NY Jets: The 3 best pass-catching running backs in franchise history

3. Richie Anderson, FB, NY Jets

Richie Anderson played his collegiate football at Penn State and was drafted in the sixth round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Jets. Anderson played fullback and was best known for his pass-catching ability.

In 2000, Anderson led the NFL in receptions for a running back with a total of 88 for 858 yards. He was selected to his only Pro Bowl that year and his 88 catches are still a single-season franchise record for a running back.

All told, in his 10 years playing for the Jets, Anderson accumulated 305 receptions for 2,449 yards with an average per catch of 8.0 yards. In addition, he also hauled in 10 touchdown receptions for the green and white.

During his tenure with the team, Anderson played in four playoff games and caught 10 passes for 119 yards producing an outstanding average of 11.9 yards per catch. Anderson proved to be a consistent and reliable option as a complementary running back for Curtis Martin.

The former Nittany Lion finished up his career by playing his final two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and reuniting with his former Jets coach, Bill Parcells. At the ages of 32 and 33, Anderson accumulated another combined 95 receptions for 700 yards.

Richie Anderson caught at least 25 passes in nine of his 12 seasons in the NFL and will go down as one of the greatest pass-catching fullbacks of all time. On February 2, 2006, Anderson signed a one-day contract to officially retire as a Jet.