In our previous article, we gave an overview of the top 10 NFL free agent running backs for 2024. In this second part,we feature the next ten best free agent running backs. While some of these will not be more than role players, a few could surprise and be featured backs in the right scenario. Note that the players’ 2023 team is in parentheses.
11 – Ezekiel Elliott (New England Patriots)
After four seasons with over 1000 yards rushing in seven years with the Dallas Cowboys, Elliott signed with the New England Patriots last season. He played in all 17 games, starting five. He finished with 653 yards rushing and 313 receiving with five total touchdowns. Elliott’s 3.5 yards per attempt was the lowest of his career and second straight season averaging under 4 yards per carry.
While his days of being a dominant running back in the league are likely over, Elliott is only a season removed from 12 rushing touchdowns, so he still has a knack of finding the end zone. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings, and Carolina Panthers were teams with the least rushing touchdowns and would be a good fit for Elliott.
12 – Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Kansas City Chiefs)
At age 24, Clyde Edwards-Helaire already has two Super Bowls under his belt, but his production has declined steadily since rushing for 803 yards and 293 receiving yards as a rookie in 2020. He averaged a career-low 3.2 yards per carry on only 70 attempts last season with two total touchdowns. With Isiah Pacheco as the clear featured back in Kansas City, Edwards-Helaire will move elsewhere.
Possible landing spots for Helaire include New England, about to lose Ezekiel Elliott. Also on the list would be the Cincinnati Bengals, Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, and Seattle Seahawks.
13 – D’Onta Foreman (Chicago Bears)
Foreman has already played for four NFL teams over a six-year career, missing all but one game in 2018 and all of 2019 due to injury. His best season came with the Carolina Panthers in 2022, rushing for 914 yards and five touchdowns. In his lone season with the Bears, Foreman rushed for 425 yards in nine games, but was a healthy scratch for four straight weeks early in the season.
Foreman will be 28 years old in April but has only played in 52 NFL games. He should gain interest from several teams in need of running back depth. Foreman could get to start in some scenarios. Potential landing spots include the Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Chargers (who could lose Austin Ekeler), and the Minnesota Vikings.
14 – Kareem Hunt (Cleveland Browns)
After starting for the Kansas City Chiefs in his first two NFL seasons, Hunt has been a change-of-pace back over the last five seasons. He rushed for 411 yards and nine touchdowns with the Cleveland Browns last season. However, he averaged a mere three yards per carry. At age 28, Hunt still appears to have much of the speed he had while a premier back as a rookie.
Hunt would be a good fit for the Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and Los Angeles Rams. He would provide much-needed goal-line situational running and would be a number two back with a chance to be the main back in the right scenario.
15 – Damien Harris (Buffalo Bills)
After appearing in only two games in 2019, Harris was the key back for the New England Patriots the next two seasons, posting a career-best 929 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2021. He was injured with a neck sprain in the sixth game in 2023, ending his season with 94 yards rushing on 23 carries. Harris is only 26 years old and expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the 2024 season.
Potential landing spots for Harris include Tampa Bay, Atlanta, and the Los Angeles Chargers, all in need of a solid number two back who could step in as the featured back if needed.
16 – Joshua Kelley (Los Angeles Chargers)
Kelley played four seasons with the Chargers and set a career-high 405 yards rushing last season while starting three games. He was relatively seldom used playing behind Austin Ekeler, who is also a free agent.
Kelley has played in 54 NFL games but doesn’t have much wear on the tires, having carried the ball only 320 times. There is a possibility that Kelley could re-sign with the Chargers and have a larger role with Ekeler likely moving elsewhere. Other teams in need of upgrade in the backfield include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, and Washington Commanders.
17 – Gus Edwards (Baltimore Ravens)
Edwards set a career-high 810 yards rushing last season, his fifth in the NFL. He missed the 2021 season due to a torn ACL suffered in practice. Edwards is a proven veteran at 28 years old and 3395 yards rushing. He also has a knack for finding the end zone, scoring 13 touchdowns last season.
The Dallas Cowboys are a top potential landing spot for Edwards. Dallas will lose starting running back Tony Pollard, and likely number two running back Rico Dowdle in free agency. The Cowboys won’t be missing a step should they sign Edwards.
18 – Antonio Gibson (Washington Commanders)
Gibson looked to be on the verge of stardom after 11 rushing touchdowns as a rookie and over 1000 yards during his second NFL season. Despite the 1000-yard season, Gibson lost his starting position in 2022 and was limited to 265 yards on 65 carries with one touchdown last season.
Gibson has become more of a threat coming out of the backfield in the passing game, but the Commanders are looking for more of a dual threat in the backfield. Gibson is only 25 years old and could reemerge as a top back in the right scenario. The question is where he will end up. There is no top landing spot, but numerous teams are likely to show interest in Gibson.
19 – Rashaad Penny (Philadelphia Eagles)
What a strange ride it has been for Penny. He showed promise as a rookie with the Seattle Seahawks, rushing for 419 yards and 4.9 per attempt in 2018. He suffered a torn ACL in week 14 of his second season, limiting him to only three games in 2020. Penny led the league in yards per carry in 2021, but a broken fibula shut him down again five games into 2022. He carried only 11 times for 33 yards with the Eagles last season.
Penny has had a barrage of injuries and one must wonder how much interest he’ll have on the market. Teams that are thin at running back such as the Minnesota Vikings would be a good spot for Penny to look to reestablish his NFL career.
20 – D’Ernest Johnson (Jacksonville Jaguars)
The Jaguars were one of the worst rushing teams in the NFL yet will likely lose Johnson via free agency. The team rarely used Johnson, who rushed only 41 times for 108 yards in his only season with the team. Johnson showed promise in Cleveland, averaging 5.3 yards per carry on 100 attempts in 2021.
At 27 years old, Johnson is not young for a running back, but has only 182 career rushing attempts. He should gain interest from numerous teams in need of depth. Don’t be surprised if Johnson reunites with his former team, the Cleveland Browns, who will be losing Kareem Hunt.
