The 2024 NFL season showed that running backs are still valued around the league. Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry and Josh Jacobs were among the first players off the board in free agency and helped their new teams reach the postseason.

With running teams finding success both in the regular season and in the playoffs, we can expect top ball-carriers to again be coveted in free agency. We just might not see backs land deals north of $12 million annually—as both Barkley and Jacobs did last offseason—because this year's free-agent class isn't as impressive.

Some starting-caliber running backs will be available, however, and several of them are likely to find new homes at some point after free agency begins on March 12.

Here, you'll find a look at the top running backs scheduled to reach 2025 free agency, along with top landing spots and contract projections, based on factors like skill set, past production, age, upside and team needs.

Nick Chubb

Ideal Landing Spot: Cleveland Browns

Four-time Pro Bowler Nick Chubb returned from last year's devastating knee injury, largely underwhelmed in a bad Cleveland Browns offense, and finished the year early with a broken foot.

However, a return to Cleveland would make a lot of sense for the 29-year-old, in part, because the Browns value him.

"We love Nick. He's going to be a Ring of Honor player for us," general manager Andrew Berry said in his end-of-season press conference. "And we know that in terms of the short term that's something that, quite honestly, we just have to work through over the next several weeks."

Another year removed from the knee injury, Chubb could return to being the game-changing back he was before it—and the Browns probably offer the best opportunity to rediscover his Pro Bowl form. After firing offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, Cleveland appears poised to return to Kevin Stefanski's zone-running, play-action-based offense, which complemented Chubb well in the past.

Other teams should be interested, though. The Las Vegas Raiders need an established starter after ranking last in rushing and yards per carry in 2024. The Tennessee Titans may want more backfield talent next to Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears to help support a young quarterback—which Tennessee will, presumably, draft No. 1 overall.

From a contract standpoint, a short-term "prove-it" deal in the $4-5 million range would make sense.

Teams to Watch: Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans

J.K. Dobbins

Ideal Landing Spot: Los Angeles Chargers

Injuries were a huge part of J.K. Dobbins' story during his first four seasons in the NFL. A 2020 second-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens, Dobbins appeared in only 24 games for Baltimore because of injuries, including a torn ACL and a torn Achilles.

Another knee injury limited Dobbins to 13 games in 2024, though the 26-year-old still managed to resurrect his career with the Los Angeles Chargers. In L.A., Dobbins reunited with former Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman, averaged 4.6 yards per carry and tallied 1,058 scrimmage yards.

Because of his injury history, Dobbins can probably expect a one- or two-year, team-friendly deal wherever he lands. He has a projected market value of $7.3 million annually, though, and a deal of that value will likely be low on guarantees and high on incentives.

Staying with Roman and the Chargers will likely give Dobbins his best chance of maximizing a contract and landing in a familiar scheme. Los Angeles' offense wasn't as effective when Dobbins was sidelined, and there probably won't be a team that values him more in free agency.

If he departs L.A., the rival Denver Broncos could be a fit. They desperately need to pair quarterback Bo Nix with a consistent ground game. The Pittsburgh Steelers should also be interested. Pittsburgh utilizes a run-heavy offense under coordinator Arthur Smith and could part with Najee Harris in free agency.

Teams to Watch: Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers

Rico Dowdle

Ideal Landing Spot: Denver Broncos

Rico Dowdle was one of the few bright spots for the Dallas Cowboys in 2024. He had a breakthrough campaign after establishing himself as the primary ball-carrier, bumping Ezekiel Elliott into a depth role and finishing with 1,328 scrimmage yards.

While Dowdle will turn 27 in June, he hasn't seen the sort of workload most backs his age have handled (38 career touches). He should be viewed as a potential long-term starter and should be paid accordingly.

Dowdle should warrant a two- or three-year contract similar to the extension James Conner recently signed with the Arizona Cardinals, worth $9.5 million annually. He's unlikely to get that from the Cowboys, who have plenty of other contract issues to address—they owe Micah Parsons an extension and may work to restructure the deals of Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb this offseason.

The Broncos, however, should be willing to invest in a starting-caliber back in 2025. Denver found its quarterback in Nix but ranked just 21st in yards per carry as a team. The Broncos have $36.3 million in projected cap space.

Dowdle would be a logical target for the Raiders, who barely patched together a functional ground attack in 2024. The Chargers should also be interested, even if they retain Dobbins, as backfield depth was an issue this past season.

The Raiders and Chargers rank second and fifth, respectively, in projected 2025 cap space.

Teams to Watch: Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers

Najee Harris

Ideal Landing Spot: Las Vegas Raiders

Najee Harris has been a serviceable starter for the Steelers, though he's been more of a compiler than a legitimate star. He has topped 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first four seasons but has averaged just 3.9 yards per carry during his career.

