Looking at the running backs available in post-draft free agency, it’s obvious teams were waiting to see who they were going to add in the annual amateur player selection meeting. Now that they’ve stocked their backfields with guys hailing out of everywhere from USC and Florida State to the University of Phoenix and Trump U (Go Pricks!), they’ll ride with those guys a while in camp before they panic and figure out they need some legit NFL running backs on their depth charts.
Here are the four best RBs still out of a job as of May 12, 2018.
DeMarco Murray
2017: 184 carries, 659 yards, 3.6 yards per carry, six touchdowns, 39 catches, 266 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown
Murray will be in his eighth season as an NFL running back this year and that’s kind of long in the tooth for an RB. Still, you could argue he has plenty of production ahead of him. Considering that Frank Gore is still banging around the league, it’s kind of ridiculous Murray hasn’t already landed with a team.
Murray is solid in the pass game, both as a blocker and a receiver. It’s likely that his current asking price is keeping him on the couch, but as camps get closer, and his price comes down, he’ll probably land on a team.
Best fit: Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens
Orleans Darkwa
2017: 171 carries, 751 yards, five touchdowns, 4.4 yards per carry, 19 catches, 116 receiving yards
After a relatively uneventful first three years in the league, Darkwa got handed the rock for good five games into the 2017 season with the Giants. It turns out he was the best back they had on the roster and a nice little fantasy free agent pick up in all of our leagues.
Darkwa was rewarded after his career year with unemployment and free agency. The Giants, sitting at the No. 2 pick, made no effort to keep him from hitting the market and, as of this writing, he’s still on it. Unlike Murray, Darkwa probably won’t be added to a team with thoughts he’ll compete for a starting job. Instead, he could easily settle in for a back up role and potential bellcow if the No. 1 RB goes down.
Best fit: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts
Alfred Morris
2017: 115 carries, 547 yards, 4.8 yards per carry, one touchdown, seven catches, 45 receiving yards
Morris was once thought of as a franchise back and, frankly, I’m not sure why that ever changed. After leaving the Washington Redskins in 2016, he backed up Ezekiel Elliott with the Dallas Cowboys successfully for two seasons. He got five starts while Elliott was suspended last season and performed well.
Why is he out of a job? Because Rod Smith is younger and cheaper. The Cowboys drafted Bo Scarbrough late as well, so it’s unlikely Morris will make a return trip to the Big D. Like Darkwa, Morris can serve in a back up capacity or he can be a featured back.
Best fit: New York Jets, Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks
Jamaal Charles
2017: 69 carries, 296 yards, one touchdown, 4.3 yards per carry, 23 catches, 129 receiving yards
Charles didn’t get to play a lot in Denver last season, but when he did he was effective. That 4.3 yards per carry is pretty good, even if it’s the second lowest average of his career. That just shows how dominant Charles was before getting slowed down by injuries.
Charles’ days as a No. 1 are likely over, but he can still be a productive member of a backfield. Like Morris and Murray, he can stay on the field in passing downs and catch the ball out of the backfield.
