2020 NFL Free Agents: Running Backs

NFL Free Agent Tracker:
Top 100 | QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K/P | FA Grades | FA Team Grades | FA Rumors





2020 NFL Free Agency: Star rating is out of five. Age listing as of Sept. 1, 2020.
Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

  1. Derrick Henry, RB, Titans. Age: 26.
    Franchised by Titans

    Derrick Henry tends to start slowly, but he eventually turns into a runaway freight train. He was the league’s leading rusher in 2019. The only downside with him is that he doesn’t have great receiving ability.

  2. Kareem Hunt (RFA), RB, Browns. Age: 25.
    Tendered by Browns (2nd round)

    Kareem Hunt is a supreme talent as both a runner and a receiver out of the backfield. He has a checkered off-the-field history, but seems to have turned a new leaf.



  3. Melvin Gordon, RB, Chargers. Age: 27.
    Signed with Broncos (2 years, $16 million)

    Melvin Gordon is coming off a down year, but that can be attributed to his decision to hold out. Gordon is usually one of the better runners in the NFL, and he’s pretty solid as a receiver out of the backfield.

  4. Leonard Fournette, RB, Jaguars. Age: 27.
    Signed with Buccaneers (1 year)

    Analysts who rely on analytics too much will point out how inefficient Leonard Fournette was in 2019. This, however, would ignore how putrid Jacksonville’s offensive line was. Fournette is still a phenomenal three-down talent who can massively upgrade a team’s backfield.

  5. Austin Ekeler (RFA), RB, Chargers. Age: 25.
    Re-signed with Chargers (4 years, $24.5 million)

    Austin Ekeler can’t handle a full workload, but he’s an elite receiver out of the backfield. He’s been an excellent weapon for the Chargers, who probably haven’t even used him enough.



  6. Kenyan Drake, RB, Cardinals. Age: 26.
    Transition tagged by Cardinals; re-signed (1 year)

    Kenyan Drake looked like just a decent pass-catching running back when he was with Miami, but that’s because Adam Gase once again failed to determine how talented a player of his was. Drake became a dynamic play-maker once he joined Arizona. Drake, who is just 26, has a very bright future ahead of him.

  7. Todd Gurley, RB, Rams. Age: 26.
    Signed with Falcons (1 year, $5 million)

    Todd Gurley’s contract was so bad that the Rams took $23 million in dead money to get rid of him in order to avoid paying a $10.5 million roster bonus. Gurley was once seen as one of the top running backs in the NFL, but things have changed drastically over the past 16 or so months. Gurley has degenerative, arthritic knees, so he won’t improve. He can play very well when handling the ball, but he can’t be asked to shoulder a full workload. Gurley would be a great member of a running back committee, as he can still plunge into the end zone and catch passes well.

  8. Matt Breida (RFA), RB, 49ers. Age: 25.
    Tendered by 49ers (2nd)

    Matt Breida is a talented runner who would deserve a heavier workload if he could stay healthy. He seems to always get banged up, unfortunately.

  9. Devonta Freeman, RB, Falcons. Age: 28.
    Signed with Giants

    If you’re wondering how the Falcons feel about Devonta Freeman, they’re taking on $6 million in dead money to save paying him $6.5 million in 2019. Freeman is a tremendous receiver out of the backfield, but he’s not nearly the talented running back he once was. Injuries have sapped him of his explosiveness, so he may have to resort to being just a third-down back from this point forward.

  10. Jordan Howard, RB, Eagles. Age: 25.
    Signed with Dolphins (2 years)

    Jordan Howard fell out of favor in Philadelphia, but it wasn’t his fault. Miles Sanders and Boston Scott simply thrived when Howard missed some time with an injury. Howard is still very young, so he has a bright future ahead of him.

  11. DeAndre Washington, RB, Raiders. Age: 27.
    Signed with Chiefs

    DeAndre Washington did a solid job replacing Josh Jacobs in a couple of games late in the year. He’s a decent runner with nice pass-catching ability.



  12. Jonathan Williams, RB, Colts. Age: 26.
    Signed with Lions

    Jonathan Williams flashed his potential when Marlon Mack was injured this past season. He’s a decent runner who happens to be one of the best reserve backs in the NFL.

  13. Carlos Hyde, RB, Texans. Age: 30.
    Signed with Seahawks

    Carlos Hyde was especially mediocre as Houston’s starter last year. He ran for 1,070 yards, but that just proved that stats can sometimes be misleading.

  14. Lamar Miller, RB, Texans. Age: 29.
    Signed with Patriots

    Lamar Miller tore his ACL and MCL prior to the 2019 season, s it’s unclear if he’ll ever be 100 percent. The Texans were never big fans of his in the first place.




  15. Chris Thompson, RB, Redskins. Age: 29.
    Signed with Jaguars

    Chris Thompson is an excellent receiver out of the backfield, but he’s had trouble staying healthy. He hasn’t played more than 10 games since 2016.

  16. LeSean McCoy, RB, Chiefs. Age: 32.
    Signed with Buccaneers

    LeSean McCoy is a shell of his former self, but he can still produce some nice runs and make good plays as a receiver out of the backfield.

  17. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks. Age: 34.
    Marshawn Lynch is 34 (as of April), but he can still move piles and plunge into the end zone, though he shouldn’t be counted on to handle substantial workloads.



  18. Peyton Barber, RB, Buccaneers. Age: 26.
    Signed with Redskins (2 years, $3 million)

    Peyton Barber is a pedestrian, plodding back, but he’s been given plenty of carries and starts over the past couple of years.

  19. Frank Gore, RB, Bills. Age: 37.
    Signed with Jets

    Frank Gore is still somehow a steady back at the age of 37. He can’t start anymore, but he’s an excellent backup.

  20. Corey Clement (RFA), RB, Eagles. Age: 25.
  21. Jalen Richard, RB, Raiders. Age: 26. — Re-signed with Raiders
  22. J.D. McKissic, RB, Lions. Age: 27. — Signed with Redskins
  23. Dion Lewis, RB, Titans. Age: 29. — Signed with Giants
  24. Bilal Powell, RB, Jets. Age: 31.
  25. Theo Riddick, RB, Raiders. Age: 29.
  26. Ty Montgomery, RB, Jets. Age: 27. — Signed with Saints
  27. C.J. Prosise, RB, Seahawks. Age: 26.
  28. Wendell Smallwood, RB, Redskins. Age: 26.
  29. Trey Edmunds (RFA), RB, Steelers. Age: 25.
  30. Dwayne Washington, RB, Saints. Age: 26. — Re-signed with Saints
  31. Devontae Booker, RB, Broncos. Age: 28. — Signed with Raiders
  32. Spencer Ware, RB, Chiefs. Age: 28.
  33. Kenjon Barner, RB, Falcons. Age: 31.
  34. Darren Sproles, RB, Eagles. Age: 37.
  35. Kenneth Dixon, RB, Jets. Age: 26.
  36. David Fluellen, RB, Titans. Age: 28.
  37. Robert Turbin, RB, Seahawks. Age: 30.
  38. Rod Smith, RB, Raiders. Age: 28. — Re-signed with Raiders
  39. D.J. Foster (RFA), RB, Cardinals. Age: 26. — Re-signed with Cardinals (1 year)





NFL Free Agent Tracker:
Top 100 | QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K/P | FA Grades | FA Team Grades | FA Rumors




2024 NFL Mock Draft - March 26


NFL Power Rankings - Feb. 22


Fantasy Football Rankings - Feb. 19


NFL Picks - Feb. 12