During the second half of the 2021 regular season, Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor took off on a tear that vaulted him into the conversation as the league’s best back.
It just so happened to come at a time when the league’s current rushing champ, Derrick Henry, went down with a foot injury that forced him to miss the entire second half of the campaign. Through eight games, Henry led the NFL with 937 rushing yards.
Taylor wound up taking over during Henry’s absence, finishing with a league-high 1,811 rushing yards and 20 total touchdowns. He was the youngest player to ever eclipse 1,800 rushing yards in a season.