Without question, the impressive season put together by running back Chris Johnson in 2009 is above all others in the history of the National Football League.

By rushing for 2,006 yards and catching another 503 yards worth of passes, the former Orlando Olympia High School and East Carolina star surpassed the leagues all-purpose yardage record, previously held by Marshall Faulk, in the final game of the season.

But from the standpoint of merely running the football, to the tune of a 2,000-yard season, how does Johnson stack up beside the five other running backs who originally paved the way?

Not too bad, as you’ll find out.

(- note – In parenthesis is the rank of each statistical category, as it appears on Database Football and Pro-Football Reference, among the six rushers.)

O.J. Simpson – 1973 Buffalo Bills

Playing for a team that went 9-5 and finished second in the AFC East, Simpson averaged 6.0 yards per carry (2nd), amassed 2,003 yards (6th) on just 332 carries (1st), and scored 12 touchdowns (5th) on the year. The Bills offense ranked No. 15 out of 26 teams in scoring as Simpson averaged 143.1 yards per game (1st) on the ground running behind AFC Pro Bowl tackle Dave Foley.

Extra Points – Simpson fumbled seven times (4th) on the season and caught just six passes for 70 yards. The Bills failed to qualify for the playoffs behind the leadership of quarterback Joe Ferguson, who threw only four touchdowns through 14 games.

Eric Dickerson – 1984 Los Angeles Rams

Playing for a team that went 10-6 and finished second in the NFC West, Dickerson averaged 5.6 yards per carry (T-3rd), amassed 2,105 yards (1st) on 379 carries (4th), and scored 14 touchdowns (T-2nd) on the year. The Rams offense ranked No. 12 out of 28 teams in scoring as Dickerson averaged 131.6 yards per game (2nd) while running behind two pro bowlers in center Doug Smith and guard Kent Hill. Wide receiver Henry Ellard also made the pro bowl that year.

Extra Points – In the playoffs, Dickerson ran for another 107 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries but the Rams lost, 10-7, to the New York Giants in the first round. He scored all but two of the teams rushing touchdowns that year and caught 21 passes for 139 yards, with Jeff Kemp at quarterback, but fumbled the football 14 times (6th).

Barry Sanders – 1997 Detroit Lions

Playing for a team that went 9-7 and finished third in the NFC Central, Sanders averaged 6.1 yards per carry (1st), amassed 2,053 yards (3rd) on 335 carries (2nd), and scored 11 touchdowns (6th) on the year. The Lions offense ranked No. 4 out of 30 teams in scoring as Sanders averaged 128.3 yards per game (4th) while running behind pro bowl center Kevin Glover. Wide receiver Herman Moore also made the pro bowl that year.

Extra Points – In the playoffs, Sanders was held to 65 yards on 18 carries as the Lions lost, 9-8, to the Tampa bay Bucanners. While fumbling only three times (T-2nd) all season, Sanders caught 33 passes, primarily from Scott Mitchell, for 305 yards and three scores.

Terrell Davis – 1998 Denver Broncos

Playing for a team that went 14-2 and went on to win their second-straight Super Bowl, Davis averaged 5.1 yards per carry (6th), amassed 2,008 yards (4th) on 392 carries (6th), and scored 22 touchdowns (1st) on the year. The Broncos offense ranked No. 2 out of 30 teams in scoring as Davis averaged 125.5 yards per game (5th) on the ground playing alongside a list of offensive pro bowlers which included center Tom Nalen, guard Mark Schlereth, tackle Tony Jones, tight end Shannon Sharpe, wide receiver Ed McCaffrey and quarterback John Elway.

Extra Points – In the playoffs, Davis ran for 199 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries against the Miami Dolphins; 167 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries against the New York Jets; and 102 yards on 25 carries in the Super Bowl against the Atlanta Falcons. Davis fumbled just twice (1st) and caught 25 passes for 217 yards and two more scores that season.

Jamal Lewis – 2003 Baltimore Ravens

Playing for a team that went 10-6 and finished first in the AFC North, Lewis averaged 5.3 yards per carry (5th), amassed 2,066 yards (2nd) on 387 carries (5th), and scored 14 touchdowns (T-2nd) on the year. The Ravens offense ranked No. 8 out of 32 teams in scoring as Lewis averaged 129.1 yards per game (3rd) on the ground while running behind pro bowl tackle Jonathan Ogden and pro bowl tight end Todd Heap.

Extra Points – In the playoffs, Lewis was held to just 35 yards on 14 carries in a 10-7 loss to the Tennessee Titans. He closed out the regular season with 26 catches for 205 yards from quarterbacks Kyle Boller and Anthony Wright, and coughed up eight fumbles (5th) on the year.

Chris Johnson – 2009 Tennessee Titans

Playing for a team that went 8-8 and finished third in the AFC South, Johnson averaged 5.6 yards per carry (T-3rd), amassed 2,006 yards (5th) on 358 carries (3rd), and scored 14 touchdowns (T-2nd) on the year. The Titans offense ranked No. 16 out of 32 teams in scoring as Johnson averaged 125.4 yards per game (6th) on the ground as the only pro bowl player on the Titans roster.

Extra Points – The one individual stat that puts Johnson in a league of his own amongst this group is the 50 catches, which led the team, for 503 yards and two touchdowns that he hauled in from quarterbacks Kerry Collins and Vince Young. Johnson lost only three fumbles (T-2nd) through 16 games.