I’m not crazy about the crop of free agent wide receivers. Eric Decker, Julian Edelman, Hakeem Nicks, Riley Cooper – some decent guys, but not superstars.
It’s similar at running back. There are some decent guys, but no superstars that you’d want to break the bank for. Here’s the top 10, as I see them.
TOP 10 FREE AGENT RUNNING BACKS
Donald Brown One of the league’s more underrated tailbacks, I think. His career started really slowly, when he looked like a bust after his first year. But he’s grown into being a nice back. Averaged 4.8 yards per carry for a really bad Indianapolis team in 2011 (that was when it looked like he might go winless). He beat out Trent Richardson last year, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Has a lot of big-play ability, both as a runner and in the passing game. Averages 9.2 yards per reception for his career. Turns 27 next month.
Maurice Jones-Drew He’ll be 29 in less than two weeks, so he’s starting to near the end of the road. When signing him, you’re really looking primarily at 2014 – maybe you can get a good 2015 as well. He had the foot injury that kept him out most of 2012, and he averaged only 3.4 last year. But I think Jones-Drew can still play. He averaged 4.7 and 4.8 yards per carry in the two seasons entering last year. I think he was held back last year by not having much around him.
Knowshon Moreno He’s pretty ordinary. Not special in terms of speed and playmaking ability. But he’s a pro. He’s been around and he knows pass protections and whatnot. That’s why he was playing ahead of Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman last year. Really good as a pass catcher (caught 60 balls last year, averaging 9.1 per catch). Turns 27 in July.
Ben Tate He’s been trying to sell himself as the top running back on the market – a talent who’s been hidden behind Arian Foster. He’ll be 26 on opening day, so if you’re looking more long-term, maybe you sneak him ahead of Jones-Drew. But he’s been pretty ordinary. Two years in a row, he’s averaged 4.3 yards per carry, and that’s been in a tailback-friendly scheme. He’s not very good in the passing game. Of the 49 running backs last year who had at least 25 passes thrown their way, he was the least effective, averaging only 2.9 yards per attempt (that chart appears below, and note that Andre Brown is also on it).
LeGarrette Blount A 250-pounder bulldozer who can run some people over. He’s one of the slower tailbacks, but with his size, he’s tough to bring down once he gets past the first level. Averaged 5.0 yards per carry last year, and he had two games with over 165 rushing yards late in the year. At Tampa Bay, he went over 1,000 yards one year, averaging 5.0 yards per carry. A complete liability in the passing game. With his body type and playing style, he’ll have a short career. He’s 27, and he’ll probably be out of the league before he’s 30. Could be a nice part of a platoon.
Toby Gerhart He’s been buried behind Adrian Peterson for four years. He hasn’t done enough with him limited opportunities. But too early to give up on him. He’s got some tackle-busting ability. He averages 4.7 yards per carry as a pro, which is exactly the same as Ben Tate (both of these guys were drafted in the second round four years ago). Gerhart is way better on passing downs than Tate, both as a pass catcher and a blocker. Gerhart rumbled for a 41-yard touchdown late last year at Baltimore. Less proven than Blount, but he has more upside and a more well-rounded game.
Rashad Jennings Jennings was great in his first two years in Jacksonville, averaging 5.2 and 5.5 yards per carry. Then he tore his ACL, missed an entire season, then came back and struggled in 2012. They gave up on him, and he resurfaced with the Raiders last year, averaging 4.5 yards per carry. He was better than Darren McFadden, actually beating him out late in the year. An older back, though. He turns 29 next month.
Andre Brown Nice back who’s shown flashes of being pretty good with the Giants. Ran for 492 yards, with 20 receptions and 3 TDs in half of a season last year. Good short-yardage runner. But has had injury problems, and doesn’t bring special physical ability to the table. Four other NFL teams cut him before he carved out a role with New York. Not very good in the passing game. He’s 27.
Darren McFadden Might be a nice part-time option. He’s got great speed. Long speed, anyway. He’s not a quick runner. I like the shorter, stockier runners who are built low to the ground and can cut from side to side. McFadden is 6-foot-1 and seems taller – he’s got long legs. He’s a straight-line guy who needs to build up speed. Try to run him inside, and it’s a disaster. Pair him with the right other back, and he could be a good weapon. Prior to last year, had a TD run over 55 yards three years in a row. He’s best seasons came in 2010 and 2011, when he averaged 5.3 yards per attempt. Has had a lot of injury problems. Turns 27 in August.
Darren Sproles Turns 31 in June. Could be a nice third-down back for a season. Still has quickness. Caught over 70 passes each of the last three years with the Saints. Can return kickoffs and punts, but isn’t the difference maker on special teams that he’s been in the past. New Orleans cut him.
