Darrin Nelson is a career quality starter — a running back whose body of work places Nelson in the top quarter of all players at the position historically. The Knox model values sustained contribution over flash, and Nelson's career arc reflects exactly that kind of reliable professional-grade performance.

RBMIN#0ACT

Darrin Nelson

Top 14% all-time RBsIron ManTwo-Way Profile

Height5'9"

Weight180 lb

BornJan 2, 1959

Age67

CollegeStanford See College Stats

Rookie yr1982

Draft1982 · Rd 1, Pick 7 · MIN

Archetype Intelligence

Iron ManExplore archetypes →

A high-end running back defined as much by excellent availability over their career as by their on-field impact (top 20% all-time). Coaches and teammates could count on them being available.

Career Value · VORP

VORP 129 · #782 · High-Value

Worth 129 points of value above a freely-available replacement running back — top 18% of all 4,642 ranked at the position. 9 of 11 seasons cleared the replacement bar, by +14.3 on average.See board →

Seasons above replacement

9 cleared

Beat replacement (adds to VORP) Below it — adds 0, never a debit

Replacement

the KC-H bar

→

Seasons over

cleared the bar

+14.3

Avg surplus

peak +26

9 seasons × ~14.3 surplus ≈ VORP 129

Combined Season Grid

The full season-by-season grids, joined on one timeline. Every selected stat family stays visible at once—no tab hopping.

4 grids split in one view

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Rushing								Receiving									Passing													Defense
Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Att	Yds	TD	Y/A	TD%	1D	1D%	Fmb	Tgt	Rec	Yds	TD	Ctch%	Y/R	Y/Tgt	AirYd/T	1D	Cmp	Att	Cmp%	Yds	TD	Int	TD%	Int%	Y/A	AdjY/A	TD:INT	Rate	Sk	Tkl	Solo	Ast	TFL	QBHits	Sk	Dis	Int	PD	FF	FR	TD	Sfty
1982	—	MIN	7	—	44	136	0	3.1	0.0	—	—	—	—	9	100	0	—	11.1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1983	—	MIN	15	—	154	642	1	4.2	0.6	—	—	—	—	51	618	0	—	12.1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	—	—	—	0.0	0.0	—	2	0	—	—	—
1984	—	MIN	15	—	80	406	3	5.1	3.8	—	—	—	—	27	162	1	—	6.0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	—	—	—	0.0	0.0	—	0	0	—	—	—
1985	—	MIN	16	—	200	893	5	4.5	2.5	—	—	—	—	43	301	1	—	7.0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1986	—	MIN	16	—	191	793	4	4.2	2.1	—	—	—	—	53	593	3	—	11.2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	—	—	—	0.0	0.0	—	0	0	—	—	—
1987	—	MIN	10	—	131	642	2	4.9	1.5	—	—	—	—	26	129	0	—	5.0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	—	—	—	0.0	0.0	—	0	0	—	—	—
1988	—	MIN	13	—	112	380	1	3.4	0.9	—	—	—	—	16	105	0	—	6.6	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1989	—	MIN	14	—	31	124	0	4.0	0.0	—	—	—	—	7	52	0	—	7.4	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1989	—	LAC	14	—	36	197	0	5.5	0.0	—	—	—	—	31	328	0	—	10.6	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1990	—	LAC	14	—	3	14	0	4.7	0.0	—	—	—	—	4	29	0	—	7.3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1991	—	MIN	16	—	28	210	2	7.5	7.1	—	—	—	—	19	142	0	—	7.5	—	—	—	1	1	100.0%	25	1	0	100.0	0.0	25.0	45.0	—	158.3	0	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	0.0	—	0	0	—	—	—
1992	—	MIN	16	—	10	5	0	0.5	0.0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Career		—	166	—	1,020	4,442	18	4.4	1.8	—	—	—	0	286	2,559	5	—	8.9	—	—	—	1	1	100.0%	25	1	0	100.0	0.0	25.0	45.0	—	158.3	0	5	4	—	—	—	0.0	0.0	0	2	0	0	—	—

Passing

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Cmp	Att	Cmp%	Yds	TD	Int	TD%	Int%	Y/A	AdjY/A	TD:INT	Rate	Sk	VAL
1991	32	MIN	16	—	1	1	100.0%	25	1	0	100.0	0.0	25.0	45.0	—	158.3	0	8.8
Career			16		1	1	100.0%	25	1	0	100.0	0.0	25.0	—	—	158.3	0	105.7

