Top 5 Free Agent Running Backs for 2024
The anticipation is starting to get to me as we inch closer and closer to the start of the new NFL league year. With the new league year on the horizon, the free agency period is just around the corner. There are always players on the move during the offseason, and it’s always interesting to see what names end up in new places. A player’s new destination can change the scope of their fantasy value heading into a new season. Five running backs, in particular, will hit free agency during the 2024 offseason. I believe fantasy managers should be keying in ahead of the fantasy draft season.
Should these particular running backs land on different teams next season, their draft value can either rise or fall depending on the situation they find themselves in. I’m a bit of a “hopeful” fantasy guy so here are a few spots I think these guys can land in that will not only be good fits but will maximize their fantasy value for the 2024 season.
The Fantastic Five
The first guy I have to give the nod to is Saquon Barkley. Early reports on Barkley were that the Giants weren’t planning on franchise-tagging him again this offseason. That means one of the top backs in the NFL (when healthy) will be able to pick his landing spot for the foreseeable future.
Barkley managed to finish with a 3.9 y/a average for the 2023 season but it can easily be said that the Giants offense as a whole did him no favors. With no wide receiver help to speak of, the constant shuffling at the quarterback position after an underwhelming yet overhyped Daniel Jones went down with a season-ending injury, and Darren Waller missing time due to injury again Barkley was asked to shoulder the weight of the team. Barkley did finish with over 1,200 yards from scrimmage and 10 total touchdowns so he’s still got plenty left to offer a new football team in 2024 at the age of just 27. Also, keep in mind that Barkley has missed time earlier in his career too.
One of the top spots that could look for a running back this offseason via free agency is the Houston Texans. While they did draft running back Dameon Pierce two seasons ago, he hasn’t been able to catch on dealing with injuries his first year and then eventually losing his starting spot to Devin Singletary. Singletary will hit the free agent market this offseason which opens up the top spot for the Texans running back position. The Texans with Barkley and the dangerous new quarterback and CJ Stroud would certainly turn heads. The Texans run game finished in the bottom half of the league during 2023, ranking 23rd overall. Barkley could be a big boost to an offense that would look to be a bit more balanced than just letting Stroud have to chuck it all over the field.
Other Great Landing Spots: LAR, LAC
Ranking number two on my list is Derrick Henry. I’m a firm believer in the fact that I don’t believe that Derrick Henry is done being a dominant force in the NFL. Henry has cooked opposing defenses for years and while he did take a step back in 2023, I don’t think you can point to him and say that he was the main cause. There was always a concern about what would happen if Ryan Tannehill went down during the season and how that would effect the rest of the team and sure enough it came to pass. While Will Levis tried admirably to help lift the Titans offense up, it was a tall order for a rookie quarterback to do in an offense that was lacking in offensive talent. This allowed defenses to put more effort into slowing Henry down, who was playing with behind one of the worst offensive lines in football.
A good landing spot for Derrick Henry in 2024 would be the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys lacked a true running game after moving on from Ezekiel Elliott and anointing Tony Pollard as the new RB1. The problem is that Pollard was returning from a late-season injury and was asked to shoulder the load after splitting the backfield prior to 2023. The Cowboys inability to consistently run the ball effectively ended up with their run-game finishing 14th overall last season and they lacked the punch to finish drives at the goal line and in short yardage situations. Adding a big back like Derrick Henry would fix both of those aforementioned issues as well as give the Cowboys a serious threat out of the backfield. Despite playing in one of the worst rushing offenses last season, Henry still managed to finish 2023 ranking second in rushing yards behind Christian McCaffrey with 1,167 yards and a 4.2 average while adding 12 touchdowns.
Other Great Landing Spots: BAL, MIA
The third back to make my list would be Josh Jacobs. The Raiders already franchise tagged him last season are also expected to let him test the free agent market. Jacobs was the league rushing leader just two seasons ago but saw a dip in production in 2023 with the Raiders offense going belly-up after Jimmy Garoppolo was brought in to lead the team. Jimmy G eventually got hurt and the rest was history as teams dared rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell to beat them throwing the ball. Jacobs would finish with just 805 rushing yards (3.5 y/a) and just six touchdowns on the season.
My favorite spot for the Jacobs to end up at would be the Los Angeles Chargers. Sure, there’s some petty “get back” working as Jacobs would still be in the division against the Raiders but the fit with the Los Angeles Chargers should certainly be alluring now that Brandon Staley is out and Jim Harbaugh is in with Greg Roman as the offensive coordinator. We know Roman likes to run the ball as we watched him do just that during his tenure with the Baltimore Ravens. Jacobs versatility would also be on display with Justin Herbert and Jacobs would likely have the running back room to himself. The Chargers could use a “shot in the arm” as the running game fell short under Kellen Moore as his poor usage of Austin Ekeler was on full display too.
Other Great Landing Spots: DAL, HOU
Austin Ekeler is the next big name on the free agency list that will be looking for a new home in 2024. Ekeler’s “fall from grace” was unfortuate as he’s been one of the better running backs in the league over the last few seasons. Mounting injuries and poor usage robbed Ekeler from continuing his dual threat dominance for the Los Angeles Chargers, though they weren’t ever really planning to keep him long-term as contract issues had been reported over the last two seasons. While Ekeler still managed to cross over 1,000 yards from scrimmage, his totals were some of his lowest out of the last three seasons as he would finish with just six total touchdowns and a 3.5 y/a average.
A change of scenery would be nice for Ekeler and I think one of the better landing spots for him would be with the Kansas City Chiefs. I know Isiah Pacheco is there but hear me out on this one. The Chiefs like to have multiple backs doing different things. Pacheco is their pounder guy. While we have seen Pacheco catch out of the backfield before, it’s not really his main “super power” as it were. That’s where Jerick McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire came in. CEH is going to hit free agency this offseason and McKinnon isn’t getting any younger. Adding Ekeler would be a perfect compliment to what the Chiefs like do and give Patrick Mahomes solid pass-catching option to use out of the backfield to go with Pacheco’s “brusier” style running ability. Plus, the petty narrative works here as Ekeler would be able to spin back on the Chargers next season.
Other Great Landing Spots: WAS, DEN
Lastly, I have to add Tony Pollard to the list. To be fair, Pollard was asked to shoulder a lot after going down against the 49ers during the playoffs before last season and while Pollard showed some promise down the stretch it became apparent he was more suited for a split role instead of being a feature back. Pollard’s speed and breakaway ability were some of his biggest features prior to the injury but we saw that if the offensive line can’t break open big holes for Pollard to run through, he was not getting the yards. Pollard finished 12th in rushing yards with six touchdowns but could have been more if he was a bigger back. Pollard was already playing on the franchise tag during the 2023 season so I can’t see the Cowboys using the tag to keep him off the market this time around.
If Pollard can get back to his old ways, I wouldn’t mind him being paired up with a back like Derrick Henry if the Cowboys went with that kind of setup. If Pollard has indeed played his last game as a Dallas Cowboy, seeing Pollard land with the team like the Arizona Cardinals would be a nice fit. The Cardinals don’t have anyone they can pair with behind James Conner. Emari Demarcado was a “flash in a pan” for a couple of games but Pollard would give some size and speed as well as pass catching ability over Demarcado. Pollard could be looking to recoup his value so pairing himself with a lead back might be the way to do just that .
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