Player
Melvin Gordon
RB
Gordon delivered elite scoring production across a long career despite never being a 1,000-yard rusher in most seasons, proving TD volume can co-exist with modest yardage totals.
9 seasons, 6,543 reg-season rush yards, 56 rush TDs, 70 total TDs. 2x Pro Bowler drafted #15 in 2014.
MilestoneCareer regular-season totals
| Stat | Total |
|---|---|
| Carries | 1,593 |
| Rush Yards | 6,543 |
| Rush TDs | 56 |
| Y/Att | 4.11 |
| Receptions | 312 |
| Rec Yards | 2,513 |
| Total TDs | 70 |
Why it matters. Gordon delivered elite scoring production across a long career despite never being a 1,000-yard rusher in most seasons, proving TD volume can co-exist with modest yardage totals.
From 0 TDs as a rookie to five 10+ TD seasons — including 14 TDs in 12 games in 2018.
TrendGordon year-by-year (reg season)
| Year | Tm | G | Rush Yds | Total TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | LAC | 14 | 641 | 0 |
| 2016 | LAC | 13 | 997 | 12 |
| 2017 | LAC | 16 | 1,105 | 12 |
| 2018 | LAC | 12 | 885 | 14 |
| 2019 | LAC | 12 | 612 | 9 |
| 2020 | DEN | 15 | 986 | 10 |
| 2021 | DEN | 16 | 918 | 10 |
Total TDs by season
| Season | Total TDs |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 10 |
Why it matters. The arc from zero-TD rookie to sustained elite scorer shows the development curve that made Gordon a two-time Pro Bowler despite missing games due to injury and holdout.
LAC (5 yrs): 4,240 rush yds, 47 total TDs. DEN (3 yrs): 2,222 rush yds, 22 TDs. BAL 2023: 81 yds.
SplitGordon career splits (reg season)
| Stop | Years | G | Rush Yds | Total TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAC | 2015-2019 | 67 | 4,240 | 47 |
| DEN | 2020-2022 | 41 | 2,222 | 22 |
| BAL | 2023 | 4 | 81 | 1 |
Why it matters. Gordon's LAC-to-DEN move shows the rare RB who extended prime-quality production across two franchises — his Denver years weren't a decline tour but a legitimate second act.
Among RBs drafted since 2010, only Derrick Henry and Christian McCaffrey also hit 5+ seasons of 10+ total TDs.
Rare2010s-drafted RBs: seasons with 10+ total TDs
| Player | 10-TD Seasons |
|---|---|
| Derrick Henry | 8 |
| Christian McCaffrey | 5 |
| Melvin Gordon | 5 |
| Jonathan Taylor | 4 |
| Josh Jacobs | 4 |
| Saquon Barkley | 4 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | 4 |
| Todd Gurley | 4 |
Why it matters. Consistent double-digit TD production separates elite red-zone weapons from good backs; Gordon's five such seasons rank him among the most reliable scorers of his draft era.
2018 LAC: 14 total TDs in 12 games (1.17/game) — 4th-best per-game TD rate among RBs that season.
ComparisonGordon 2018 regular-season peak
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Games | 12 |
| Rush Yards | 885 |
| Rec Yards | 490 |
| Rush TDs | 10 |
| Rec TDs | 4 |
| Total TDs | 14 |
| Scrimmage Yards | 1,375 |
Why it matters. Missing five games to injury, Gordon still ranked 4th among RBs in TD rate — a rare density of scoring production that defines his Pro Bowl peak.
2019 LAC holdout: missed 4 games demanding a new deal. Austin Ekeler emerged while Gordon was out.
Anomaly2019 holdout impact (reg season)
| Period | GP | Rush Yds | Total TDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 (no holdout) | 12 | 885 | 14 |
| 2019 (missed 4 games) | 12 | 612 | 9 |
| 2020 (left for DEN) | 15 | 986 | 10 |
Why it matters. The holdout cost Gordon the LAC bell-cow role permanently — Ekeler's emergence during those four weeks reshaped both players' careers, making this one of the most consequential RB contract disputes of the decade.
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