Stumbling, fumbling, and rumbling into a new pass-heavy era of football, today’s brand of running back is undervalued and under-appreciated. Yet these ground and pounders still exemplify the physicality of the game they play. And regardless of their shrinking length of tenure, remain one of the most important facets of a successful NFL offense.
When the bell toll’s on an NFL running back’s 30th birthday, nine times out of 10 that means his career is over. Prior to this cathartic milestone is each rusher’s last chance at payday on the free agent market. This year top names such as DeMarco Murray, Frank Gore, and C.J. Spiller lead a list of established veterans and career backups. Of these dynamos of the ground game, who will be the hottest commodities on the market?
10. Stevan Ridley, New England Patriots
Formerly of the world-champion New England Patriots, Ridley missed 10 games in 2014 due to a knee injury suffered in a Week 6 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Injury concerns aside, Ridley is one of the more intriguing values on the free agent market due to the four years he will have left before hitting the proverbial age of death for running backs. Though Ridley was beleaguered with fumble issues as a Patriot—lost nine in 52 career appearances—the upside is Ridley’s production and ability to run between the tackles. Serving as the Patriots’ primary short-yardage back for the 2012 and 2013 seasons, Ridley amassed 2,036 yards and 19 touchdowns. Despite the concern of his knee injury and his label as being fumble-prone, Ridley will certainly be worth a one-year “prove it” deal to a franchise searching for a running back this offseason.
9. Justin Forsett, Baltimore Ravens
Possibly the biggest surprise of the 2014 season was the production of Justin Forsett. Heading Gary Kubiak’s zone-rush offense in Baltimore, Forsett left age and his status as a career-backup behind. He averaged 5.2 yards per rush while putting up 1,453 yards and eight scores. A seventh-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2008, Forsett eclipsed his previous high-yardage total by more than 600 yards, creating league-wide intrigue surrounding the 29 year old. Boasting one of the highest football IQ’s on this list, Forsett’s 2014 performance has certainly earned the veteran another shot in 2015. Though he will turn 30 this year, Forsett has just 582 career carries. That should help him become one of the best values on the free-agent market.
8. Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders
Talent has never been the issue with the 27-year-old running back. A former Heisman Trophy candidate from Arkanas, McFadden has yet to reach his perceived potential at the professional level, and had never played more than 13 games in a season until this past season. Even then, he was relegated to a time share with Maurice Jones-Drew and Latavius Murray. McFadden’s measly 3.4 yards per carry and pedestrian 530 yards rushing have sunk this former-college star’s value tremendously.
However, at only 27 years of age, McFadden has the size, athleticism, and name-recognition to make him worth a low-risk, high-reward type signing for a team looking for depth at the running back position.
7. Knowshon Moreno, Miami Dolphins
After putting in his best slate of work as a member of the Denver Broncos in 2013, Moreno signed with the Miami Dolphins on a one-year deal. The 27 year old never lived up to his 2013 totals of 1,038 yards and 10 scores. Perhaps the running back’s career yard per carry average of 4.1 should have been a red-flag for the Dolphins. Moreno played just three games after suffering injuries in the team’s Week 2 and Week six games—the latter of which was season-ending. Moreno is an intriguing value, and would be a viable contributor on a contending team looking for depth. Despite current interest in the back, Moreno has never lived up to the hype after being drafted 12th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft.
6. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers
The ageless wonder, Frank Gore has no idea that he is 31 years old with over 2,400 career carries. Boasting a career yard per carry average of 4.5, the 49ers Tuck Everlasting gave his best Ponce De Leon performance in 2014 and has seemingly found the mythical fountain of youth. While no one expects the veteran to reach a contract anywhere near his 2014 total, Gore still has tremendous value as a veteran leader and complimentary or short-yardage back. With tremendous character and eight 1,000-plus yard seasons in his 10 years in the league, Gore is resolute in his decision to return in 2015 and teams could do much worse than gambling on the career-workhorse rusher.
5. Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints
The former first round pick nearly eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career in 2014. And at just 25 years of age, is entering his prime. Ingram was buried in the Saints’ running back by committee scheme for his first three years in the league. In addition to this, he missed six games his rookie year and five in 2013 due to injury. While Ingram’s 4.3 yard per carry average in 2014 is nothing to wilt over, the former first-round selection has never been given the keys to a kingdom as a team’s workhorse back. Ingram will draw tremendous intrigue on the open market, and deserves his shot at being a three-down back at the NFL level.
4. Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers
Though he has never started all 16 games in his five-year career, Mathews was the face of the Chargers’ rushing offense since taking over for LaDainian Tomlinson in 2010. While his 2014 season was marred by injury, Mathews has two 1,000-yard seasons on his resume and a career yard per carry average of 4.4. Mathews is only 27, and with plenty of gas left in the tank, will be one of the top five rushers off the market during free agency.
3. C.J. Spiller, Buffalo Bills
With another Gore-type ageless wonder in Fred Jackson hogging the ball—and seemingly Doug Marrone’s affection—Spiller played second-fiddle in Buffalo’s offense in 2014. The athleticism has never been the question with Spiller. Instead, the larger issues are awareness and durability. Selected ninth overall in the 2010 NFL Draft, Spiller is one of the more versatile weapons available in free agency. Boasting a yard per carry average of 5.0, Spiller is a home-run threat every time he touches the ball. Furthermore, Spiller adds value in the return game , averaging 24.4 yards per return and adding two touchdowns in his 60 attempts. At just 27 years of age, Spiller has plenty of gas left in the tank to be a worthwhile contributor next season.
2. Shane Vereen, New England Patriots
A versatile threat at the heart of New England’s passing attack during its championship run, Vereen offers tremendous value. Often buried in the Belichick backfield and simultaneously driving fantasy owners crazy, Shane Vereen is the second-most intriguing value on the running back free agent market this season. Vereen’s skill set is driven by his pass-catching ability out of the backfield. Never known as a between the tackles runner, Vereen caught 47 passes in 2013 and 52 in 2014. Valuable because of his speed and route-running ability, Vereen averaged 9.6 yards per catch and has scored 13 touchdowns in his three seasons as a Patriot. While no team will confuse him as an every-down back, Vereen is the top third-down rushing option on the market today.
1. DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys
The NFL’s leading rusher in 2014 is most-likely on his way out in Dallas due to his team’s lack of financial planning. This means that Murray will likely be one of the top offensive players on the open market. Behind one of the league’s premier offensive lines, Murray turned in the best season of his career in 2014. He rushed for 2,043 yards and 15 touchdowns for an average of 4.7 yards per carry. Murray controlled the tempo for the Cowboys all year, demonstrating his value as a feature back. Likely to earn a salary comparable to the league’s best, Murray will not come cheap but is worth the pay for his play as a 26 year old entering his prime.
Photo: USA Today