A fresh start and a foray into unrestricted free agency could be best for Harris. He's a capable dual-threat back, will turn 27 in March and should receive starter-level contract offers from running-back needy teams.

Harris has a projected market value of $9.2 million annually, though that may be a bit low, given the limited RB market. A three-year, $30 million deal should be a reasonable target for Harris' camp.

Las Vegas, which will be loaded with cap space, figures to be a top destination for Harris. The Raiders could use a quality running and receiving back—which the franchise previously had in Jacobs—after utilizing a committee backfield in 2024.

A return to Pittsburgh could make sense, given the system familiarity. However, that doesn't appear to be high on his priority list.

"I haven't given much thought to that," Harris said, per Chris Adamski of TribLive.

Harris would be a sensible target for the Vikings if they don't retain Aaron Jones. Minnesota is expected to turn the offense over to J.J. McCarthy in 2025, and the young signal-caller would benefit from having a high-volume back in the fold.

Teams to Watch: Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers

Kareem Hunt

Ideal Landing Spot: Kansas City Chiefs

Kareem Hunt has shown that he has plenty left in the proverbial tank. While the 29-year-old has lost the burst he showcased early in his career, he added a physical rushing presence to the Kansas City Chiefs offense this season.

Hunt was signed in-season after Isiah Pacheco suffered a leg fracture. He averaged just 3.6 yards per carry but recorded 904 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns in 13 regular-season games.

While Hunt may no longer be a high-end starter, he'd be a strong complementary option in any committee backfield. After playing on a one-year, $1.2 million deal in 2024, Hunt should expect a contract in the $3 million range for 2025.

A return to Kansas City would make the most sense. The Chiefs' offense clearly fits Hunt's skill set, and there isn't a more stable organization in the NFL.

The New Orleans Saints should consider prying Hunt away from Kansas City. The Saints could use a physical running complement to Alvin Kamara and need to find one on a budget. New Orleans is projected to be $59.2 million over the salary cap.

The Titans could also be interested, especially with former Chiefs assistant GM Mike Borgonzi now doing the team building in Tennessee.

Teams to Watch: New Orleans Saints, Tennessee Titans

Aaron Jones

Ideal Landing Spot: Minnesota Vikings

Jones was the only running back to crack Bleacher Report's post-regular season list of top free agents. He turned 30 in December but has a long history of high-level production and shined for the Vikings in 2024.

Minnesota snapped up Jones shortly after he was replaced by Jacobs in Green Bay. He went on to rack up 1,138 rushing yards, 408 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

Age will be a bit of a concern, but Jones should still warrant a two- or three-year contract—likely a front-loaded deal. He has a projected market value of $5.6 million annually but shouldn't see a significant pay cut after playing on a $7 million deal in 2024.

Returning to Minnesota on a three-year, $21 million deal would make plenty of sense for Jones. He proved to be a strong fit in Kevin O'Connell's offense and could play a big role in helping the Vikings transition to McCarthy at quarterback.

Jones would be a terrific fit for the Steelers if they don't retain Harris. The Chicago Bears could lurk as a sleeper destination.

New Bears head coach Ben Johnson knows exactly what Jones can offer after repeatedly facing him as the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator. Johnson could also be interested in pairing D'Andre Swift with a back like Jones to form a talented duo like the one he had with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in Detroit.

With all due respect to Roschon Johnson, Jones would be an upgrade in Chicago's backfield.

Teams to Watch: Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers

Javonte Williams

Ideal Landing Spot: Pittsburgh Steelers

Javonte Williams could be the biggest wild card of the 2025 running back market. The 24-year-old showed a ton of promise as a rookie in 2021, finishing with 1,219 scrimmage yards despite making only a single start.

However, Williams suffered a torn ACL in 2022 and hasn't been particularly effective over the past two seasons—he averaged 3.6 and 3.7 yards per carry in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Williams' next contract will hinge heavily on whether teams believe he can recapture his 2021 form. He has a projected market value of $6.9 million annually, though that actually feels high given his recent production. A one- or two-year deal in the $3-4 million-per-year range is probably more realistic.

The dip in production could be a product of the 2022 injury, or Williams may simply not be the best fit for Sean Payton's offense. Either way, a change of scenery would probably be best for Williams.

Pittsburgh could be the perfect landing spot for Williams. He'd have a chance to reestablish himself in Smith-s run-first offense, while the Steelers would get a suitable complement to Jaylen Warren, possibly at a fraction of the cost of re-signing Harris.

The Chiefs may consider Williams if they don't retain Hunt, and the Vikings could be interested even if they do re-sign Jones. Minnesota running backs coach Curtis Modkins held the same role in Denver during Williams' rookie season.

Teams to Watch: Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings