It was a wild offseason at running back, with four 1,000-yard rushers landing with new teams. And that doesn’t include the two backs who landed the biggest offseason contracts (Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs, who didn’t have big rushing seasons last year).
This is arguably the most turbulent offseason in the history of the position, making for an interesting offseason for scouting purposes. More commonly, we see one or two 1,000-yard runners landing with new teams. Since the move to 32 teams, 35 running backs (in 22 seasons) have run for over 1,000 yards, then left those teams. Those 35 (with this year’s four in bold) appear below.
| 1,000-YARD RUSHERS WHO WENT TO NEW TEAMS (old team numbers) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Receiving | PPR | Rk |
| 2003 | Clinton Portis, Den. | 290 | 1,591 | 5.5 | 14 | 38-314-0 | 314.5 | 6 |
| 2003 | Eddie George, Ten. | 312 | 1,031 | 3.3 | 5 | 22-163-0 | 171.4 | 23 |
| 2004 | Reuben Droughns, Den. | 275 | 1,240 | 4.5 | 6 | 32-241-2 | 228.1 | 15 |
| 2005 | Edgerrin James, Ind. | 360 | 1,506 | 4.2 | 13 | 44-337-1 | 312.3 | 5 |
| 2005 | Mike Anderson, Den. | 239 | 1,014 | 4.2 | 12 | 18-212-1 | 218.6 | 12 |
| 2006 | Ahman Green, G.B. | 266 | 1,059 | 4.0 | 5 | 46-373-1 | 225.2 | 15 |
| 2006 | Thomas Jones, Chi. | 296 | 1,210 | 4.1 | 6 | 36-154-0 | 208.2 | 18 |
| 2006 | Jamal Lewis, Balt. | 314 | 1,132 | 3.6 | 9 | 18-115-0 | 196.7 | 21 |
| 2006 | Travis Henry, Ten. | 270 | 1,211 | 4.5 | 7 | 18-78-0 | 190.9 | 23 |
| 2006 | Tatum Bell, Den. | 233 | 1,025 | 4.4 | 2 | 24-115-0 | 150.0 | 32 |
| 2008 | Derrick Ward, NYG | 182 | 1,025 | 5.6 | 2 | 41-384-0 | 193.9 | 20 |
| 2009 | Thomas Jones, NYJ | 331 | 1,402 | 4.2 | 14 | 10-58-0 | 240.0 | 9 |
| 2011 | Cedric Benson, Cin. | 273 | 1,067 | 3.9 | 6 | 15-82-0 | 165.9 | 26 |
| 2012 | Steven Jackson, St.L. | 258 | 1,045 | 4.1 | 4 | 38-321-0 | 200.6 | 17 |
| 2012 | Shonn Greene, NYJ | 276 | 1,063 | 3.9 | 8 | 19-151-0 | 188.4 | 19 |
| 2012 | Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG | 221 | 1,015 | 4.6 | 6 | 23-245-0 | 185.0 | 20 |
| 2013 | Knowshon Moreno, Den. | 241 | 1,038 | 4.3 | 10 | 60-548-3 | 296.6 | 4 |
| 2013 | Chris Johnson, Ten. | 279 | 1,077 | 3.9 | 6 | 42-345-4 | 244.2 | 9 |
| 2014 | DeMarco Murray, Dall. | 392 | 1,845 | 4.7 | 13 | 57-416-0 | 361.1 | 2 |
| 2014 | LeSean McCoy, Phil. | 312 | 1,319 | 4.2 | 5 | 28-155-0 | 205.4 | 12 |
| 2014 | Frank Gore, S.F. | 255 | 1,106 | 4.3 | 4 | 11-111-1 | 162.7 | 21 |
| 2015 | Todd Gurley, St.L. | 229 | 1,106 | 4.8 | 10 | 21-188-0 | 210.4 | 9 |
| 2015 | Chris Ivory, NYJ | 247 | 1,070 | 4.3 | 7 | 30-217-1 | 206.7 | 11 |
| 2016 | LeGarrette Blount, N.E. | 299 | 1,161 | 3.9 | 18 | 7-38-0 | 234.9 | 9 |
| 2017 | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 321 | 1,291 | 4.0 | 9 | 85-655-2 | 345.6 | 2 |
| 2017 | C.J. Anderson, Den. | 245 | 1,007 | 4.1 | 3 | 28-224-1 | 177.1 | 18 |
| 2019 | Leonard Fournette, Jac. | 265 | 1,152 | 4.4 | 3 | 76-522-0 | 261.4 | 7 |
| 2019 | Carlos Hyde, Hou. | 245 | 1,070 | 4.4 | 6 | 10-42-0 | 157.2 | 28 |
| 2022 | Dalvin Cook, Min. | 264 | 1,173 | 4.4 | 8 | 39-295-2 | 245.8 | 10 |
| 2022 | Jamaal Williams, Det. | 262 | 1,066 | 4.1 | 17 | 12-73-0 | 229.9 | 12 |
| 2022 | Miles Sanders, Phil. | 259 | 1,269 | 4.9 | 11 | 20-78-0 | 220.7 | 15 |
| 2023 | D'Andre Swift, Phil. | 229 | 1,049 | 4.6 | 5 | 39-214-1 | 201.3 | 20 |
| 2023 | Derrick Henry, Ten. | 280 | 1,167 | 4.2 | 12 | 28-214-0 | 246.8 | 9 |
| 2023 | Joe Mixon, Cin. | 257 | 1,034 | 4.0 | 9 | 52-376-3 | 267.0 | 6 |
| 2023 | Tony Pollard, Dall. | 252 | 1,005 | 4.0 | 6 | 55-311-0 | 224.6 | 14 |
At the same time, history tells us that things can turn sideways at this position in a hurry. There are more misses than hits when trying to transplant veteran running backs – even ones that have tended to be successful.
