Growing up, I used to pretend I was No. 42 Altie Taylor.
My memory of the Billy Sims era is hazy because I was living in Bengals land during their Super Bowl heyday and, after that, in college.
I’d say Kevin Jones.
Jones had 906 yards in the last 8 games of his rookie season and 1133 yards overall, plus another 180 receiving and TDs overall. It looked like Jones was the RB of the future.
To put that remarkable feat into perspective:
2004 leading rusher, Curtis Martin, who had 1697 yards on the season, had 832 yards in the last 8 games.
Shaun Alexander, who had 1696 yards, had 820 yards in the last 8 games.
Corey Dillon, who had 1635 yards, had 886 yards over the last 8 games.
Edge James, who had 1548 yards, had 757 yards in the last 8 games.
Tiki Barber, who had 1518 yards, had 698 yards over the last 8 games.
Rudi Johnson, who had 1454 yards, had 771 yards over the last 8 games.
La Daninian T, who had 1335 yards, had 682 yards in the last 7 games he played (he missed one in the last 8).