A year ago, the crop of running backs in NFL free agency left plenty to be desired. That’s not the case in 2026, with some of the most productive ball-carriers this season now among the best running backs available in NFL free agency. It all sets up to be a very active market, with several potentially headed for multi-year deals.
Let’s dive into our NFL free agency predictions for where the top running backs will land.
Kenneth Walker III: Denver Broncos
Bringing back J.K. Dobbins will certainly be an option for the Denver Broncos, as he fit nicely in Sean Payton’s system. While R.J. Harvey has been a productive pass-catcher (356 receiving yards), he ended the regular season averaging just a 3.7 yards-per-carry average, he ranked 65th in true yards per carry (3.4) and had just a 2.7 percent breakaway run rate. Meanwhile, Walker is coming off the second 1,000-yard season of his career, he averaged 4.6 ypc for the second time in his career and he led the NFL in juke rate (31.7 percent) while ranking sixth in evaded tackles (80) and recorded the third-most breakaway runs (18). Walker could thrive behind this Broncos offensive line next season.
Javonte Williams: Dallas Cowboys
Javonte Williams delivered a breakout season in 2025, proving his injuries were behind him and thriving in the Dallas Cowboys’ offense. The problem for him is that he is hitting the open market when several high-end starters are available and there is a premium offensive weapon, Jeremiyah Love, in the 2026 NFL Draft. Given all of that, a reunion would be in everyone’s best interest. Williams could likely land a two-year contract with Dallas worth in the ballpark of $8 million to $9 million per season.
Read More: NFL Power Rankings after Wild Card Round, One Player Each Team Should Re-Sign
Travis Etienne: Kansas City Chiefs
Considering that Breece Hall is expected to command upwards of $12 million per season on a multi-year deal, we don’t believe he’ll be in the price range Brett Veach is willing to pay. However, someone like Travis Etienne could be a slightly more cost-effective option for the Kansas City Chiefs. Ahead of his age-27 season, Etienne effectively has three seasons with 1,400-plus scrimmage yards and nine-plus total touchdowns but he was a bit inconsistent in 2025 (10 games under 4.0 ypc) and Jacksonville has running backs ready to replace him. Etienne would have an opportunity to be the primary running back in Andy Reid’s offense, while also function as a checkdown option for Patrick Mahomes in his first season back from an ACL tear. A fairly lucrative one-year contract helps the Chiefs offense and could position Etienne for another payday in 2027.
J.K. Dobbins: Houston Texans
J.K. Dobbins is one of the best running backs in NFL free agency this offseason, but season-ending injuries have limited him to 32 games over the last five seasons. He will be 28 years old next season and is coming off major surgery, but it is also hard to ignore the fact that he has averaged 4.8 yards per carry over the last two seasons, with 1,677 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in 23 games. With Joe Mixon likely never playing another snap for the Houston Texans, they need a 1A running back to pair with Woody Marks. Dobbins could be an excellent one-year starter; if he is sidelined or his workload needs to be limited, Marks has more than proven capable of stepping into the starting role.
Breece Hall: Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals will presumably run an offense with a bridge starter at quarterback next season. Jacoby Brissett is a capable option, but the team’s inability to run the football effectively led to an unsustainable passing rate that cannot support long-term success. This creates a situation where a significant move is necessary. Rather than using the third overall pick on a running back, a wiser strategy would be to sign Breece Hall in free agency. Arizona could offer him a three-year deal worth $12 million annually, making him the featured back in an offense that already boasts an excellent receiving trio in Marvin Harrison Jr., Trey McBride, and Michael Wilson. With improvements to the offensive line, Hall could excel in Arizona while being compensated well.
Related: NFL Free Agency Rankings 2026, 10 Best Players Available