Of the last 31 of these backs, only two finished with top-10 numbers (using PPR scoring), including none in the last 16 seasons. Only seven others finished with top-20 numbers. Instead, almost two thirds of these backs didn’t even finish with top-30 numbers. Pretty damning.
As a group, these 31 backs averaged 568 fewer rushing yards, almost 10 fewer touchdowns and a half yard less per carry. Scheme, usage and supporting cast matter.
| 1,000-YARD RUSHERS WHO WENT TO NEW TEAMS (new team numbers) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Receiving | PPR | Rk |
| 2004 | Clinton Portis, Was. | 343 | 1,315 | 3.8 | 5 | 40-235-2 | 241.8 | 9 |
| 2004 | Eddie George, Dall. | 132 | 432 | 3.3 | 4 | 9-83-0 | 84.5 | 48 |
| 2005 | • Reuben Droughns, Cle. | 309 | 1,232 | 4.0 | 2 | 39-369-0 | 211.1 | 14 |
| 2006 | • Edgerrin James, Ari. | 337 | 1,159 | 3.4 | 6 | 38-217-0 | 211.6 | 17 |
| 2006 | Mike Anderson, Balt. | 39 | 183 | 4.7 | 1 | 9-54-0 | 38.7 | 78 |
| 2007 | Jamal Lewis, Cle. | 298 | 1,304 | 4.4 | 9 | 30-248-2 | 251.2 | 6 |
| 2007 | Thomas Jones, NYJ | 310 | 1,119 | 3.6 | 1 | 28-217-1 | 173.6 | 22 |
| 2007 | Travis Henry, Den. | 167 | 691 | 4.1 | 4 | 7-65-0 | 106.6 | 47 |
| 2007 | Ahman Green, Hou. | 70 | 260 | 3.7 | 2 | 14-123-0 | 64.3 | 64 |
| 2007 | Tatum Bell, Det. | 44 | 182 | 4.1 | 1 | 14-63-0 | 44.5 | 78 |
| 2009 | Derrick Ward, T.B. | 114 | 409 | 3.6 | 1 | 20-150-2 | 93.9 | 49 |
| 2010 | Thomas Jones, K.C. | 245 | 896 | 3.7 | 6 | 14-122-0 | 151.8 | 27 |
| 2012 | Cedric Benson, G.B. | 71 | 248 | 3.5 | 1 | 14-97-0 | 54.5 | 68 |
| 2013 | Steven Jackson, Atl. | 157 | 543 | 3.5 | 6 | 33-191-1 | 148.4 | 31 |
| 2013 | Shonn Greene, Ten. | 77 | 295 | 3.8 | 4 | 6-39-0 | 63.4 | 60 |
| 2013 | Ahmad Bradshaw, Ind. | 41 | 186 | 4.5 | 2 | 7-42-0 | 41.8 | 77 |
| 2014 | Chris Johnson, NYJ | 155 | 663 | 4.3 | 1 | 24-151-1 | 117.4 | 39 |
| 2014 | Knowshon Moreno, Mia. | 31 | 148 | 4.8 | 1 | 1-8-0 | 22.6 | 103 |
| 2015 | • Frank Gore, Ind. | 260 | 967 | 3.7 | 6 | 34-267-1 | 199.4 | 14 |
| 2015 | • DeMarco Murray, Phil. | 193 | 702 | 3.6 | 6 | 44-322-1 | 188.4 | 15 |
| 2015 | • LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 203 | 895 | 4.4 | 3 | 32-292-2 | 182.7 | 17 |
| 2016 | • Todd Gurley, LAR | 278 | 885 | 3.2 | 6 | 43-327-0 | 200.2 | 15 |
| 2016 | Chris Ivory, Jac. | 117 | 439 | 3.8 | 3 | 20-186-0 | 100.5 | 48 |
| 2017 | LeGarrette Blount, Phil. | 173 | 766 | 4.4 | 2 | 8-50-1 | 109.6 | 45 |
| 2018 | C.J. Anderson, Car.-LAR | 67 | 403 | 6.0 | 2 | 5-41-1 | 67.4 | 70 |
| 2019 | • LeVeon Bell, NYJ | 245 | 789 | 3.2 | 3 | 66-461-1 | 217.0 | 16 |
| 2020 | Leonard Fournette, T.B. | 97 | 367 | 3.8 | 6 | 36-233-0 | 132.0 | 35 |
| 2020 | Carlos Hyde, Sea. | 81 | 356 | 4.4 | 4 | 16-93-0 | 84.9 | 59 |
| 2023 | Miles Sanders, Car. | 129 | 432 | 3.4 | 1 | 27-154-0 | 91.6 | 50 |
| 2023 | Jamaal Williams, N.O. | 106 | 306 | 2.9 | 1 | 18-62-0 | 60.8 | 61 |
| 2023 | Dalvin Cook, NYJ | 67 | 214 | 3.2 | 0 | 15-78-0 | 44.2 | 70 |
These six most-recent candidates don’t look particularly promising. Particularly Joe Mixon (pictured). The Bengals opted to get rid of him. The Eagles made no effort to bring back D’Andre Swift, while the Titans, Cowboys and Giants decided Derrick Henry, Tony Pollard and Saquon Barkley weren’t worth what it would take to re-sign him.
Josh Jacobs got more from the Packers than the Raiders thought he was worth.
If form holds, over half of these six will be overdrafted in typical fantasy leagues.
—Ian Allan