5 Best Running Backs on the Market this Offseason Part 2

By BetOnline February 5, 2020

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BY ADAM GREENE

We’ve already knocked off our two best running backs hitting the market and placed them on the appropriate team. Now we can wrap up the list with Nos. 3-5.

3. MELVIN GORDON, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT

2019: 162 carries, 612 yards, eight touchdowns, 42 receptions, 296 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown

Gordon bet on himself going into the last year of his rookie contract with a protracted holdout and lost. Mainly because the guy right below him on this list performed well enough that the Los Angeles Chargers didn’t feel like keeping Gordon around, especially at his contract demand, was all that important.

The Chargers reportedly offered Gordon $10 million a season last summer and he turned it down. Needless to say, that was a huge mistake and Gordon will command nothing near that, even after solid numbers in 11 starts. His fifth-year option paid him $5.6 million with Los Angeles. If he can get that on his new team he’ll be lucky.

That all being said, Gordon is a valuable player and potential star addition to any offense, especially one that requires the running back to catch the ball out of the backfield.

Where he should end up: Kansas City Chiefs

The only thing the Chiefs offense is lacking is a dual-threat, every down running back and Gordon could be that guy. They don’t have a ton of cap space and Patrick Mahomes contract, likely coming this offseason, will eat up most of it. Luckily for them, as we previously discussed, they should be able to get Gordon at a discount.

4. AUSTIN EKELER, RESTRICTED FREE AGENT

2019: 132 carries, 557 yards, three touchdowns, 92 receptions, 993 receiving yards, eight touchdowns

Ekelar, in this third season, is the guy that kept Gordon from getting paid in 2019. While both guys split time in the Chargers’ backfield, Ekeler became a huge part of the L.A. passing offense and only the Carolina Panthers’ Christian McCaffrey hauled in more passing yardage as a running back.

He’s just turned 24, has prime RB years ahead of him and should have learned form Gordon’s mistakes exactly what to expect when negotiating his second contract. He better not be thinking $10 million is what I’m saying.

Where he should end up: Los Angeles Chargers

Like Derrick Henry, our entry at No. 1, the best spot for Ekeler is where he’s already renting a condo. He’s the perfect fit for L.A.’s offense and, if he’s not catching hitches out of backfield from Philip Rivers, will probably be hauling them in from Tom Brady next season.

5. CARLOS HYDE, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT

2019: 245 carries, 1,070 yards, six touchdowns, 10 receptions, 42 receiving yards

After years of spinning his wheels with the San Francisco 49ers and looking like he was heading for journeyman status in 2018, Hyde broke through with the Texans in 2019. He started 14 games and averaged 4.4 yards per carry, the second highest of his career.

Hyde has always been fast, but he’s a multi-talented guy and definitely should have been used more as a receiver in Houston’s offense. You can blame Bill O’Brien for that. This guy caught 59 passes from Brian Hoyer, C.J Beathard and Jimmy Garoppolo in 2017 for God’s sake. He couldn’t get more than 10 from Deshaun Watson?

Where he should end up: Philadelphia Eagles

There’s a great chance the Texans could keep him, but since I’ve already tossed them Kareem Hunt in this list, Hyde ends up with the Eagles. Philadelphia has tried to cobble together a backfield for years, adding LeGarrett Blount as a free agent, trading for Jordan Howard and before than Jay Ajayi all while coaxing Darren Sproles out of retirement year after year.

It’s not happening again. They need a guy that can run the ball on first and second down and catch it on third. Hyde fits the bill.