The 2022 free agent running back class has some intriguing options – with fantasy football relevance.
The Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, and the Tampa Buccaneers. What do all these teams have in common? They will be looking to address their RB room this offseason, either with a starter or a complementary piece.
Of course some of these teams will address their need through the draft, but there are a few interesting free agent RBs this year.
I will break down the year of the free agent RB and give you my take on their fantasy football upside for next year and beyond; based on where they could end up, and the role they could play.
*All rankings and point totals are based on Half-PPR scoring, unless stated otherwise.
Trustworthy Vets For Contending Teams
Melvin Gordon
Melvin Gordon currently sits as the RB17 in fantasy football, averaging 12.4 points a game. These numbers have come while splitting the backfield 50/50 with rookie Javonte Williams.
Personally, I think a team like the Bills or Dolphins will look to add Gordon to their RB room. Gordon will be looking for a contending team to join. These two teams are ready to win now, but have lacked that starting RB to put them over the top.
Gordon offers goal line upside and is no slouch in the passing game. Although this year he hasn’t had a lot of passing work, only averaging 2.5 targets a game. Depending on where he lands, this could easily increase.
I think the landing spot with the most upside would be with the Bills. There he would take over the majority of the work and could play all three downs. He would also fit in well with Gaskin in Miami, as a thunder and lightning combo. Goal line carries have been an area where Gaskin has struggled this year. Gordon could go there and be the early down back and mix into the passing game as well.
He will be 29 by the time next season starts, but I believe he has at least one more relevant season for fantasy football left in him.
Leonard Fournette
Fournette’s future with the Bucs will depend on Tom Brady’s decision to retire or not. If Brady is back, Fournette would likely return to continue trying to win championships, right? Of course another team could come up with a big money offer, then he would need to decide money or chasing championships with Brady.
Leonard Fournette currently sits as the RB5 in fantasy football, averaging 16.2 points a game. Many thought this would be a committee backfield with Giovani Bernard getting the passing work and Ronald Jones mixing in. However, playoff Lenny had other ideas.
In the last three games Fournette has played over 80% of snaps and isn’t showing signs of slowing down. He is averaging 5.9 targets a game and 13.1 rush attempts this season.
The Buccaneers only have Ke’shawn Vaughn under contract for next year. It would make sense for them to sign him back. Fournette is likely to get a 2-year deal, similar to what Melvin Gordon got last year. Best case scenario is to stay with the Bucs, but other contending teams could come bidding.
James Conner
With the Cardinals looking to continue to compete, there is no reason why they shouldn’t pay Conner to come back. His talent hasn’t ever been questioned, but his ability to stay healthy has.
However, this year he is proving the doubters wrong. Even before Chase Edmonds went down, he was averaging 11.2 points per game and was the RB17 in fantasy football. However, since Week 9, James Conner is the RB2, averaging 23.4 points a game.
When all is said and done, he currently sits as the RB8 in fantasy football on the year, averaging 15.9 points per game.
It is likely that his 1.2 TDs per game will regress wherever he lands next year. However, he has shown his receiving skills in the last five games, so hopefully he gets more work in that area.
Since Chase Edmonds went down in Week 9, Conner has 24 catches on 26 targets. He has turned those catches into 269 yards and 2 TDs. Showing that he can still get the job done in the passing game when called upon.
Just like Fournette, I can’t see a competitive team like the Cardinals not re-signing him. He has earned himself a raise on his current $1.75 million dollar salary, though.
Going into next year, I would expect a workload and productivity in between what we saw in the first fight games, and the last five. He has played well enough to be considered a 3-down back, but with his injury history real NFL teams would be smart to have a backup plan in place. Depending on who that is, it could affect his production, like Chase Edmonds to start the year.
One Hit Wonders
Cordarrelle Patterson
Patterson currently sits as the RB7 in fantasy football, averaging 15.8 points per game. He has been one of the biggest surprises this season, no one could have predicted this.
Cordarrelle Patterson will be 31 when the new year begins. He is a converted, journeyman WR/return specialist. Maybe I am crazy, but I can’t see this happening again.
If there is no staff changes in Atlanta, I can see Patterson being brought back. However, better competition will come through the draft or free agency.
Can Patterson be a gadget player/flex play? Sure, but his chance of being a fantasy football roster clogger next year is higher than repeating anywhere close to this year.
Health has never been an issue for Patterson. In fact, before this year he had only ever missed one game, back in 2018. His best finish in fantasy football before this year was his rookie year, where he finished as WR26 in PPR leagues. His next best season, WR41, in 2016.
Sony Michel
In 2019, Sony Michel was RB24 in Standard scoring. That is his one and only year inside the top-24. He played in 16 games that year, his one year where he remained healthy, (besides this year). In his rookie year he was the RB25 in fantasy football, again in Standard scoring, he did that in only 13 games.
He seems to have a bit of a fan base out there that believes he can be a lead back. I don’t know if a team will give an almost 27-year old, with an injury history, a chance to lead their backfield.
He has two starts this year so far, against the Jets and Cardinals. Against the Jets he did what was expected; rushing 24 times for 121 yards and a TD. He caught three of his four targets, but only turned it into 8 yards. Against the Cardinals he ran 20 times for 79 yards.
I think he hit his peak back in 2019. He will likely find himself as a handcuff next year. Maybe a team like the Broncos, Bengals, or Steelers look to add a veteran backup. He is not someone I would be desperate to hold, but wouldn’t be my first cut either.
J.D. Mckissic
J.D. Mckissic was the RB17 in fantasy football PPR leagues last year while playing most of the year with the immobile Alex Smith. He was able to start seven games according to pro-football-reference.
Mckissic will turn 29 before the season starts. There is a chance he can find a job as a receiving back, but don’t expect him to produce a top-24 season again. Washington seems to be committing to Antonio Gibson as a three down back, but they could look to bring the trusty veteran back. This would definitely hamper Mckissic’s possible upside.
Another team that could show some interest is the New England Patriots. Both Brandon Bolden and James White will be free agents. Rhamondre Stevenson and Damien Harris are built more for early down work. The Patriots could be looking for a 3rd down back. J.J. Taylor is an option and one of my favourite sleepers, but didn’t take over the role this year when the chance came.
If Mckissic landed with the Patriots, he would have a chance to be a sneaky play in fantasy football PPR leagues again, but that’s a lot of “ifs”.
PPR backs are good depth pieces, but he’s not a piece you need to cling to this offseason.
Likely done
David Johnson
David Johnson helped a few teams in the fantasy football playoffs in the 2020-21 season. In Weeks 15 and 16 he was the RB3. He averaged 23.1 points a game. With no big addition in the offseason, it looked like Johnson could be useful this year.
However, in late August it was announced he would be used as the 3rd down back. This stayed true; besides Weeks 11 and 12, he never had double digit carries.
If he doesn’t hang up the cleats, he will be a late addition to a team that hits the injury bug. This year was telling, he doesn’t have much left.
Latavius Murray
After being cut by the Saints, there was some excitement when Latavius Murray signed with the Ravens. He started the year scoring 4 TDs in the first six games, but never had more than 60 yards rushing.
Much like Johnson, if he isn’t ready to call it quits he could be a mentor to a younger back, but his fantasy football relevant days are likely over.
Sheldon Hand
Sheldon Hand is an elementary school teacher. He started writing in 2019, and started working with The League Winners in 2021. He has been playing fantasy football for fifteen years, got into dynasty seven years ago and have become a bit obsessed.