Top 10 Free Agent Running Backs for 2023

While there are still six weeks left in the 2022 NFL regular season, it’s never too early to look toward the future. While everyone is excited for the 2023 NFL Draft, headlined by Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, and Bijan Robinson, let’s not forget about the loaded free agent class.

The top 10 list below consists of only free agents. Potential cap casualties like Ezekiel Elliott and Aaron Jones will not be included in the article.

1) Saquon Barkley, New York Giants

After a historic rookie season, Barkley has struggled to stay healthy. The superstar running back missed 42.9% of the games from 2019 to 2021. However, he bounced back in 2022. Barkley is the RB5 for the year, averaging 16.6 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Furthermore, the former Penn State star is fourth in the NFL with 992 rushing yards this season. He is on pace to end the year with 1,533 rushing yards, the most of his career. The Giants have explored extension talks with Barkley. If the team can’t work out a long-term deal, expect them to use the franchise tag on the running back.

Potential Landing Spots: New York Giants

2) Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders hired Josh McDaniels as their new head coach and Dave Ziegler as their new general manager in the offseason. One of their first moves was to decline the fifth-year option on Jacobs’ rookie contract. However, the team regrets that decision as the former first-round pick has put together the best year of his career. Jacobs leads the league in rushing with 1,159 yards. He has five games this season with over 100 rushing yards with two games with over 150 yards, including 229 yards last week against the Seattle Seahawks. While the star running back has some injury history, that shouldn’t keep teams from paying up come March. The only question is: which team will pay him the most?

Potential Landing Spots: Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders

3) Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys

While the Cowboys continue to use a 1-2 punch of Zeke and Pollard, the latter is the better place at this point in their respective careers. Pollard showed superstar abilities this season when Elliott missed time with a knee injury. In those two games, the former Memphis star averaged 123 rushing yards per game and 6.8 yards per rushing attempt. Despite splitting time with Zeke, Pollard is the RB9 this year, averaging 14.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. What will Dallas do about their running back room in the offseason? It’s anyone’s guess at this point.

Potential Landing Spots: Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons

4) David Montgomery, Chicago Bears

Unlike the first three names on the list, Montgomery falls into the tier of potential lead back that could also be an excellent No. 2 running back for a team. The former Iowa State lacks the superstar upside the players ahead of him on the list possess. Yet, depending on what happens in free agency, the veteran running could find himself in an excellent fantasy position next year. More importantly, don’t rule out the Bears re-signing Montgomery. Khalil Herbert has played well this year, but he’s not a featured running back. The team will have plenty of cap space to bring the starter if they desire.

Potential Landing Spots: Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens

5) Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles

A year ago, Sanders was in the middle of an awful season. The former Penn State star didn’t score a touchdown in 2021. However, he has bounced back in a contract year with eight rushing touchdowns, including two last week against the Green Bay Packers. While the veteran has enjoyed a bounce-back season, he likely won’t be back with the Eagles in 2023. The team has several upcoming free agents. More importantly, Jalen Hurts will be up for a massive extension this offseason. If the two sides can work out a team-friendly deal, Sanders will be back in Philadelphia next year. If not, he will have plenty of suits on the open market.

Potential Landing Spots: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers. Philadelphia Eagles

6) Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills

Since the Bills drafted Singletary, fantasy players have looked for options to replace him as the starter. When the team used a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft on James Cook, some called it the end of Singletary’s run in Buffalo. Instead, the former Florida Atlantic star is on pace for his second straight season with over 850 rushing yards. Singletary might be back with the Bills next season. However, the team has more important free agents to re-sign, including linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. Whether it’s in Buffalo or elsewhere, Singletary should have a meaningful role next year.

Potential Landing Spots: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders

7) James Robinson, New York Jets

The other nine players on this list are unrestricted free agents. However, Robinson is a restricted free agent. That means the Jets would get a draft pick back if they place a restricted tender on Robinson and another team signs him to a contract the team doesn’t match. Yet, it’s unlikely that the Jets will place a restricted tender on Robinson. They acquired him midseason after losing star rookie Breece Hall to a torn ACL. Unless Hall has complications in his rehab, New York will likely let Robinson walk. Despite his impressive play as a rookie, the former undrafted free agent will struggle to find a massive deal on the open market.

Potential Landing Spots: Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Chargers

8) Damien Harris, New England Patriots

Fantasy players have always hated Bill Belichick. The Patriots’ backfield historically has been a fantasy nightmare. However, that hasn’t been the case this year, as Rhamondre Stevenson has taken over as the lead back. Therefore, Harris got pushed to the clear-cut No. 2 role. Despite the change, the former Alabama star has played well this season. He has scored 10 or more half-point PPR fantasy points per game in 44.4% of the games this year. While the veteran has dealt with injuries this year, Harris has plenty of gas left in the team. The Patriots likely won’t re-sign him unless the deal is team-friendly. However, Harris will make an excellent co-starter for another team next season.

Potential Landing Spots: Baltimore Ravens, Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs

9) Jamaal Williams, Detroit Lions

Anyone who drafted D’Andre Swift this year must hate Williams at this point. The veteran running back leads the league with 13 rushing touchdowns. He has more rushing touchdowns than Jonathan Taylor, Najee Harris, and James Conner combined. Furthermore, the former BYU star had 13 career rushing touchdowns entering the year. The Lions could re-sign the veteran running back in the offseason, especially if they don’t trust Swift to stay healthy for an entire season. However, Williams could get a better offer on the open market from a Super Bowl-contending team.

Potential Landing Spots: Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers

10) D’Onta Foreman, Carolina Panthers

After the Houston Texans used a third-round pick on the former Texas Longhorn, Foreman’s career went off the rails. He played in only 34.4% of the games during his two years in Houston because of injuries. After sitting out the 2019 season, Foreman joined the Tennessee Titans in 2020. More importantly, the veteran stepped up when Derrick Henry missed the second half of the 2021 season with a foot injury. In the offseason, he signed a one-year deal with the Panthers and is now the starter after the team traded away Christian McCaffrey. The team could bring back Foreman in the offseason, but it will be as a backup to a Day 2 rookie pick.

Potential Landing Spots: Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills

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