Fantasy Football 2022: Top 5 NFL Free Agent Running Backs
The NFL season just ended, but that doesn’t mean we’re finished talking about football. Truthfully, the NFL offseason can be one of the more exciting times in the sport, with free agency, the draft, and trades, not to mention the rumors and speculation swirling around these events. The legal tampering period for the NFL begins in a little under a month, on March 14, and the gold rush officially begins on March 16, so we don’t have much time left before free agency hits.
This season, it’s likely that several free agent running backs won’t re-sign with their current teams, as running backs just aren’t as valued as they have been in years past. Most of their salaries are too cost-prohibitive against the cap, and the draft class is loaded at the position this year. With that in mind, keep an eye on these five players as free agency approaches.
Cordarrelle Patterson is a tricky player to nail down because he is utilized at so many different positions. He’s labeled a running back, but he’s played receiver, special teams, and even reportedly begged head coach Arthur Smith to let him play cornerback. Atlanta is over their cap space, but since they will most likely lose Calvin Ridley in a trade or possibly even retirement, they may have to re-sign Patterson as a pass-catching option and figure out cap cuts elsewhere. If the Falcons do let him walk, the Dolphins, Seahawks, and possibly Buccaneers all need running back help and, more importantly, have cap space to bring him in.
After Jacksonville waived him following his third year, Leonard Fournette has lived in the land of one-year deals. He performed well enough in 2020 to garner a second deal, then performed even better, putting up 1,266 scrimmage yards in the 2021 season. Fellow running backs Ronald Jones and Giovanni Bernard are free agents this year, and the Bucs will most likely let them walk, leaving Fournette’s future in Tampa Bay a little more secure. If the Bucs follow the same pattern they have in years’ past, Fournette will stay on with another one-year deal, but if they decide to blow the whole thing up, Miami or even the Falcons could be a landing spot.
James Conner was one of, if not the, best free agent signings last year. He scored 18 touchdowns, had over 1,000 scrimmage yards, and was only signed to a $1.75 million deal, pure chump change in the land of NFL contracts. If the Cardinals want to keep him, they’ll have to pay him this time around, but their cap space is slightly in the red already. Assuming they don’t create enough space, Seattle, Pittsburgh, or Miami could all be landing spots for the stud running back.
While everyone expected Javonte Williams to come in and assume the workhorse role in Denver, Melvin Gordon stuck around and went toe to toe with the rookie for the entirety of the 2021 season. The two put up near-identical stat lines, and the one-two punch worked. Denver has plenty of cap space, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility for them to keep Gordon for another year or two. However, a team with more cap space and even more of a connection with Gordon is the Los Angeles Chargers. Austin Ekeler has done well as the lead back, but Gordon would provide an added punch to the Chargers’ offense. Miami and Tampa Bay are also viable options.
Arizona didn’t think their running back situation through, as Chase Edmonds is set to enter free agency this year along with James Conner. However, Edmonds’ future with the team doesn’t look as certain as Conner’s, as he missed four games due to injury and failed to put up over 600 rushing yards. If he is the odd man out, Miami is on the table (as with everyone), but a surprise team could be the Buffalo Bills. Their cap space is a concern, but Edmonds would add more of a dual-threat option to Buffalo’s backfield and be cheaper to sign than several other options in free agency.
RELATED LINKS
Looking for the rest of the top unsigned free agents? Check out the links below for what's been published already:
- Free Agent Quarterbacks
- Free Agent Running Backs
- Free Agent Wide Receivers
- Free Agent Tight Ends
- Free Agent Linebackers
Player News
Buccaneers released WR Marquez Callaway.
Still only 27, Callaway will look to catch on with another team for training camp. We hear Sean Payton is a head coach again. Callaway hasn’t caught a ball in an NFL game since 2022.
Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot believes Shedeur Sanders will “have to outperform the other three quarterbacks on the roster” to make the Browns.
If the season started tomorrow, in Kay Cabot’s estimation, the starter would be Kenny Pickett. She says that the Browns made clear to Pickett that he “could control his own destiny with a stellar performance” when they traded Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round pick to the Eagles. This, of course, does not mean that Sanders can’t make the Browns. Neither of the other three quarterbacks in the room have any recent NFL success to hang their hat on — the closest thing is Joe Flacco’s performance in 2023 with the Browns. But it does mean that he’s starting at the bottom of the pack.
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said Sam Darnold will take “over 90% of the snaps.”
“One of the reasons we hired [Klint Kubiak] was his ability to incorporate the whole roster and really bring out what everybody does really well. Adding Jalen [Milroe] is a part of that,” Macdonald added. That’s a pretty revealing quote, and while we blurbed Macdonald talking about how Jalen Milroe isn’t an option in a Taysom Hill role, it sounds like Milroe will at least have some package of run-play installs. If those plays come near the goal line, it’s possible that Darnold will suffer reduced fantasy viability in superflex leagues this year. With the Seahawks not married to Darnold by contract in 2026, there’s already some inherent benching risks to consider as well. Darnold should still open the year as the starter, but he probably needs to perform well to stay on it all season.
Ben Johnson told Colston Loveland at Loveland’s pro day that he reminded him of Sam LaPorta.
“Obviously we did a lot of things with LaPorta ... I can see you doing a lot of those things as well,” Johnson continued per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. So obviously we can expect a second-year fade for Loveland, but those 10 touchdowns in his first year should be great. (Hold for applause.) The Bears have preached competition coming out of the draft and we’ve yet to see a quote that indicates Loveland is guaranteed a ton of playing time as he steps into a room led by Cole Kmet. There’s nothing wrong with Loveland from a dynasty perspective, but it may be worth tempering expectations in the short-term until we’re sure he’ll have a major role in the offense.
Bengals exercised their fifth-year option on CB Dax Hill.
Hill suffered a torn ACL in Week 5 against the Ravens and missed the remainder of the season. We don’t have a current update on his status, but a normal timeline would probably have him set to return sometime in camp or September. He’s a likely PUP candidate. Hill will make $12.6 million in 2026. Frankly, it’s a little surprising that this option was picked up considering how little Hill did right in 2022 and 2023 as he was shuttled back-and-forth between corner and safety. Hill was having a career season before the injury in 2024, finishing with a 68.0 PFF coverage grade.
Seahawks waived QB Jaren Hall.
With Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe added shortly before and during the draft, Seattle’s room had become too crowded for Hall to crack. The 27-year-old started twice for the Vikings in 2023 and threw for 168 yards on 20 attempts, getting intercepted once. He’ll try to find a third-quarterback role elsewhere.