2025 NFL Free Agency: Top RBs Available & Potential Landing Spots

The 2025 NFL league year and free agency begins on March 12, meaning that free agent players will be able to sign to new teams in just two weeks from today.

After a year of watching Saquon Barkely and Derrick Henry dominate the league, teams may realize that running backs matter again. Who you have in your running back room could make or break your team’s championship dreams.

This 2025 NFL free agency period, a lot of teams will be looking to add a running back — in addition to looking to a loaded NFL Draft class for RBs — and there are a few good options for teams to compete for

Check out these top free agent running backs then head to PrizePicks to lock in NFLSZN Lineups on season-long NFL projections and get in on the action. You can win real money by picking more or less on players’ season-long fantasy football projections, like rushing yards or touchdowns. 

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Top 5 NFL RBs Available in 2025 Free Agency

Below, find the top five NFL RBs available in 2025 free agency, which will be free to sign with new teams on March 12.

1. Aaron Jones

Aaron Jones recorded a career-high in carries and rushing yards with the Vikings this year, and his second-most receiving yards — a big plus for the running back re-entering the market this year.

This came after people thought the 30-year old was nearing the end of his career when the Green Bay Packers chose to release him for the younger Josh Jacobs. 

Jones’ deal with the Vikings was for one season, but the Vikings may work to bring him back so that their RB room will be solid as they figure out what they want to do at quarterback. However, the Vikings have said they will want to use him in more of a committee if he was to return.

If the Vikings QB1 is J.J. McCarthy next season, Jones can provide veteran leadership to the offense, making for an easy transition to starting quarterback. 

However, Jones could be useful to teams who have younger running backs or a weak RB room and are looking to add other solid starting options like the Chiefs or Broncos.

Potential Landing Spot: Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos

2. Rico Dowdle

Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle had a breakout season with the Cowboys this past year, rushing for a career-high 235 carries and 1,079 yards, earning his first 1,000+ yard rushing season.

He’s been with the Cowboys since he was drafted in 2020 but injuries, sitting behind veteran Ezekiel Elliot, and then the emerging Tony Pollard, kept him from seeing the field much.

In his first year as the RB1 for the Cowboys, he proved to be a solid runner and pass-catcher, bringing in five total touchdowns, three of which were receiving touchdowns.

Due to him basically getting no action in his first four NFL seasons, he still has plenty of gas in the tank and could be a good running back option for any team who’s running back room is lacking. Dowdle averaged 4.6 yards per carry in 2024, and had at least 20 carries in four of the last six games — showing he can produce as a workhorse.

If the Cowboys aren’t going to draft star-prospect Ashton Jeanty, like they’ve been mocked to do with their 12th pick in the upcoming draft, then it’d be wise for them to keep Dowdle.

Potential Landing Spot: Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers

👀 Find the top NFL Free Agents at every position for 2025

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3. J.K. Dobbins

J.K. Dobbins signed with the Chargers in 2024 on basically a “prove-it” deal after battling injuries and not living up to his rookie hype while on the Ravens. He did more than “prove-it” for the Chargers, recording a career-high 905 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in just 13 games, piling on a career-high 32 receptions. 

His performance for the Chargers last season easily makes him one of the most sought after RB free agents and there should be more than a few teams fighting to sign him.

Dobbins has already expressed he would like to stay with the Chargers, and the Chargers should want to keep the 26-year-old as well. The Chargers will have plenty of cap space to re-sign Dobbins who should still be relatively cheap, and is already familiar with their playbook and offensive scheme alongside one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks.

If Dobbins does choose to leave Los Angeles, it could be because teams like the Steelers and Raiders, who will likely try to revamp their entire running back room this offseason made an offer he couldn’t refuse.

Potential Landing Spot: Los Angeles Chargers

4. Najee Harris 

The Pittsburgh Steelers chose to decline Najee Harris’ fifth-year option, most likely meaning that Harris’ time in Pittsburgh has come to an end after four seasons

Some might say Harris still hasn’t developed or made the jump people thought he would have, but it’s hard to deny that he’s one of the most reliable runners in the league, and has been for a few years now. He has four consecutive 1,000+ rushing yard seasons and has been useful in the receiving game throughout his career.

He’ll be valuable to a team who is looking to add consistency in their run game or are looking for another running back to create a 1-2 punch duo and strengthen their running back room a bit.

There was a time Harris was believed to be the next Derrick Henry, and after the late surge in Henry’s career, teams may be more willing to take a chance on Harris and make him RB1 on their team.

Potential Landing Spots: Las Vegas Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns

5. Nick Chubb

It’s been announced Nick Chubb will be testing the free agency market once it starts, making last season possibly his last season with the team who drafted him back in 2018.

Chubb’s 2018-2022 run was one of the best of all-time and he was on pace to be an all-time running back before having two back-to-back season ending injuries in 2022 and 2023.

After returning in late 2024, Chubb didn’t have the same explosiveness and seemed to have lost a bit of his juice that made him the Nick Chubb we grew to love. 

At this point in his career, any signing will likely be a “prove-it” deal for Chubb, due to teams being concerned about his consistency and injury history. Entering his age 30 season, teams likely won’t want to commit to Chubb for more than a year anyways. 

Chubb would do well on a team that already has a younger running back room or a solid option and are looking for a vet to help relieve and potentially split carries.

Potential Landing Spot: Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears

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More Top NFL RB Free Agents for 2025

Here are some of the next best free agent running backs hitting 2025 NFL free agency after the top five.

• Jordan Mason (RFA)
• Jaylen Warren (RFA)
• Kareem Hunt
• Javonte Williams
• Alexander Mattison
• Samaje Perine
• A.J. Dillon
• Ameer Abdullah
• Khalil Herbert
• Raheem Mostert
• Cam Akers
• Ezekiel Elliot

Lock in Season-Long NFLSZN Lineups on PrizePicks

The NFL free agency period is always exciting to see how teams prioritize their needs and where players choose to take the next step of their career. 

While eyes will soon turn to the 2025 NFL Draft which is loaded with talented RBs like Ashton Jeanty and TreVeyon Henderson, free agency provides teams with a tune-up period.

The new NFL season hasn’t started yet, but you can get a jumpstart on the action by heading to PrizePicks and locking in your 2025 NFLSZN lineups. NFLSZN is the season-long game on PrizePicks, where you can cash in by picking more or less on player’s stats for the 2025 season — available until the start of the season.