The 2025 NFL Season is over. Congratulations to the Seattle Seahawks on winning Super Bowl LX. They got that title, in part, thanks to some shrewd moves in free agency last offseason. Free Agency is a chance for teams to make moves, improve their teams, and pursue a title. It’s the kick start to the off-season, and it begins in roughly a month. Over the next few pieces, I’ll be looking at five impact free agents at each of the key fantasy positions, as well as a few honorable mentions, to get you primed for the start of a wild off-season. Today, it’s the running backs.
Kenneth Walker, Seattle Seahawks
About: Has a running back ever made a better statement heading into free agency than Walker? As early as last summer, I speculated that the Seahawks would let Walker play out his contract before turning things over to Zach Charbonnet. And that mostly seemed to be on track in 2025 during the regular season. Walker was the lead back and a force between the 20s, but Charbonnet came in during hurry-up, passing downs, and in the Red Zone. That is, until the playoffs, when Charbonnet tore his ACL.
Walker got a heavier workload and showed he could be a workhorse back. That included the Super Bowl, where he ran all over the Patriots’ top rush defense, earning Super Bowl MVP honors. Now, he’s by far the most intriguing free agent running back. It’s quite possible the Seahawks—who now have questions about whether Charbonnet will be ready for Week 1—will apply the franchise tag. But, either way, Walker is about to come into a windfall, and he proved he’s going to be a force for whatever team snags him.
Breece Hall, New York Jets
About: Hall was easily the No. 1 pick in rookie drafts when he came into the league. But his time with the Jets hasn’t played out as expected. The Jets were a mess in 2025 and seemed determined to prove they didn’t need Hall on offense. Still, he finished as RB19. He’s also shown throughout his career that he’s as big a weapon in the passing game as the run game.
Could the Jets try to bring him back? It’s possible, but it seems far more likely that Hall is the one player on this list who has the best chance of moving to a new team. And for those who roster him, it can’t come a moment too soon. In the right situation, with a team whose offense is on track, Hall could easily move back into the Top 12 at the position.
Travis Etienne, Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
About: It was a rough start for Etienne, who missed is rookie year due to injury. Still, he’s the rare first-round running back who earned a fifth-year option pick up. And he made the most of that option year with the Jaguars, finishing as RB10. He played an integral role in the Jaguars’ offense, which led the team to a 13-4 finish. Unlike the first two backs on this list, there isn’t an obvious successor on the roster, either.
Etienne is another running back who could be in line for a Franchise Tag. Even if he doesn’t get the tag, it’s likely the Jaguars would like to bring him back at the right price. But putting up two Top 10 fantasy finishes in the past three seasons should make him an intriguing target for running back-needy teams.
Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys
About: Williams bet on himself in 2025. After four uneven and sometimes disappointing years for the Broncos, Williams took a modest, one-year deal with the Cowboys. He posted career bests, finally topping 1,000 yards and finishing as RB12 despite sitting out Week 18. That makes him a target of interest this off-season.
He was clearly a fit with the Cowboys, who could work to bring him back again in 2026. If not, he makes for an interesting prospect for a team with a hole in its running back room. For those holding him in fantasy, 2025 was a magical year. It’s quite possible that magic repeats in 2026 as well.
Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons
About: As a rookie, Allgeier posted a 1,000-yard season. He was the man in the Falcons’ backfield, finishing as RB29. After that strong rookie campaign, Allgeier seemed poised for a strong career. Then his team took Bijan Robinson at the eighth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Robinson is a generational talent, taking the top spot in the backfield. And Allgeier quickly became the best RB2 in the league. Fantasy players were left with a flex option for three seasons as they bided their time.
Now, he’s finally a free agent. Allgeier doesn’t have an incredible resume for a four-year player, but that makes him fresher for his second contract. I’m excited to see him land somewhere as a lead back that gives him a chance to shine on the field and in my fantasy lineup.
Honorable Mentions
Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers
About: All Dowdle has done is post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons for two different teams. In fact, at times in 2025, he looked like one of the best backs in fantasy. He finished the season as RB18 despite beginning and ending the season as the No. 2 option in the Panthers’ backfield. By the playoffs, it seemed clear the Panthers weren’t in on Dowdle for the long haul, and he wasn’t in on them for the future, either. That means Dowdle will be looking for his third team in as many seasons.
He’s an interesting prospect for free agency. His production in the past two seasons can’t be ignored, and yet he’s not among the top options at the position. For fantasy, the question is whether he can again land in the right situation to get meaningful touches and produce enough to be a weekly lineup consideration. The potential is there, but he’s hardly a lock.
Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers
About: After an unremarkable rookie contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, Gainwell moved over to the Steelers in 2025. He took off, seemingly an ideal fit for Arthur Smith’s scheme and the Steelers’ lack of options in the pass offense. He finished as RB16 for the season. Given his production and the needs of most teams, there will be a market for Gainwell. But his 2025 production is an outlier in his career and seems difficult to repeat, even if he re-signs with the Steelers. He’s a player I might try to sell high this off-season.
Rachaad White and Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
About: For the past few seasons, the Buccaneers have had the deepest running back group in football. They have three guys that could take the lead, and all three have produced big for the team and for fantasy. While top back Bucky Irving is still under contract, both White and Tucker hit free agency. One will likely be back, but can the Buccaneers keep both? It seems unlikely.
Given that he’s a restricted free agent, I suspect Tucker will remain in Tampa Bay on a more modest deal, albeit with a promotion to the team’s RB2 option. That likely leaves White, an exceptional pass-catcher, as a player who could find more consistent snaps with a new team. That provides some hope for those who roster him in fantasy and saw his value take a big hit after Irving broke out as a rookie.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
