2021 Free Agent Running Backs

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 05: Jeff Heath #38, Demarcus Lawrence #90, and Leighton Vander Esch #55 of the Dallas Cowboys combine to stop Chris Carson #32 of the Seattle Seahawks in the third quarter during the Wild Card Round at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)2021 Free Agent Running Backs

Hello Heat Seekers, welcome to episode 127 of Sully’s 2 Cents Fantasy Football Podcast.  I am you host; I am Rob Sullivan.  The Sully’s 2 Cents Fantasy Football Podcast is a proud member of the RotoHeat family of podcasts.

In Episode 127, I continue the four-part series that takes an early look at the Free Agent class of 2021. Today we will focus on the RB position.  As usual I will be looking  at it from a fantasy perspective and give you my two cents on where I think the available RBs are best situated. Of all the skilled positional players that come up for free agency the running backs are the most interesting to me.  If you know me, I am not a fan of large second contracts for running backs. This season is even more interesting in my opinion based on the quality of the backs available in this free agent class. 

2017 was a great draft in terms of running backs and as a result 2021 is a real solid free agent class. As expected, Christian McCaffrey, Dalvin Cook, and Joe Mixon all part of that special draft class didn’t make it to free agency, Leonard Fournette the highest drafted of them all not only makes it here and he does so after playing for multiple teams.

There are a group of free agent running backs that I expect to remain Free agents well into the offseason and perhaps into training camp.  It happens every year, and in 2020 we saw this play out for Carlos Hyde who was a late add by the Seattle Seahawks and Devonta Freeman who was in street clothes until signing with the New York Giants prior to Week3.

The following free agent Running Backs are backs that I see struggling to find a contract, and if they do find one, I expect their role in the offense on the team that signs them to be quite limited.

Marlon Mack – Suffered a torn achilles in Week One.  There isn’t an injury that is harder for a running back to come back from.  With Johnathan Taylor, Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins under contract in 2021, you can rule out a return to Indianapolis.  As a result, Mack falls out of a tier of running backs that I believe will top teams shopping lists this offseason.

Boston Scott – Scott was a 6th round pick of the New Orleans Saints back in 2018 and was released before the end of the season.  Scott surfaced in Philadelphia and showed some promise towards the end of the 2019 season after Myles Sanders was injured.  Scott struggled in 2020 despite the opportunity presented to him from yet another Sanders injury.  Scott is an average back and an undersized back at that.  Teams seeking a pass catching back at a discount will have a look at Scott closer to training camp.

Le’Veon Bell – It seems like just yesterday that Bell was the best RB in fantasy football and was in the midst of sitting out the 2018 season instead of playing on the franchise tag with the Steelers.  With 2018 a lost season, Bell joined the New York Jets in 2019.  Combined with a poor offensive line, questionable usage and an overall terrible offense play calling, Bell finished as RB16.  Bell entered the 2020 season as the Jets starting running back. In Week 1, he suffered a hamstring injury, an injury that landed him on IR.  He retuned in Week 5 and was released prior to Week 6. 

Bell landed with the Kansas City Chiefs and it looked like an oppo...