .0 | 0 |
| A.Peterson, Det. | 8 | 9 | 1.1 | 4 |
| D.Swift, Det. | 5 | 8 | 1.6 | 3 |
| K.Johnson, Det. | 2 | 5 | 2.5 | 1 |
| A.Jones, G.B. | 9 | 13 | 1.4 | 4 |
| J.Williams, G.B. | 8 | 5 | .6 | 3 |
| A.Rodgers, G.B. | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 1 |
| T.Ervin, G.B. | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 0 |
| Da.Johnson, Hou. | 9 | 3 | .3 | 2 |
| D.Watson, Hou. | 3 | 3 | 1.0 | 2 |
| Du.Johnson, Hou. | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 |
| C.Prosise, Hou. | 1 | -1 | -1.0 | 0 |
| J.Taylor, Ind. | 9 | 13 | 1.4 | 4 |
| N.Hines, Ind. | 6 | 8 | 1.3 | 2 |
| J.Wilkins, Ind. | 4 | 3 | .8 | 2 |
| J.Brissett, Ind. | 3 | 4 | 1.3 | 3 |
| T.Burton, Ind. | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 2 |
| J.Robinson, Jac. | 5 | 12 | 2.4 | 5 |
| C.Edwards-Helaire, K.C. | 8 | 0 | .0 | 1 |
| P.Mahomes, K.C. | 2 | 6 | 3.0 | 2 |
| D.Washington, K.C. | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 |
| C.Henne, K.C. | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 |
| J.Kelley, LAC | 7 | 7 | 1.0 | 2 |
| J.Herbert, LAC | 5 | 10 | 2.0 | 3 |
| K.Ballage, LAC | 3 | 7 | 2.3 | 1 |
| A.Ekeler, LAC | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 |
| T.Taylor, LAC | 1 | 0 | .0 | 0 |
| D.Henderson, LAR | 11 | 10 | .9 | 4 |
| M.Brown, LAR | 6 | 8 | 1.3 | 4 |
| R.Woods, LAR | 2 | 9 | 4.5 | 2 |
| J.Goff, LAR | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 2 |
| C.Akers, LAR | 2 | 0 | .0 | 1 |
| G.Everett, LAR | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 1 |
| J.Jacobs, L.V. | 13 | 12 | .9 | 4 |
| J.Howard, Mia. | 9 | 6 | .7 | 4 |
| M.Gaskin, Mia. | 6 | 6 | 1.0 | 2 |
| R.Fitzpatrick, Mia. | 3 | 3 | 1.0 | 2 |
| S.Ahmed, Mia. | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 1 |
| T.Tagovailoa, Mia. | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 0 |
| D.Cook, Min. | 20 | 34 | 1.7 | 11 |
| A.Mattison, Min. | 4 | 6 | 1.5 | 1 |
| K.Cousins, Min. | 1 | 0 | .0 | 0 |
| M.Boone, Min. | 1 | -1 | -1.0 | 0 |
| C.Newton, N.E. | 17 | 27 | 1.6 | 8 |
| R.Burkhead, N.E. | 4 | 8 | 2.0 | 3 |
| D.Harris, N.E. | 3 | 1 | .3 | 0 |
| S.Michel, N.E. | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 |
| J.White, N.E. | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 |
| A.Kamara, N.O. | 11 | 14 | 1.3 | 7 |
| T.Hill, N.O. | 5 | 5 | 1.0 | 3 |
| L.Murray, N.O. | 3 | 4 | 1.3 | 1 |
| D.Brees, N.O. | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 2 |
| J.Winston, N.O. | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 |
| W.Gallman, NYG | 10 | 13 | 1.3 | 6 |
| D.Lewis, NYG | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 1 |
| D.Freeman, NYG | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 1 |
| E.Engram, NYG | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 1 |
| S.Barkley, NYG | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 |
| E.Penny, NYG | 1 | 0 | .0 | 0 |
| L.Perine, NYJ | 2 | 10 | 5.0 | 2 |
| F.Gore, NYJ | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 1 |
| J.Adams, NYJ | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 1 |
| M.Sanders, Phil. | 9 | 10 | 1.1 | 4 |
| C.Wentz, Phil. | 5 | 3 | .6 | 3 |
| J.Hurts, Phil. | 2 | 0 | .0 | 0 |
| C.Clement, Phil. | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 1 |
| B.Scott, Phil. | 1 | -1 | -1.0 | 0 |
| J.Conner, Pitt. | 9 | 14 | 1.6 | 4 |
| B.Snell, Pitt. | 8 | 4 | .5 | 3 |
| C.Claypool, Pitt. | 3 | 2 | .7 | 2 |
| B.Roethlisberger, Pitt. | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 0 |
| R.McCloud, Pitt. | 1 | -1 | -1.0 | 0 |
| C.Carson, Sea. | 7 | 8 | 1.1 | 2 |
| D.Dallas, Sea. | 5 | 6 | 1.2 | 2 |
| C.Hyde, Sea. | 4 | 6 | 1.5 | 2 |
| R.Wilson, Sea. | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 1 |
| T.Homer, Sea. | 2 | 1 | .5 | 0 |
| J.McKinnon, S.F. | 4 | 1 | .3 | 3 |
| J.Hasty, S.F. | 3 | 5 | 1.7 | 1 |
| J.Wilson, S.F. | 2 | 5 | 2.5 | 2 |
| R.Mostert, S.F. | 2 | 0 | .0 | 0 |
| K.Juszczyk, S.F. | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 1 |
| N.Mullens, S.F. | 1 | 0 | .0 | 0 |
| R.Jones, T.B. | 8 | 12 | 1.5 | 3 |
| L.Fournette, T.B. | 6 | 6 | 1.0 | 2 |
| T.Brady, T.B. | 3 | 4 | 1.3 | 3 |
| D.Henry, Ten. | 15 | 21 | 1.4 | 7 |
| R.Tannehill, Ten. | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 2 |
| C.Batson, Ten. | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 0 |
| J.Smith, Ten. | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 |
| A.Gibson, Was. | 12 | 28 | 2.3 | 7 |
| P.Barber, Was. | 7 | 5 | .7 | 2 |
| D.Haskins, Was. | 4 | 2 | .5 | 1 |
| J.McKissic, Was. | 2 | 4 | 2.0 | 1 |
| K.Allen, Was. | 1 | 0 | .0 | 0 |
—Ian Allan