Rushing

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Att	Yds	TD	Y/A	TD%	1D	1D%	Fmb
1991	32	MIN	16	—	28	210	2	7.5	7.1	—	—	—
1982	23	MIN	7	—	44	136	0	3.1	0.0	—	—	—
1983	24	MIN	15	—	154	642	1	4.2	0.6	—	—	—
1984	25	MIN	15	—	80	406	3	5.1	3.8	—	—	—
1985	26	MIN	16	—	200	893	5	4.5	2.5	—	—	—
1986	27	MIN	16	—	191	793	4	4.2	2.1	—	—	—
1987	28	MIN	10	—	131	642	2	4.9	1.5	—	—	—
1988	29	MIN	13	—	112	380	1	3.4	0.9	—	—	—
1989	30	MIN	14	—	31	124	0	4.0	0.0	—	—	—
1989	30	LAC	14	—	36	197	0	5.5	0.0	—	—	—
1990	31	LAC	14	—	3	14	0	4.7	0.0	—	—	—
1992	33	MIN	16	—	10	5	0	0.5	0.0	—	—	—
Career			166		1,020	4,442	18	4.4	—	—	—	—

Receiving

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Tgt	Rec	Yds	TD	Ctch%	Y/R	Y/Tgt	AirYd/T	1D
1991	32	MIN	16	—	—	19	142	0	—	7.5	—	—	—
1982	23	MIN	7	—	—	9	100	0	—	11.1	—	—	—
1983	24	MIN	15	—	—	51	618	0	—	12.1	—	—	—
1984	25	MIN	15	—	—	27	162	1	—	6.0	—	—	—
1985	26	MIN	16	—	—	43	301	1	—	7.0	—	—	—
1986	27	MIN	16	—	—	53	593	3	—	11.2	—	—	—
1987	28	MIN	10	—	—	26	129	0	—	5.0	—	—	—
1988	29	MIN	13	—	—	16	105	0	—	6.6	—	—	—
1989	30	MIN	14	—	—	7	52	0	—	7.4	—	—	—
1989	30	LAC	14	—	—	31	328	0	—	10.6	—	—	—
1990	31	LAC	14	—	—	4	29	0	—	7.3	—	—	—
Career			150		0	286	2,559	5	—	8.9	—	—	—

Defense

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Tkl	Solo	Ast	TFL	QBHits	Sk	Dis	Int	PD	FR	TD	Sfty
1991	32	MIN	—	—	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	0.0	—	0	—	—	—
1983	24	MIN	—	—	1	1	—	—	—	0.0	0.0	—	2	—	—	—
1984	25	MIN	—	—	1	1	—	—	—	0.0	0.0	—	0	—	—	—
1986	27	MIN	—	—	1	1	—	—	—	0.0	0.0	—	0	—	—	—
1987	28	MIN	—	—	1	1	—	—	—	0.0	0.0	—	0	—	—	—
Career					5	4	—	—	—	—	—	0	2	0	—	—

KV-H Anatomy

KV-H 66 · Strong Starter

A strong starter career by KV-H: a peak-driven profile that scores 66 of 100, era-normalized against rush yds/g peers across 11 scored seasons.

Sustained

career value

×.6

Peak

best 3 seasons

×.4

×1

Longevity

career length

Blend 66 × longevity 1 = KV-H 66· confidence 99%

What builds the career mark of 62

On-field 43.7

Availability 18.3

On-field production Staying available

Season-by-season quality (era-relative rush yds/g)

1982bestavg 61elite 701992

All-Time Standing

how this career measures against the all-time greats at the position

Depth

of 100

Reached 24% of the all-time Rushing Yards leader — a rotational/depth all-time profile at the position.

24% of the all-time Rushing Yards leader24

0 categories ≥25% of the all-time leader0

A 0–100 scale where 100 = matched the all-time leaderat this position. Built only from visible encyclopedia data — career production vs. the all-time leader, plus efficiency (EPA) and comparable-player confidence — so it's a transparent context score, not a subjective rating. Tiers: Elite ≥ 85 · Strong ≥ 65 · Solid ≥ 45 · Depth < 45. Comparable-player confidence: 92%.

