They seem to be all over the league. Those running backs that can hurt you two ways: rushing … or catching … the ball.

Guys like MAURICE JONES-DREW, RAY RICE, LE SEAN MC COY, CHRIS JOHNSON and others.

"If a running back has certain skills like speed, vision, burst, ability to cut and good hands, he can play in any system, whether it's the I-formation, offset or in a spread," says Baltimore Ravens general manager OZZIE NEWSOME.

Double-threat running backs not only force defenses to be ready for anything, but they allow offenses to keep their best playmakers on the field in any situation.

More and more, offenses are relying on these dual-threat runners to keep the chains moving. Eight running backs gained more than 1,000 rushing yards while registering at least 40 catches in 2011.

The eight NFL running backs that gained 1,000 rushing yards and caught 40 passes in 2011:

Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville

1,606 Rushing Yards; 43 Receptions

"They call him ‘Pocket Hercules' for a reason. If you really want to look at a back that has everything -- vision, speed, power -- he's basically a prototype. He's got everything, and he can catch." -- New York Jets linebacker Calvin Pace

Ray Rice, Baltimore

1,364 Rushing Yards; 76 Receptions

"He's a major part of their passing game. Any time a quarterback has confidence in a back to get him off the hook when there's pressure or somebody's not open, it's easy to throw the ball to a guy like Ray Rice, let him run with it and see what he can do." -- New England head coach Bill Belichick

LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia

1,309 Rushing Yards; 48 Receptions

"He is an explosive runner with the speed and quickness to score from anywhere on the field. He also is a dangerous weapon in the passing game, due to his ability to elude defenders in space. With the proliferation of aerial acrobatics in the NFL making it imperative to have a dual threat in the backfield, McCoy is the dynamic playmaker I would want as my feature back." -- NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks

Arian Foster, Houston

1,224 Rushing Yards; 53 Receptions

"He's a three-down football player. He never leaves the field, and he's a young player with a tremendous amount of upside. He's versatile, always falling forward. He runs good routes. The thing that not many people know is just how smart of a player he is. Arian's really on top of his game. He's the total package." -- Houston head coach Gary Kubiak

Steven Jackson, St. Louis

1,145 Rushing Yards; 42 Receptions

"He's the key to the whole machine that is the St. Louis offense. He's a big back who is hard to tackle. If you let him get loose on you, he can be a real handful." -- Jacksonville linebacker Paul Posluszny

[ Check out: Steven Jackson: Action Jackson ]

Ryan Mathews, San Diego

1,091 Rushing Yards; 50 Receptions

"He's got all dimensions because he can do everything. Ryan's a twotype of back because he can hit you with the power and he has speed. I don't know if a lot of people know about it, but he's fast." -- San Diego fullback Le'Ron McClain

Reggie Bush, Miami

1,086 Rushing Yards; 43 Receptions

"He's so explosive. And the factor that he brings is so unique. You have to be very disciplined on the edge of your defense because he'll take the ball back against you. He's so fast he can outrun you." -- Seattle head coach Pete Carroll

Chris Johnson, Tennessee

1,047 Rushing Yards; 57 Receptions

"He is the fastest football player I have seen with my own two eyes. He is electric. He is one of my favorite guys to watch on TV and that is saying something in this passing era." -- CBS analyst & Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe