NFL Free Agency Preview: Top 5 Running Backs

The Jets have franchise-tagged Breece Hall, taking arguably the best free-agent running back off the market.

Now, with plenty of teams still in need of the position, we take a look at the best half-backs entering free agency.

Honorable Mentions

Since I can’t go into great detail about every free agent running back, here are a few under-the-radar names to watch for:

Tyler Allgeier

A one-thousand-yard rusher in his rookie season and backup ever since, Allgeier should be looking for another chance to rise the ranks of a team’s backfield.

Rico Dowdle

After back-to-back 1000-yard rushing seasons on two different teams, Dowdle will likely be looking for a third team to prove his prowess on.

Rachaad White

After losing his starting job over the last two years, White should be looking for a second chance to prove his caliber.

5) Najee Harris

After suffering a season-ending injury in his first year with the Chargers, Najee Harris will more than likely be searching elsewhere for a job. And while he’s nowhere near the fresh-legged, shoo-in for 250-plus carries that he was at the beginning of his career, he’s still a worthy option for a team in need of an inexpensive every-down back.

Teams like the Cardinals, Chiefs, Commanders, Saints, and Vikings could all use the soon-to-be 28-year-old’s daunting size and impressive ability to carry a workload. But with lingering health concerns and a history of inefficiency, it seems more likely that Harris will find himself in a supporting role on an up-and-coming offense.

Prediction: New York Giants

4) Kenneth Gainwell

Kenneth Gainwell may have just had his breakout season in 2025, running for a career-high 537 yards and catching a career-high 73 balls. Now, after his fifth season, we know Gainwell can be a valuable asset on a competing team, especially with his sticky pass-catching fingers. But just how much value does the soon-to-be 27-year-old possess?

Seeing as he split starting running back duties with Jaylen Warren last year, it’s unreasonable to expect Gainwell to take the leap to becoming a full-time starter in 2026, especially this late into his career. However, Gainwell’s pass-catching prowess is reminiscent of names like James White and Theo Riddick, former backups known for their third-down back abilities, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him in a similar role on a team with a veteran pocket passer.

Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs

3) J.K. Dobbins

Another consistently underrated running back is J.K. Dobbins, who has now produced back-to-back seasons on pace for 1000 rushing yards, both ultimately being cut short by injuries — the unfortunate story of Dobbins’ career, thus far.

After three teams in three years, it wouldn’t surprise me to see a fourth team take a chance on the 27-year-old back as their starting back. Dobbins might not have the durability of other options in the market, but he does have the proven ability to be an efficient every-down back, at least for the first half of the season, making him a completely worthwhile starter in a muddy backfield.

Prediction: New Orleans Saints

2) Travis Etienne

Credit: Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union/USA TODAY NETWORK-Imagn Images

Mid-season struggles aside, Etienne should be in line for a starting deal in free agency. And with the Jaguars in a salary-cap pinch, that likely means Etienne will need to find a new home. One team with money to spend and a desire for an improved rushing attack is the Commanders. And although their current projected starter, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, is coming off a solid rookie campaign, he profiles as more of an insurance back in the long run.

Prediction: Washington Commanders

1) Kenneth Walker III

For the first time since 1997, a running back has won Super Bowl MVP. After years of shaky production and limited availability, Kenneth Walker III was finally able to put it together in 2025, reaching 1000 rushing yards for the second time and running for over 300 yards in three games en route to the Seahawks’ Super Bowl LX victory.

The 25-year-old put the offense on his back during his team’s Super Bowl run, and there’s almost nothing more appealing to an NFL team than that. Plus, Walker proved he could stay healthy for a full season for the first time in his career, playing in 17 regular-season games and three playoff games, managing at least 10 touches in each.

In other words, it should be at the top of the Seahawks’ to-do list to re-sign Walker. The power runner seems to be getting better, and letting him walk would be a massive mistake on their part. Walker may be an unrestricted free agent, but the Seahawks still have more than enough money to keep him around.

Prediction: Seattle Seahawks