Running Back Roulette: Free Agency Watch

10. LeSean McCoy

The days of prime Shady are long gone, though LeSean McCoy did perform well in limited action this season. He also just got a Super Bowl ring with Kansas City. McCoy eventually took a backseat to Damien Williams but didn’t look finished when he did play. The former Eagles great handled only 101 carries, but still tallied 465 yards and four touchdowns. At his current age (31) McCoy clearly cannot handle a full workload like past years. Yet, he still managed to flash playmaking ability as a rusher and a receiver. Through the air, McCoy snagged 28 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown. Shady still has juice left in the tank as far as the eye can tell, but he shouldn’t be your #1 back in 2020.

9. Lamar Miller

Lamar Miller is a tough player to rank. He missed the entire 2019 season due to an ACL tear he suffered in the preseason. However, he performed pretty well in 2018 with Houston, despite a poor offensive line. Miller finished just shy of 1,000 yards while averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He also notched five touchdowns, including a career-best 97-yard score. The former Miami Hurricane and Miami Dolphin is a good, but not great receiving back. In 2018 he had 163 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. Miller will be 29 soon, so regression may be coming. He’s a talented runner, but the ACL tear will cause some teams to shy away from signing him.

8. Matt Breida

The 49ers had a potent rushing attack in 2020, and Matt Breida finished the year third on the depth chart. His season started out strong with two 100-yard performances in the first four weeks. However, nagging injuries and some ineffectiveness caused Breida to slip behind Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman on the depth chart. Still, Breida finished the campaign with 623 rushing yards and a 5.1 yards per carry average. Once the playoffs started, the third-year runner was practically nonexistent. He didn’t touch the ball in Super Bowl LIV and finished the playoffs with a pathetic nine carries for 19 yards. Luckily, Breida is only 24 and will have time to bounce back. There’s a good chance he finds a new home in 2020.

7. Jordan Howard

Do I sound like a broken record yet? Jordan Howard began the year as the Eagles’ top runner, but injuries allowed Miles Sanders to overtake him on the depth chart. Howard’s biggest flaw is that he’s a poor pass catcher. He reeled in just 10 catches this season, though he ran the ball rather well. The first-year Eagle averaged 4.4 yards per carry for a total of 525 rushing yards. He also managed to get in the end zone six times and didn’t lose a single fumble this year. However, he lacks the explosiveness of a top-end running back. The good news is that Howard recently turned 25, so he can still improve from here. The bad news is he may be in search of a new home, after a single season in Philly.

6. Carlos Hyde

Carlos Hyde had somewhat of a strange season in 2019. He didn’t jump off your television screen, yet he still finished with a career-high 1,070 rushing yards. The former Buckeyes superstar also averaged just under 4.5 yards per carry, despite several lackluster performances this year. Still, Hyde did tally six rushing scores and went over 100 yards in three games. After splitting time with the Jaguars and Browns a year ago, Hyde provided stability for a Houston running game which lost Lamar Miller in the preseason. He’s a strong and physical runner, but his ceiling is capped by poor receiving marks. In fact, Hyde managed a grand total of 42 receiving yards in 2019. He’ll also turn 30 soon, which is another concern. That said, Hyde gained 1,000 rushing yards this season and serves as a middle-tier halfback in the NFL.

5. Kenyan Drake

The Miami Dolphins failed to recognize Kenyan Drake‘s talent. When Drake headed to Arizona in a mid-season trade, he brought electricity to the Cardinal’s backfield. In only eight games, Drake collected 643 rushing yards, while also averaging over five yards per tote. He also added eight rushing scores with a long of 80 yards. The former Alabama standout didn’t have a receiving touchdown with Miami or Arizona this season. However, he did flash playmaking ability in the passing attack with 50 receptions for 345 yards. Drake took the starting job from a banged-up David Johnson, and never looked back. He also just recently turned 26, so he should have plenty left in the tank. Look for Drake to have a list of potential suitors, though Arizona will look to keep him around.

4. Austin Ekeler

Out of nowhere, Austin Ekeler became an outstanding running back for the Chargers this season. He first stepped in during Melvin Gordon’s holdout, but he remained a staple of the offense even when Gordon returned. Ekeler’s rushing stats were decent this year, but his receiving numbers popped off the page. On 108 targets, Ekeler snagged 92 passes for 993 receiving yards. Only Christian McCaffrey had more catches and receiving yards amongst running backs. Despite going undrafted in 2017, Ekeler has blossomed into a highly productive NFL runner. His age is another attractive factor for teams in the running back market. He’ll turn only 25 years old this May. Ekeler is a restricted free agent, so there’s a good chance he may not move anywhere. If he does hit the market, there will be many teams interested in him.

3. Melvin Gordon

I’ll rank Melvin Gordon ahead of Ekeler based on the track record. Although, Gordon produced only pedestrian numbers upon returning from his holdout. Gordon missed the Charger’s first four games and totaled 612 rushing yards with nine touchdowns the remainder of 2019. Though he sputtered initially, the Wisconsin alum looked more like himself down the stretch. He also flashed his receiving talents even though Ekeler remained heavily involved in the LA offense. Gordon’s abbreviated season was a mixed bag overall. He flopped in some games, but also looked like an elite runner in other contests. The Chargers could easily opt to move off of Gordon, in favor of the younger Ekeler. If that happens, Gordon’s past successes should attract a handful of teams.

2. Kareem Hunt

Kareem Hunt was cut loose by Kansas City after an incident between him and a female at a hotel. He was picked up by the Cleveland Browns but had to sit out the first eight-game while serving a suspension. Hunt was used as a third receiver, more than a running back because of Nick Chubb’s presence in the offense. He carried the ball only 42 times, but still managed 172 yards and two rushing scores. In addition, he brought in 37 catches for 285 yards on 44 targets. Hunt will turn 25 in August, so he’s just now entering his prime years. Hunt is a restricted free agent, meaning the Browns can match any offer he gets. Nonetheless, he would be a prolific addition if a team can pry him away from Cleveland.

1. Derrick Henry

The top spot on this list belongs to the league’s rushing king in 2019. Derrick Henry had a strong first half, but he morphed into Barry Sanders in the final couple months. All in all, Henry steamrolled his way to 1,540 rushing yards along with 16 rushing touchdowns. King Henry was going over 100 yards rushing with regularity in the season’s second half. Including the postseason, Henry tallied 100+ rushing yards in seven of his last nine games. The former Heisman winner is a humongous running back, though he still possesses breakaway speed in the open field. The one critique of Henry would be his below-average receiving numbers. Still, that small shortcoming can easily be overlooked on most nights. The Titans would love to bring Henry back, but Ryan Tannehill is also a free agent. Will King Henry take his massive talents elsewhere if Tennessee doesn’t prioritize him?

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