The 2025 NFL regular season will come to a close this weekend, meaning the offseason is about to begin for 18 teams -- and it's just around the corner for those who make the playoffs. Everyone will be looking to upgrade their rosters in the coming months. So, who needs the most help at the position I always have my eye on?
Perusing the offseason landscape at running back, there is a talented group of players set to hit free agency in March, including the Jets' Breece Hall, Jaguars' Travis Etienne, Cowboys' Javonte Williams, Seahawks' Kenneth Walker III, Falcons' Tyler Allgeier and Panthers' Rico Dowdle. I could mention all six of their respective teams on this list, but to avoid redundancy, I'll just say those organizations would be wise to re-sign those guys, four of whom have already eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards in 2025 (Walker has 930, while Allgeier's at 498). That said, Atlanta's best positioned to absorb the loss, considering it has all-world playmaker Bijan Robinson leading the backfield.
Additionally, the 2026 NFL Draft will bring more RB talent to the fore, including highly regarded Notre Dame product Jeremiyah Love, who declared his intention to turn pro a couple weeks ago.
With all of that in mind, I'm here today to spotlight the running back rooms that need the biggest boost this offseason. Here are my top five.
Where to begin? This starts with the fact that the Chiefs have played so much football over the last seven seasons. In that span, they've logged 21 playoff games -- that's more than a full regular season's worth. Fatigue has to be a factor in Kansas City's myriad offensive problems in 2025, which have resulted in the unit's worst statistical season in memory (20th in scoring, 17th in yards). The offensive line has struggled, and as much as I like the physicality both Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt bring to the field, they don't often create in space. Both are efficient when given a hole, but neither earns chunk yards on his own. For proof, the Chiefs have only gained 2.8 rush yards after contact per carry this season, tied for 28th in the NFL, according to Next Gen Stats. Both Hunt (158 carries, 597 yards, eight rush TDs) and Pacheco (118 carries, 462 yards, one rush TD) are free agents this offseason. Seventh-round rookie Brashard Smith could claim a larger role going forward, but Kansas City will have to significantly overhaul this group in free agency and the draft.
I'm not sure what Kellen Moore's vision for Alvin Kamara was in 2025. Despite being New Orleans' best offensive asset coming into the season, the five-time Pro Bowler received fewer than 15 touches per game during his 11 contests. That entailed just 11.9 carries per game (the second-lowest average of his career) and 3.0 catches per game (lowest). I believe the 30-year-old still has gas left in the tank, and he's under contract for 2026. So are Devin Neal, Kendre Miller and Audric Estimé, but I'm not sure any of them are true difference-makers. The key to improving the Saints' rushing attack, which ranks 30th in the NFL, is bringing in an established, bigger back to pair with Kamara in the Mark Ingram role. That duo was among the best in the NFL in 2017 and '18, when New Orleans started a streak of four straight division titles. Several backs set to hit free agency -- including Tyler Allgeier and Brian Robinson Jr. -- fit that mold.
Houston's backfield remains an issue. Joe Mixon, who is under contract for 2026, has missed the entire campaign with a foot injury. Obviously, the 29-year-old's health is a major question mark moving forward. Veteran Nick Chubb will be a free agent. Rookie Woody Marks and second-year pro Jawhar Jordan have shown promise, but this run game still ranks 24th in the NFL. Houston has only reached 150 yards rushing in two games, neither of which occurred during the current eight-game win streak. Bringing in a proven veteran could stabilize this ground attack, inherently giving C.J. Stroud the opportunity to punish defenses off play-action. And that would allow Houston's offense to better complement DeMeco Ryans' elite defense.
Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell have each enjoyed big games this season, with both amassing more than 900 scrimmage yards. However, Pittsburgh has struggled to find consistency in the ground game, ranking 26th in rushing yards. The Steelers face a lot of questions this offseason. Will Aaron Rodgers return? If he does, I'd like to see Pittsburgh run the ball more often and more efficiently, putting Rodgers in position to really succeed with play-action. And if the 42-year-old quarterback doesn't come back, running the ball becomes even more crucial, barring a major upgrade at the game's most important position. Re-signing Gainwell might be a priority this offseason, given how well he's played in the second half of the year, specifically in the pass game as a third-down back. But I think Pittsburgh needs to bring in a back who would also push Warren for first- and second-down reps. There are a number of options the Steelers could target in free agency. To me, they'd be wise to make a run at Kenneth Walker III.
The Broncos have an average rushing attack that ranks 19th in the NFL. While rookie RJ Harvey has done a pretty good job since being pressed into the starting role -- getting much of his shine as a pass catcher out of the backfield -- this unit was at its best when J.K. Dobbins was healthy. With Dobbins in Weeks 1-10, the Broncos were tied for seventh in rush yards and averaged 4.8 yards per carry. Without him in Weeks 11-17, they're tied for 21st, averaging 4.0 yards per attempt. Dobbins, a free agent this offseason, provided a physical element that this offense has lacked since he sustained a season-ending foot injury in mid-November. Jaleel McLaughlin (RFA) and Tyler Badie (ERFA) will likely re-join Harvey in the backfield in 2026, but re-signing Dobbins (if he's healthy) or adding a physical runner like Brian Robinson Jr. is essential to taking this Bo Nix-led offense to the next level.
