Is Aaron Hayden Better Than Alfonso Smith? NFL Stats Decide

This is as close as it gets. Aaron Hayden and Alfonso Smith split the statistical categories evenly — 3 apiece — making this one of the most genuinely contested RB comparisons in NFL history. When the numbers are this balanced, the debate comes down to which statistics matter most to you.

Aaron Hayden's Rushing Yards of 784 compared to Alfonso Smith's 175 represents a 348% advantage — dramatically better than their counterpart in this critical category. Alfonso Smith falls 96.8% below the career average of 5500 in this category while Aaron Hayden exceeds it. It is the single most decisive number in this comparison and the clearest statistical argument for Aaron Hayden's edge.

The most competitive category in this matchup is Yards Per Carry, where Aaron Hayden posts 3.6 against Alfonso Smith's 3.2 — a gap of just 12.5%. Alfonso Smith can point to this as evidence that the overall comparison is closer than the final 3-3 tally suggests. In any debate, Yards Per Carry is the statistical ammunition for the Alfonso Smith side.

Running back careers are defined by efficiency as much as volume. Yards per carry separates elite backs from good ones, while receiving ability from the backfield has become increasingly valuable in the modern NFL.

With categories split evenly, this comparison ultimately comes down to which statistics matter most to you. Aaron Hayden claims the tiebreaker through Rushing Yards advantage — a 348% edge — but reasonable people can, and do, argue both sides of this NFL debate.