After only one week, the 2024 NFL Free Agency period has been full of major surprises and signings. From superstar athletes like Derrick Henry exploring new teams to unexpected trades and signings, the landscape of the NFL has changed, filling fans with anticipation for next season. People have also started to wonder what these signings and trades mean from a fantasy football point of view. The focus of this article is to analyze and rate the fantasy effect of some recent NFL free agent running back signings.
Running Back Impacts:
Josh Jacobs – Packers – Medium Impact: The run game wasn’t used frequently in Green Bay last season, but there is a possibility that the game plan could change now that Josh Jacobs has been brought in to replace often-injured Aaron Jones this offseason. Jacobs has RB1/RB2 potential for this upcoming season – but it all depends on whether the Packers shift to a more run-focused offensive strategy.
Tony Pollard – Titans – High/Positive Impact: The run game is used frequently in Tennessee and with sophomore QB Will Levis, the game plan will likely be to focus on the short/medium passing game, which benefits a strong receiving back like Tony Pollard. Many fantasy owners are scared to take a risk in drafting him because of his prior fibula surgery, his mediocre play for the majority of last season, and the fear of whether he will even get enough snaps to produce RB1 points when Tyjae Spears is also in the backfield. I believe that Pollard will have a better season now that he is with a team that will use him properly in the passing game. Many owners don’t realize that Pollard was one of the better, consistent RBs in fantasy for the last few weeks of last season and he has the potential to become a RB1 next season, especially in PPR formats.
Joe Mixon – Texans – High/Positive Impact: Houston’s offense is well-rounded. Rookie phenom CJ Stroud was effective in throwing short to his running backs last season, which benefits Joe Mixon, who is one of the NFL’s better-receiving backs. The Texans arguably have a stronger offensive line than the Bengals did last season, which should improve Mixon’s rushing yards and receiving yards per game totals. Mixon is in the RB1/RB2 mix next season.
Austin Ekeler – Commanders – High/Positive Impact: The run game should be used more often than the passing game this season in Washington, with a rookie QB likely becoming the starter. A game plan implementing screen and short passing routes should benefit one of the best-receiving backs in the league Austin Ekeler. Ekeler never seemed to be fully healthy last season and spent more time sharing the ball with the Chargers’ other running backs than most fantasy owners expected.
Hopefully fully healthy at this point, he now has the chance to prove to the NFL that he is still a top running back in the league. Ekeler has the potential to be an RB1 next season in PPR formats.
Derrick Henry – Ravens – High/Positive Impact: The Ravens are a run-first offense. Some analysts think Derrick Henry is on the downside of his career now, based on last season’s mediocre showing with the Titans. Henry, however, now joins a Super Bowl-contending team with an elite quarterback in Lamar Jackson and a team that has a hole to fill in terms of goal-line carries (with Henry replacing Gus Edwards who left the Ravens in free agency). This may all lead to one of Henry’s best fantasy seasons yet. Henry should be at the very least a RB2 next season, with RB1 upside in standard format leagues.
Saquan Barkley – Eagles – Negative Impact: The Eagles made a splash by adding the Giants’ rival running back Saquon Barkley to their squad. The run game isn’t used frequently in Philadelphia but Barkley does have a stronger offensive line here than he did with the Giants. The Eagles also abandoned the run game for the second half of last season, but D’Andre Swift still managed to approach RB1 season numbers despite this, so there’s potential for big numbers this season for Barkley. But there’s too much risk in my opinion to draft Barkley as a first or second-round pick in fantasy drafts next season because Barkley’s usage is completely unknown now (versus his established every-down role in New York). Saquan is likely an RB2 next season at best.
D’Andre Swift – Bears – High/Positive Impact: The Bears are a run-heavy offense and D’Andre Swift should be used much better than how he was used in Philadelphia. With a strong offensive line and an offense that also just added Keenan Allen at wide receiver, and that will likely be adding one of the top rookie quarterbacks in the upcoming draft as well, there should be more production in general for Bears players. Swift has the chance to become a top-10 running back in fantasy, making him an RB1 target on drafts next season.
