Since many people here know a lot more about the NFL than I do, I'm hoping someone will be able to answer a question on how league leaders work.

Let's assume that a player is a backup RB on team A in in the AFC. As a backup he rushes for 150 yards in 4 games. After the 4th game, he is traded to Team B in the NFC where he gets to start and has a good year, racking up 1650 yards through the final 12 games.

My question is what is his rushing total for determining where he fals in the list of league leaders? Does he get credit for 1800 yards in the NFC lists or just 1550? How about for the league leaders?

I believe that stats reset in baseball, but I have no idea what (if any) the rule is in football. Can anyone help?

I am almost positive that they would count all of his stats for a single year for the league leaders. (So it would list as 1800 in both year totals and league leaders.)

EDIT: But I am not entirely positive. Just almost positive. :) (Has this ever really come up in the NFL before? Stats splitting with the leaders?)

Yes, but when you look at his stats in your "team only" stats list, you'll only see the total he rushed for you. This may be why you asked this question in the first place. On the league leaders board, it's all there, but on your team list, only what he did for you.

Originally posted by sabotai
(Has this ever really come up in the NFL before? Stats splitting with the leaders?)

Eric Dickerson in '87.

It's a good thing I have the Record and Fact Book for that year. Let me look it up.

Ok, they list Dickerson's Rams and Colts total yards under the stats leader for the AFC rushing leaders. So no, they don't split the stats per conference. (It just says Dickerson, Eric, LA Rams-Ind under the AFC rushing leaders)

But under the LA Rams team stats, they have the yards Dickerson ran for them there.

Originally posted by Fido
Let's assume that a player is a backup RB on team A in in the AFC. As a backup he rushes for 150 yards in 4 games. After the 4th game, he is traded to Team B in the NFC where he gets to start and has a good year, racking up 1550 yards through the final 12 games.

My question is what is his rushing total for determining where he fals in the list of league leaders? Does he get credit for 1800 yards in the NFC lists or just 1550? How about for the league leaders?

by my count, he'd only get credit for 1700 yards for the whole year.

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unless you think he gets 100 yards credit for being traded.

Originally posted by finkenst
by my count, he'd only get credit for 1700 yards for the whole year.

Math stinks.

Originally posted by sabotai
It's a good thing I have the Record and Fact Book for that year. Let me look it up.

Ok, they list Dickerson's Rams and Colts total yards under the stats leader for the AFC rushing leaders. So no, they don't split the stats per conference. (It just says Dickerson, Eric, LA Rams-Ind under the AFC rushing leaders)

But under the LA Rams team stats, they have the yards Dickerson ran for them there.

Perfect. Thanks!