Free Agency Check - Running Back ADP Risers and Fallers

Which running backs had the best and worst landing spots in free agency this offseason for fantasy football? Joey Pollizze looks at which running backs had their ADP rise and fall in free agency.

The 2024 running back free agent class featured some of the best playmakers at the position. Running backs like Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard, Derrick Henry, and Austin Ekeler were just some of the few backs on the open market to begin the offseason.

As a result, this running back free-agent class was one of the strongest we have seen in recent years. Even players like Aaron Jones and Joe Mixon, who were not free agents, found themselves on new teams by the end of March. All this set up many different backs changing teams this offseason.

So, which running backs saw their ADP rise or fall this offseason based on their landing spot? Let's dive in and find out.

Running Back ADP Risers

Saquon Barkley: Philadelphia Eagles 

Arguably the biggest running back fantasy winner this offseason was Saquon Barkley. Barkley goes from running behind one of the worst offensive lines with the New York Giants to one of the best with the Philadelphia Eagles. The two-time Pro Bowler signed a massive three-year, $37.75 million deal with the Eagles this offseason.

There's no doubt the Giants' offensive line struggled mightily across the board last season. They allowed 85 sacks, which was 20 more than any other team, and Pro Football Focus (PPF) listed them as the third-worst unit in 2023. That, of course, didn't help Barkley, as he rushed for just 962 yards and 3.9 yards per carry.

Now, though, things change big time for Barkley. He goes to an Eagles team that had the No. 1 run block win rate (77%) just a season ago. Lane Johnson (82%), Landon Dickerson (81%), and Jordan Mailata (80%) ranked top three in that department among all offensive linemen in 2023. Running behind this offensive line will significantly boost the 27-year-old's numbers this upcoming season.

Parris Campbell: Saquon Barkley with Eagles OL will be "pretty scary" for defenses. https://t.co/VTaMhp8w17

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) April 8, 2024

Barkley didn't have the best fantasy season in 2023, but with his new team, he should be a late first-round pick. The Eagles will score at a high level, which should lead to more touchdown opportunities. Even if quarterback Jalen Hurts steals a couple of goal-line touchdowns, that shouldn't drop the running back's value too much, considering the team averaged 1.29 rush touchdowns per game in 2023.

Derrick Henry: Baltimore Ravens 

Even at 30 years old, Derrick Henry still has plenty left in the tank. He'll try to prove that with the Baltimore Ravens after the two sides agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal this offseason. Henry's landing spot in Baltimore also could not have been better.

The workhorse back goes to a team that ran the ball at the highest mark in 2023 (49.9%), which is about 5.6% more than what the Tennessee Titans ran the ball at (44.3%). That will surely help Henry maintain his high volume out of the backfield. Last year, he totaled 280 carries for 1,176 yards and 12 touchdowns on a subpar offense. Now, he'll be a part of a rushing attack that scored 26 touchdowns on the ground a season ago.

Henry has scored double-digit touchdowns in six straight seasons while rushing for over 1,000 yards in five of the past six campaigns. He'll easily hit the 10-touchdown mark in 2024 with the potential to reach 15 scores. Last year, Gus Edwards led the team with 13 touchdowns on the ground, and that seems like a nice floor for the veteran back this upcoming season.

Zack Moss: Cincinnati Bengals 

Running back Zack Moss is a sneaky winner after signing a two-year, $8 million deal with the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason. Moss will immediately replace Mixon in Cincinnati's backfield after Mixon was traded to the Houston Texans. Moss should be the team's top back heading into the season.

Moss hasn't started many games in his career, but we saw him in that role to begin the 2023 season. With Jonathan Taylor missing the first four games of the year, the 26-year-old showed his potential as a starter. In four games as the Colts starter, he had 89 carries for 445 yards and three touchdowns. In one of those games, he also totaled 165 yards on the ground with two touchdowns.

Really exited to see what Zack Moss will do with the Bengals pic.twitter.com/FB2ptygjop

— Bengals Graphics (@BengalsGraphic5) April 5, 2024

Moss will now be in a prime position to start for the Bengals in 2024. He should be the lead back, and outside of Chase Brown, there won't be much competition for touches. That will make him a sneaky fantasy option in the middle rounds of 2024 fantasy drafts.

Running Back ADP Fallers

Tony Pollard: Tennessee Titans 

Running back Tony Pollard was one of the biggest risers last offseason after the Dallas Cowboys cut Ezekiel Elliott. That move led to Pollard leading the Cowboys' backfield, which helped him jump into the early second round of 2023 fantasy football drafts. However, the versatile back really struggled in that role, averaging a career-low four yards per carry.

On an explosive Cowboys offense with a top offensive line, Pollard only ran for 1,005 yards, and the burst didn't appear to be there anymore. He was one of the biggest busts of the entire fantasy season last year after finishing as the RB15 in half-PPR formats. As a result, it's hard to trust him completely in 2024 on a Titans' offense that will likely struggle with a young quarterback.

Tennessee Titans RB Tony Pollard (@Tp__5) is wearing number 20. Last worn by Jonathan Ward. #Titans pic.twitter.com/oB8klmg5Of

— NFL Jersey Numbers (@nfl_jersey_num) April 5, 2024

On top of that, Pollard will have to compete with Tyjae Spears for touches. Last season, the 26-year-old played over 70% of the Cowboys' offensive snaps in nine of 17 games, but there's a strong chance he won't reach that playing time in any game in 2024. We're likely looking at a timeshare between the two backs, and for that, he is one of the biggest fallers.

Austin Ekeler: Washington Commanders

Running back Austin Ekeler was a consensus top-seven pick in last year's fantasy drafts. Ekeler was coming off a year in 2022 where he finished as the RB1 in all formats and scored a whopping 18 total touchdowns. A regression was due, but no one expected the 28-year-old to struggle that badly in 2023.

Ekeler only rushed for 628 yards and five touchdowns while totaling 436 receiving yards and one touchdown last season. More importantly, though, the veteran looked slow on the field as he dealt with an ankle injury for most of the year. Now, he'll head to a Washington Commanders team on a two-year deal, which isn't a great landing spot.

For starters, Ekeler will have to split playing time with Brian Robinson Jr. in Washington's backfield. There's also a strong possibility the former Chargers' back has just a receiving role with the team as Robinson handles the early downs out of the backfield. If that's the case, he could be the biggest fade in fantasy drafts in 2024. Either way he'll see his ADP fall because the landing spot in Washington does not benefit him a whole lot.

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