Career Aging Trajectory

vs. position group average · KV-H basis

Amber = this player (normalized to own peak). Indigo = average RBs aging curve. Group peak age: 21. Source: StatVault KV-H era (1999+).

From Scrimmage · Career

Scrimmage Yds

7,001

4,442 rush · 2,559 recv

Total TDs

18 rush · 5 recv

Total Touches

1,306

1,020 carries · 286 rec

Yds / Touch

5.4

rushing + receiving

College Stats

StanfordCollege listed; stat table pending import

College stats are not imported for this profile yet.

StatVault has the verified college attribution (Stanford), but no parsed college box-score table is present in this profile artifact. The section stays here so every profile has a consistent college-stats landing point without fabricating unavailable rows.

Reference Graph

Career teammates and draft class, derived from year-by-year rosters — every name is linked.

1982 Draft Class· this player went #7

#4Art SchlichterQB #5Jim McMahonQB #9Gerald RiggsRB #11Anthony HancockWR #12Walter AbercrombieRB #13Lindsay ScottWR #14Barry ReddenRB #16Luis SharpeOT #17Sean FarrellG #18Butch WoolfolkRB #19Perry TuttleWR #20Mike QuickWR #21Gerald WillhiteRB #34Rohn StarkP #40Robert WeathersRB #44Oliver LuckQB

Franchise Succession

the room, before and after

Darrin opened the Minnesota Vikings RB lineage the corpus knows, and handed it to Allen Rice (1984–1990).

Darrin Nelson 1982–1992Allen Rice 1984–1990Alfred Anderson 1984–1991D.J. Dozier 1987–1990Rick Fenney 1987–1991Herschel Walker 1989–1991

Similar Players

Statistical + physical similarity across every player in the database, position-relevant (0–100%).

Movementderived from season history

1992final season
Last recorded season with MIN
1991team change
Joined MIN (from LAC)
1990team change
Joined LAC (from MIN)
1982draft
Drafted by MIN — Round 1, Pick 7

Athletic & Unique Profile

verified measurements and curated source-tagged facts

5'9" / 180 lb

Frame

Knox

StatVault's proprietary player intelligence, informed by full career data. How Knox works →

Historical Knox · KV-H

Era-normalized career quality — z-scored against 11-season peers. See all →

peak 72

Season Report Cards· KV-H era-normalized per season

C1982

B1983

B1984

B+1985

B+1986

B+1987

B1988

C+1989

C1990

C+1991

C+1992

Availability

Career durability — games played vs. scheduled, across 11 seasons.

Era Translator

Rush Yds translated to the 2025NFL — each season's standing among its own-era peers, projected onto 2025's scoring environment. Modern-era (1999+) coverage.

Season	Actual Rush Yds	Rush Yds/G	→ 2025 Rush Yds	→ 2025 /G
1982	136	19.4	441+305	25.9
1983	642	42.8	870+228	51.2
1984	406	27.1	653+247	38.4
1985	893	55.8	1,204+311	70.8
1986	793	49.6	1,124+331	66.1
1987	642	64.2	1,534+892	90.2
1988	380	29.2	788+408	46.3
1989	124	8.9	324+200	19
1990	14	1	170+156	10
1991	210	13.1	456+246	26.8
1992	5	0.3	193+188	11.3

Data: nflverse:draft_picks, nflverse:players, wikipedia:season-stats (CC-BY-SA, facts-only), nfl.com:official-stats (facts-only reference), nfl.com:official-stats (games-played, facts-only reference) · multi-source verified via the StatVault Oracle · updated 6/18/2026

Career Value · VORP

129 career value over replacement — #782 all-time of 4,642. 11.7/season above a replacement-level RB.

Draft OutcomeValue ↑

Pick #7 (Rd 1) · MIN · 1982 · +4.2 vs expected KV-H

66actual

61.8 expected · Δ+4.2

Fan Rating

Rate Darrin Nelson — All-Time

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Archetype Intelligence

Career Value · VORP

Combined Season Grid

Passing

Rushing

Receiving

Defense

KV-H Anatomy

All-Time Standing

Career Aging Trajectory

From Scrimmage · Career

College Stats

Reference Graph

Top Teammates

1982 Draft Class· this player went #7

Franchise Succession

Similar Players

Movementderived from season history

Athletic & Unique Profile

Knox

Era Translator