Shaun Alexander vs Tom Rathman: Who Wins on NFL Stats?

This is as close as it gets. Shaun Alexander and Tom Rathman 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.

Shaun Alexander's Rushing Yards of 9,453 compared to Tom Rathman's 2,020 represents a 368% advantage — dramatically better than their counterpart in this critical category. Tom Rathman falls 63.3% below the career average of 5500 in this category while Shaun Alexander exceeds it. It is the single most decisive number in this comparison and the clearest statistical argument for Shaun Alexander's edge.

The most competitive category in this matchup is Games Played, where Shaun Alexander posts 123 against Tom Rathman's 131 — a gap of just 6.5%. Tom Rathman can point to this as evidence that the overall comparison is closer than the final 3-3 tally suggests. In any debate, Games Played is the statistical ammunition for the Tom Rathman 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. Shaun Alexander claims the tiebreaker through Rushing Yards advantage — a 368% edge — but reasonable people can, and do, argue both sides of this NFL debate.