National Football League

Pick 6: Young legs making NFL impact

Published Nov. 3, 2010 8:29 p.m. ET

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Halfway through the season, Titans All-Pro running back Chris Johnson is less than one-third of the way to his stated goal of rushing for 2,500 yards.

While he's got an off week to figure out how he's going to make up ground in his attempt to become the first NFL player to hit 2,000 yards twice, there are some other young legs beginning to get some attention.

Johnson burst into the NFL with a 1,000-yard season in his rookie year, and followed it with 2,006 yards last season. Even though he's way off that pace, he still ranks third in the league with 721 yards.

Vikings All-Pro Adrian Peterson is leading the NFL with 776 yards, followed by the Texans' Arian Foster, an undrafted free agent in 2009 who ranks second, 39 behind Peterson.

Foster is part of a Pick Six of emerging running backs from the first half of the season:

- Arian Foster, Texans: A practice player last year, a prized possession this season. The 6-foot-1, 227-pound second-year pro became an instant star in Week 1 with a club-record 231 yards (and three TDs) in a 34-24 win over the defending AFC champion Colts. He's run for 100-plus yards in three other games and has seven TDs on the ground, not to mention 28 catches for 245 yards and another TD.

- Darren McFadden, Raiders: In his third season like Johnson, McFadden may now be finding his legs - 165 yards, three TDs rushing and two catches, 31 yards receiving and a TD in a Week 7 rout of the Broncos, and 111 yards rushing in last week's win over the Seahawks. With 668 yards, he's the league's No. 7 rusher.

- LeGarette Blount, Buccaneers: Undrafted rookie has made his presence felt recently with several key second-half runs in a one-point, Week 7 win over the Rams, and a 120-yard, two-TD effort in a three-point win over the Seahawks last Sunday. Blount is best known as the Oregon player suspended after punching Boise State's Byron Hout following a loss in the Ducks' 2009 season opener. He signed with the Titans in April, and eventually wound up with the Bucs before Week 1.

- LeSean McCoy, Eagles: With all-purpose Michael Westbrook gone, McCoy did well last season and has quickly emerged as instant offense this year: 477 yards rushing and five TDs, 38 catches for 293 yards in seven games. The 5-11, 208-pounder also is tough - he played with a broken rib and had 138 total yards (92 rushing, 46 receiving) in a win over the 49ers.

- Peyton Hillis, Browns: Acquired in the Brady Quinn-to-the-Broncos trade, the 6-1, 240-pound third-year pro has logged 460 tough yards and five TDs, and is becoming quite the dependable ball carrier. He also has 27 catches for 193 yards and a TD, and completed a pass to QB Colt McCoy in a win over the Saints in Week 7.

- Jahvid Best, Lions: The 5-10, 199-pound game-breaking threat is fitting in well with a pass-oriented offense, and has 613 all-purpose yards (297 rushing, 316 receiving) with five TDs through seven games. He's also the first NFL rookie to score five TDs in his first two career games since Billy Sims in 1980.

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