NOT MAKING THE CUT
Ahmad Bradshaw Hard-running, talented back, but he’s had a lot of problems and I don’t think he can stay healthy. Has had chronic foot and ankle problems, as well as a neck injury that might scare off a lot of teams. He turns 28 next week.
James Starks Decent No. 2 back. Definitely not a starter.
Rashard Mendenhall He says he’s retired. If he decides to play, he’ll be a backup somewhere.
| RUNNING BACKS IN THE PASSING GAME | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Running back | Rec | Yds | Tgt | Avg |
| Car. | DeAngelo Williams | 26 | 333 | 36 | 9.3 |
| Phil. | LeSean McCoy | 52 | 539 | 64 | 8.4 |
| Det. | Joique Bell | 53 | 547 | 69 | 7.9 |
| Den. | Knowshon Moreno | 60 | 548 | 74 | 7.4 |
| Cin. | Giovani Bernard | 56 | 514 | 71 | 7.2 |
| Sea. | Marshawn Lynch | 36 | 316 | 44 | 7.2 |
| S.D. | Danny Woodhead | 76 | 605 | 87 | 7.0 |
| N.O. | Darren Sproles | 71 | 604 | 89 | 6.8 |
| S.F. | Bruce Miller | 25 | 243 | 36 | 6.8 |
| K.C. | Jamaal Charles | 70 | 693 | 104 | 6.7 |
| Tenn. | Chris Johnson | 42 | 345 | 52 | 6.6 |
| Ariz. | Andre Ellington | 39 | 371 | 58 | 6.4 |
| Atl. | Jason Snelling | 29 | 216 | 34 | 6.4 |
| Det. | Reggie Bush | 54 | 506 | 80 | 6.3 |
| Chi. | Matt Forte | 74 | 594 | 94 | 6.3 |
| Oak. | Rashad Jennings | 36 | 292 | 47 | 6.2 |
| N.E. | Shane Vereen | 47 | 427 | 69 | 6.2 |
| Oak. | Marcel Reece | 32 | 331 | 54 | 6.1 |
| Ind. | Donald Brown | 27 | 214 | 35 | 6.1 |
| N.O. | Pierre Thomas | 77 | 513 | 84 | 6.1 |
| Cle.-Ind. | Trent Richardson | 35 | 316 | 52 | 6.1 |
| Pitt. | LeVeon Bell | 45 | 399 | 66 | 6.0 |
| Wash. | Roy Helu | 31 | 251 | 42 | 6.0 |
| Buff. | Fred Jackson | 47 | 387 | 66 | 5.9 |
| G.B. | Eddie Lacy | 35 | 257 | 44 | 5.8 |
| Car. | Mike Tolbert | 27 | 184 | 32 | 5.8 |
| S.D. | Ryan Mathews | 26 | 189 | 33 | 5.7 |
| Atl. | Jacquizz Rodgers | 52 | 341 | 62 | 5.5 |
| S.F. | Frank Gore | 16 | 141 | 26 | 5.4 |
| Den. | Montee Ball | 20 | 145 | 27 | 5.4 |
| Dall. | DeMarco Murray | 53 | 350 | 66 | 5.3 |
| N.E. | Brandon Bolden | 21 | 152 | 29 | 5.2 |
| Jac. | Maurice Jones-Drew | 43 | 314 | 60 | 5.2 |
| Hou. | Arian Foster | 22 | 183 | 35 | 5.2 |
| Mia. | Lamar Miller | 26 | 170 | 35 | 4.9 |
| T.B. | Brian Leonard | 29 | 179 | 37 | 4.8 |
| NYJ | Bilal Powell | 36 | 272 | 58 | 4.7 |
| Buff. | C.J. Spiller | 33 | 185 | 40 | 4.6 |
| Clev. | Chris Ogbonnaya | 48 | 343 | 75 | 4.6 |
| Jac. | Jordan Todman | 14 | 116 | 26 | 4.5 |
| Clev. | Fozzy Whittaker | 21 | 155 | 35 | 4.4 |
| Balt. | Ray Rice | 58 | 321 | 73 | 4.4 |
| Oak. | Darren McFadden | 17 | 108 | 25 | 4.3 |
| Minn. | Adrian Peterson | 29 | 171 | 40 | 4.3 |
| Balt. | Bernard Pierce | 20 | 104 | 25 | 4.2 |
| St.L. | Zac Stacy | 26 | 141 | 35 | 4.0 |
| Atl. | Steven Jackson | 33 | 191 | 49 | 3.9 |
| NYG | Andre Brown | 20 | 103 | 29 | 3.6 |
| Hou. | Ben Tate | 34 | 140 | 49 | 2.9 |