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AFC North one-hit wonders
Ickey Woods (30) Bob Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

AFC North one-hit wonders

While some players turn outstanding seasons into lengthy and impressive careers, others simply fade into obscurity. Here are the most notable one-hit wonders for each AFC North team.

Baltimore Ravens: Justin Forsett, RB

After releasing RB Ray Rice at the start of the 2014 season, the Ravens were desperate for a quick fix. Six-year veteran Forsett stepped up to meet the challenge, rushing for 1,266 yards and eight touchdowns and earning selection to his only Pro Bowl. He looked like he was going to be Baltimore's future at the position, but that was far from the case.

Forsett played in just 13 more games as a Raven, rushing for 739 yards and two touchdowns. By 2015, he was 30, and injuries had caught up to him. He retired following the 2016 season after stints with the Lions and Broncos.

Cincinnati Bengals: Ickey Woods, RB

A second-round pick in 1988, Woods burst onto the scene as a rookie, rushing for 1,066 yards and 15 touchdowns. Woods had one of the best rookie seasons in league history at the time and became a fan favorite, performing the "Ickey Shuffle" every time he scored a TD. He had 228 yards rushing and three touchdowns in the playoffs as the Bengals advanced to — and lost — Super Bowl XXIII to San Francisco.

However, in 1989, Woods suffered a torn ACL in the second game of the season. Knee issues limited him to just 23 more regular-season and playoff games before his career ended following the 1991 campaign. He totaled just 459 yards rushing in the regular season after his first season.

Cleveland Browns: Peyton Hillis, RB

Many consider Hillis to be the ultimate one-year wonder. After two underwhelming seasons with the Broncos, he rushed for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns and hauled in 61 catches for 477 yards and two touchdowns receiving as a Brown. His 2010 breakout season even earned him a spot on the cover of the "Madden NFL 12."

Some believe his career falloff was part of the "Madden Curse," but there were several factors that played a role. Hillis rushed for just 587 yards over 10 games the following season, and his yards rushing decreased in each of his final three seasons in the NFL. He never came close to recapturing his 2010 magic and was out of the league by 2014.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Barry Foster, RB

Foster's NFL career spanned just five seasons, all with the Steelers. His most noteworthy season came in 1992, when he rushed for 1,690 yards, a season franchise record, and 11 touchdowns. He posted 12 games with 100+ yards, breaking Franco Harris' record for a season.

However, Foster was never the same after injuries plagued his next two seasons. He wasn't bad, rushing for 1,562 yards and 13 touchdowns in 20 games, but was out of the league following the 1994 season.

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