Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson's hot start to the 2011 season has morphed into the type of year that could go down as one of the best in team annals.
Jackson was again the lifeblood of Buffalo's offense in yesterday's 23-0 win over the Washington Redskins, carrying 26 times for 120 yards and catching three passes for a further 74 yards. He also had four more touches gain 10 or more yards (with a fifth negated on an iffy Kraig Urbik holding call), bringing his total to 27 plays of 10 or more yards on the season.
For the season, Jackson now has 1,074 total yards from scrimmage on just 159 touches (132 runs, 27 receptions). A whopping 63 percent of his yardage (678 of those 1,074 yards) have come on those aforementioned 27 touches of 10 or more yards (or 17 percent of his touches).
Jackson's season to date compares very favorably to big years put up by Hall of Fame runners O.J. Simpson and Thurman Thomas. He remains the NFL's fourth-leading rusher on the year, and is also the Bills' third-leading receiver.