This is the third edition of this multi-year long look into the running back wall, which attempts to evaluate the magic number (of touches) where running backs decline after hitting it.
In the last update, we found the magic number to be around 3350 touches. Has it changed since then?
Old data recap
In the updated 2022 analysis, I reviewed 24 notable NFL running backs to identify when performance typically declines — what I referred to as “hitting the wall.” By measuring total career college touches and yards per touch, I found that most elite backs begin to decline around 3,334 touches (with a margin of ±600), and at an average age of 29.