Cam Skattebo, the New York Giants rookie running back, aims to rush for more than 2,000 yards on 300 carries in the 2026 NFL season after a promising but injury-shortened 2025 campaign [1, 2].
In his first eight games last season, Skattebo rushed 101 times for 410 yards and scored five touchdowns before dislocating his ankle in Week 8, a season-ending injury [1, 2]. He also caught 24 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns, making him one of just five players through Week 8 of 2025 to reach at least 400 rushing yards and 200 receiving yards [1].
Skattebo does not consider his rookie year a success. "I had 400 yards on 100 carries. When I play 17-plus games this year, it's going to be 300 carries for over 2,000 yards," he said, setting an ambitious personal goal for 2026 [1, 2]. His 2025 rushing average of 51.3 yards per game would project to 872 rushing yards over a full 17-game season [1].
Only nine players in NFL history have rushed for 2,000 yards in a single season, with Saquon Barkley being the most recent in 2024 [1]. The Giants running back intends to join that exclusive group.
Medical reports indicate Skattebo is expected to be fully recovered from his ankle injury and ready to play in Week 1 of the 2026 season [1]. Despite some skepticism over the feasibility of his goal—given his rookie per-carry average projects closer to 1,200 yards if extrapolated to 300 carries—Skattebo remains confident in surpassing 2,000 yards [1, 2].
The 2026 NFL regular season begins in September, when Skattebo will have the opportunity to prove his durability and reach his target.
