Off-Season Movement: 2025 Running Back Landscape, Part One

Each off-season, I track team needs and the players most likely to fill those needs in a chart like this. In the coming weeks and months, NFL teams will have multiple opportunities to fill those holes, namely the March free agency period and April’s NFL Draft.

In this series, I’ll go position-by-position looking at teams in need, along with the veterans and rookies who could eventually fill the blanks on the chart below.

This year, there are a ton of running back-needy teams, but the free agent crop is lacking. That means one-third of the league, or more, will be chasing rookie running backs in the second and third round of the NFL Draft. With a stacked rookie class and a ton of teams with needs, the dynasty value of the running back position will see some massive shifts this off-season.

Team Needs

Dallas Cowboys

A year ago, the Cowboys let veteran Tony Pollard walk via free agency and then ignored the running back position in both free agency and the NFL Draft. Former backup Rico Dowdle played well enough once he was given the bulk of the backfield touches and finished the season as the RB23. With Dowdle now entering free agency himself, the team’s depth chart is wide open. They have routinely been projected to select a top rookie back in the first round, which would seemingly be a poor decision given their many needs.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos added rookie Audric Estime last off-season through the draft, turning the backfield into a three-man committee. While Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin remain, former starter Javonte Williams will enter free agency and is not expected back in Denver. They have some nice depth backs but Sean Payton will be looking for his new version of Alvin Kamara this off-season.

Los Angeles Chargers

America’s Team, the Cowboys’ potential backfield addition is getting all of the attention but my favorite landing spot for a key free agent or top-ranked rookie is with the Chargers. It has become a well-known narrative that head coach Jim Harbaugh wants to run the ball as much as possible. With JK Dobbins entering free agency, the Chargers are left with veteran Gus Edwards and last year’s draft pick Kimani Vidal. Any back landing in LA will be a big-time riser.

Las Vegas Raiders

Last off-season, the Raiders signed Alexander Mattison off the scrap heap to pair with promising young back Zamir White. While most dynasty managers were chasing White, it was Mattison who was the more productive back. Mattison is a free agent and the Raiders have now hired Pete Carroll. This is a blank slate situation as the Raiders start all over. Carroll’s Seattle teams were generally strong in the running game, making this a team to watch in free agency and the NFL Draft.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers backfield duo of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren are both free agents this off-season, adding to the team’s needs on the offensive side of the ball. Warren is an unrestricted free agent, making it likely he returns to the team, but Harris is all but gone after the team declined his fifth-year option last off-season.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings bolstered their backfield last off-season, signing former Packer Aaron Jones and later trading, again, for Cam Akers. Both veterans are now free agents, leaving Minnesota with Ty Chandler and little else. Jones showed signs of decline in the back-half of the season, suggesting the team could be shopping for a new starting back once again.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns welcomed back veteran Nick Chubb following his devastating 2023 injury. Chubb didn’t look like the same back as he once was and will now enter free agency. Cleveland still has Jerome Ford on the roster and he’s been an adequate back but shouldn’t be viewed as a starting NFL back.

Chicago Bears

The Bears made a big move last off-season, signing veteran D’Andre Swift to a big deal and that paid off early in the year as Swift shined. He seemingly hit the wall in mid-season as the Chicago offense struggled. With whiz kid Ben Johnson now in charge, expect improvement across the board. Swift will likely stick around with his hefty contract but the team could add some depth to compete with Roschon Johnson.

Cincinnati Bengals

After moving on from Joe Mixon last off-season, the Bengals signed veteran Zack Moss, who was coming off a career-year with the Colts. Even before Moss suffered a potential career-ending injury, he was being outplayed by young back Chase Brown. Although Brown quickly became somewhat of a dynasty darling, the Bengals are certain to add competition this off-season.

New York Giants

Like many other teams, the Giants paired a veteran free agent with a high-upside rookie last off-season, signing Devin Singletary and drafting Tyrone Tracy Jr. The rookie ultimately outplayed Singletary but there are some concerns the team may not fully trust Tracy to be the lead back moving forward. If the Giants don’t add a top back, Tracy’s stock will soar.

Kansas City Chiefs

Once Isiah Pacheco suffered an injury, the Chiefs were left to sign veteran Kareem Hunt. Although Hunt played well, the team is expected to stick with Pacheco as the lead back next year. Also, after giving up on former first-rounder Clyde Edwards-Helaire, the Chiefs need some depth in their backfield.

With so much to cover at the running back position, this will be a two-parter. In the next article, we’ll look at the running backs that make up the free agent and rookie class of 2025, along with some possible cap casualties.