Many NFL teams rely on a few, rather than many, offensive performers. Let’s look at the Running Backs (RBs) and Wide Receivers (WR) who contributed significantly for NFL teams in 2014.
Most Depended On for TDs on the Same Team
Courtesy: Fox Sports
RB: Marshawn Lynch (SEA): Lynch was the most depended on: he scored 42.50% of the Seahawks’ 17 offensive TDs—17 out of a total of 40. Now ask, again: Why didn’t he get the ball at the end of the Super Bowl?
Honorable Mention: Jamaal Charles (KC): The closest RB to Lynch’s performance was the Chiefs’ Jamaal Charles. Charles scored 14 of the Chiefs’ 36 TDs (38.89%). Honestly, though: none of the KC receivers found the end zone all that much last year.They needed a map.
WR: Mike Evans (TB): Evans was the 7th pick in the 2014 draft. And this rookie was able to accomplish something no other WR was able to do: score 42.86% of TB’s 28 offensive TDs. Evans did this while fighting veteran, Vincent Jackson, to become the face of the receiving corps. It was the rookie, not the vet, who became the workhorse of the Buccaneers’ pass attack.
Honorable Mention: Antonio Brown (PIT): Next in line at the WR position came the Steelers’ Antonio Brown with 30.23% output (scoring 13 of Pittsburgh’s 43 offensive TDs). Brown had one more TD than Evans during ’14, but he wasn’t relied on as much for TDs.
Most Depended On for Yardage on the Same Team
Courtesy of: ESPN.com
RB: DeMarco Murray (DAL): Murray generated 36.84% of the Cowboys’ yardage—that’s 2261 of the team’s 6138 total yards of offense. Now he’s off to the Eagles. Will he be able to continue the script in Philly?
Honorable Mention: Matt Forte (CHI): Forte was able to account for 1846 of the Bears’ 5233 offensive yards (35.28%). That’s huge in an offense that was scrutinized, perhaps even penalized, with Jay Cutler at QB.
WR: Julio Jones (ATL): Jones had 26.34% of his team’s offense output. The Atlanta Falcons totaled 6051 yards and Jones contributed 1591 of those yards. Matt Ryan loved Jones: he targeted him 164 times last year—42 more times than ATL’s other star WR, Roddy White.
Honorable Mention: Antonio Brown (PIT): Brown makes the list a second time! He accounted for 26.01% of the Steelers’ yards, that is, 1711 out of the total 6577 yards.
Most Depended On RB-WR Combo for Yardage on the Same Team
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e’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown (PIT): This duo generated 59.69% of their team’s offensive yards–3926 of the teams total 6577 yards. And both were in the Top 3 in the yard-dependency for their respective positions so, naturally, they were able to snag the title of Most Yardage Dependable Duo. They also came in second for Most Dependable Duo for TDs. The closest duo behind won’t get a chance to team up again: DeMarco Murray and Dez Bryant at 58.38%.
Most Depended On RB/WR Duo for Touchdowns on the Same Team
Arian Foster, DeAndre Hopkins (HOU): These two guys accounted for 55.89% of their team’s offensive TDs. This was only .08% more than the Steelers’ stellar duo, but it was enough to give them the title. Hopkins was able to account for 6 of Houston’s 34 offensive TDs, while Foster added another 13. This duo was able to capture 19 of the 34, even with J.J. Watt putting his hand in the honey pot with 3 receiving touchdowns (as many as Andre Johnson had all season).
Here’s a chart with summary data
| Most Depended Upon to Get Yardage (RB) | Most Depended Upon to Get the Touchdown (RB) | |||
| 1. Demarco Murrey | 36.84% | 1. Marshawn Lynch | 42.50% | |
| 2. Matt Forte | 35.28% | 2. Jamaal Charles | 38.89% | |
| 3. Le’Veon Bell | 33.68% | 3. Arian Foster | 38.29% | |
| Most Depended Upon to Get Yardage (WR) | Most Depended Upon to Get the Touchdown (WR) | |||
| 1. Julio Jones | 26.34% | 1. Mike Evans (R) | 42.86% | |
| 2. Antonio Brown | 26.01% | 2. Antonio Brown | 30.23% | |
| 3. Demaryius Thomas | 25.12% | 3. Dez Bryant | 30.19% | |
| Most Depended Upon RB/WR Duo For Yards | Most Depended Upon RB/WR Duo For Touchdowns | |||
| 1. Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown | 59.69% | 1. Arian Foster, DeAndre Hopkins | 55.89% | |
| 2. Demarco Murrey, Dez Bryant | 58.38% | 2. Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown | 55.81% | |
| 3. Matt Forte, Alshon Jeffery | 57.56% | 3. Matt Asiata, Greg Jennings | 55.17% |
