Eli Manning, Frank Gore among 11 surprising NFL all-time career stat leaders

The 2017 NFL season is quickly approaching, and some players have a chance to move up some all-time statistical lists. 

Here are some surprising all-time career statistical rankings for current players.

Eli Manning

Stat: Eighth all time in passing yards (48,218)

Is Eli Manning elite? Well, according to this number, he is. Manning ranks right ahead of Fran Tarkenton, who held the all-time passing yardage record before the likes of Dan Marino, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning came along. Tarkenton isn't the only notable Pro Football Hall of Famer sitting behind Eli Manning in this category, as Dan Fouts, Joe Montana, Johnny Unitas, Jim Kelly, Steve Young and Terry Bradshaw sit further down the list. A standard passing season in 2017 for Manning -- which has been in the neighborhood of 3,700 yards -- would vault him into sixth all time, ahead of John Elway and behind Dan Marino. Let that scenario sink in for a moment.

Frank Gore

Stat: Eighth all time in rushing yards (13,065)

Gore enters the 2017 season within striking distance of becoming No. 5 all-time leading rusher (LaDainian Tomlinson currently sits in the fifth spot with 13,684 yards). The Colts running back already sits ahead of some marquee names: Tony Dorsett, Jim Brown, Marshall Faulk, Franco Harris, Thurman Thomas, O.J. Simpson, Earl Campbell and Jim Taylor.

Matt Forte

Stat: Tied for second all time in two-point conversions (six)

With one more successful two-point try, Forte will tie Marshall Faulk to be the NFL's all-time leader in that category. Of course, this all-time leader list is a bit skewed since two-point tries weren't allowed in the NFL until 1994 (though, the AFL allowed two-point conversions before the merger, and the Boston/New England Patriots' Gino Cappelletti had the most with four).

Le'Veon Bell

Stat: Eighth all time in rushing yards per game (86.1)

Bell averages more rushing yards a game than Pro Football Hall of Famers Curtis Martin (83.9), O.J. Simpson (83.2), Earl Campbell (81.8) Emmitt Smith (81.2) and LaDainian Tomlinson (80.5). The most surprising name mentioned there might be Smith, who is the NFL's all-time leading rusher. Of course, it's important to remember that Bell -- still just 25 years old -- is in the prime of his career and the yards-per-game averages of the aforementioned players took a dip late in their careers. Adrian Peterson, meanwhile, ranks fourth at 95.5 yards per game.

Darren Sproles

Stat: Eighth all time in all-purpose yards (19,011)

Currently sitting 4,535 yards behind the all-time leader, Jerry Rice (23,546 yards; 22,895 of which came via the forward pass), Sproles' yardage portfolio is a bit more diverse, with 3,305 yards rushing, 4,583 yards receiving, 2,782 yards on punt returns and 8,350 yards on kickoff returns. However, to catch Rice, Sproles will need to continue on his career average of 1,700-plus yards a season for three more years. But the 34-year-old Sproles has already played 11 seasons in the NFL.

Tom Brady

Stat: 11th all time in fumbles (107)

Brady has accumulated some huge numbers, even in less desirable categories. He'll never catch the all-time leader (Brett Favre with 166 fumbles), but with those 107 fumbles over 16 seasons, Brady's per-season average would suggest he can move past Dan Marino (110) for eighth all time in fumbles this season. Hot on Brady's tail in this category is Eli Manning, who ranks 15th all time with 104 fumbles. It's a good guess Manning, 36, will ultimately pass Brady, who turns 40 in August, in this category.

Brady (again)

Stat: 57th all time in interceptions (152)

This is impressive given how long Brady has played (though, not nearly as impressive as the run Aaron Rodgers currently is on). Brady's 184 interceptions behind the all-time leader, Brett Favre. And Eli Manning factors in here, too, since he's already at 21st all time with 215 career picks. Manning has led the league in interceptions three times in his career, and he averages 16 interceptions a season in his career. He had 16 interceptions in 2016, and another 16 in 2017 would vault Manning into the 15th spot all time. Manning's a good bet to hit the top 10 by the time he's done chucking the pigskin around. 

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Carson Palmer

Stat: 13th all time in completions (3,777)

Palmer has more career pass completions than Joe Montana, Dan Fouts and Jim Kelly. Need more proof that the NFL is a passing league more than ever? Palmer has more career pass completions than the combined totals of Bart Starr and Roger Staubach.

Drew Brees

Stat: Fourth all time in pick-sixes (26)

Brees might be hard-pressed to catch the all-time leader, Brett Favre (31), but has a shot at the No. 2 spot, which is held by Dan Marino (28). Eli Manning, meanwhile, is No. 7 all time with 21. Funny thing here: Philip Rivers -- who has 59 fewer career interceptions than Manning -- has thrown one more pick-six.

Aqib Talib

Stat: Tied for fourth all time in pick-sixes (9)

Talib is tied with Pro Football Hall of Famers Ken Houston, Aeneas Williams and Deion Sanders. Rod Woodson is the all-time leader with 12 interceptions returned for touchdowns. Charles Woodson has 11 pick sixes, and he played his final four seasons sitting one behind the record. That's tough luck for Charles.

Adam Vinatieri

Stat: Third all time in field goals made (530)

Vinatieri likely has to keep on kicking beyond the 2017 season in order to catch the all-time leader, Morten Andersen (565). Gary Anderson sits at No. 2 on the all-time list with 538, and Vinatieri should have no problem catching him this upcoming season.

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