Updated Landing Spots for Travis Etienne Jr., Top 2026 NFL Free-Agent RBs

The 2026 free-agent running back class features several notable veterans, including 1,000-yard rushers, a former Pro Bowler and the reigning Super Bowl MVP. It'll be one of the deepest position groups on the market.

One of those soon-to-be free agents is already off the market, though. The Dallas Cowboys signed running back Javonte Williams to a three-year, $24 million extension on Saturday, a reward for his standout 2025 season in which he recorded career highs in multiple key stat categories.

Williams' deal sets the framework for accomplished tailbacks in their prime such as Travis Etienne Jr., Kenneth Walker III and Breece Hall. Other top players at the position could thrive with a fresh start on new teams, too.

Based on schematic fit and player skill sets, we've come up with some landing spots for the top soon-to-be free-agent running backs.

Tyler Allgeier: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

AP Photo/Rusty Jones

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier

Before the Atlanta Falcons selected Bijan Robinson with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 draft, Tyler Allgeier led their backfield, rushing for 1,035 yards and three touchdowns in 2022. 

Even though Robinson quickly took over the lead role, Allgeier remained heavily involved in Atlanta's ground attack. Last year, he finished with more rushing touchdowns (eight) than Robinson (seven) as a reliable goal-line ball-carrier. The stout 5'10", 225-pounder scored half of his touchdowns from the 1-yard line.

Allgeier would fit seamlessly in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense, reuniting with former Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, whom the Buccaneers hired to fill the same position after they fired Josh Grizzard.

Tampa Bay could retain restricted free agent running back Sean Tucker, who's also developed into an effective short-yardage ball-carrier, though Allgeier's familiarity with the system could allow him to win the No. 2 spot behind Bucky Irving. 

J.K. Dobbins: Atlanta Falcons

AP Photo/Jack Dempsey

Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins

J.K. Dobbins has yet to play through a full NFL season because of injuries. After his 2020 rookie campaign, he's missed at least four games every year. 

Last year with the Denver Broncos, Dobbins suffered a foot injury that derailed his season. He registered 153 carries for a team-leading 772 yards and four touchdowns in only 10 games before going down.

According to The Athletic's Nick Kosmider, the Broncos will "explore multiple other options" before attempting to re-sign Dobbins, giving him time to gauge his market.

Dobbins could fill the No. 2 spot in the Atlanta Falcons' backfield if they lose Tyler Allgeier and/or are looking for a ball-carrier to complement Bijan Robinson.

Robinson has finished in the top three leaguewide in touches in back-to-back seasons. The Falcons will need someone to spell him if Allgeier signs elsewhere in free agency. As an undrafted rookie, Nathan Carter is still unproven with only nine carries for 60 yards.

Dobbins should endure less wear and tear playing behind Robinson, which could increase his chances of playing through a full campaign.

Rico Dowdle: Kansas City Chiefs

AP Photo/Erik Verduzco

Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle

The underrated Rico Dowdle is quietly coming off back-to-back 1,000-plus-yard seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers. He served as a backup early in his career, so the 27-year-old doesn't have much tread on his legs. He's logged only 567 total carries across six seasons.

Despite his recent production, Dowdle won't garner as much attention as the household names with accolades and early-round draft pedigrees. He may be available at a modest price, making him an ideal fit for the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chiefs are $11.4 million over the cap threshold. They can restructure Chris Jones' deal to save $22.5 million. With about $11 million in salary-cap resources, they can make a competitive offer to Dowdle, who's been a productive three-down running back over the last two seasons.

Along with his rising rushing totals, Dowdle has caught 78 passes for 546 yards and four touchdowns since 2024. 

If the Chiefs lose Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt in free agency, Dowdle could handle the lion's share of their backfield touches in a significant role.  

Travis Etienne Jr.: Denver Broncos

AP Photo/David Becker

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr.

Arguably the best running back set to test free agency, Travis Etienne Jr. has eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards in three out of his four NFL seasons. He's finished with double-digit touchdowns from scrimmage in two of his campaigns.

Last offseason, many wondered if the Jacksonville Jaguars were going to trade Etienne after they drafted Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr. in the fourth and seventh rounds, respectively. He responded by bouncing back from an injury-riddled 2024 campaign and racking up 1,399 scrimmage yards along with a career-high 13 touchdowns.

According to the Kansas City Star's Pete Sweeney, Etienne is interested in signing with the Kansas City Chiefs. Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt have expiring contracts, so the Chiefs could be in desperate need for a running back.

If Etienne signs with Kansas City, he would be the lead ball-carrier for a team that needs more offensive balance as quarterback Patrick Mahomes recovers from a torn ACL. However, the Chiefs have limited cap space, which could be a factor in their pursuit of Etienne if he wants the best deal on the table. 

The Denver Broncos would be an ideal suitor for Etienne. They can pay him a top-dollar salary with $28.7 million in cap space, and he would likely take over the featured position, while RJ Harvey continues to grow in primarily a pass-catching role.

Kenneth Gainwell: Las Vegas Raiders

Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini

Kenneth Gainwell is a complete running back who can handle just about every aspect of his position. He averaged at least 4.3 yards per carry in four of five seasons, has caught 175 passes for 1,207 yards and four touchdowns and effectively picks up blitzes on passing downs.

In 2025, Gainwell had his best season, accumulating a career-high 1,023 scrimmage yards and scoring eight touchdowns. He posted those numbers as the No. 2 running back behind Jaylen Warren in touches.

Because of his role as a career backup, Gainwell isn't likely to command a massive salary. Teams that need a proven, complementary running back will still hold him in high regard, though.

The Las Vegas Raiders should be one of those clubs.

Based on what new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak has done with Kenneth Walker III, Alvin Kamara and Dalvin Cook at his previous stops, he figures to get the most out of Ashton Jeanty. Nonetheless, Las Vegas needs a well-rounded running back who can take some of the load off Jeanty or give him a breather during run-heavy game plans.

Gainwell could do that and also be a good example for the young running back.

Last year, the Raiders' previous coaching staff worked with Jeanty to improve his pass protection. He would be able to learn a lot from Gainwell on passing downs.

Breece Hall: Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/Ella Hall

New York Jets running back Breece Hall

The New York Jets face a critical decision that could shake up their backfield. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, they're "weighing all options" with the running back Breece Hall's future.

The Jets can use the franchise tag or the transition tag to keep the 24-year-old under team control and give themselves more time to work out a long-term deal or trade him. For now, he is on track to become a free agent in March, which will open up immediate opportunities elsewhere.

If Gang Green doesn't use one of the tenders to keep Hall off the market, he may draw interest from the Tennessee Titans, who hired his former head coach, Robert Saleh.

In Saleh's first year (2022) with the Jets, the team selected Hall in the second round of the draft. A reunion between the two makes sense if Tennessee's new coaching staff moves on from Tyjae Spears.

Spears has mostly struggled on the field through three seasons, and he's battled injuries over the previous two years.

Though the Titans need to add receivers to help Cam Ward's development, they can also support the young quarterback with an effective ground game. Tennessee could have a dynamic running back duo with Hall and Tony Pollard.

Najee Harris: San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris

Last offseason, the San Francisco 49ers acquired bruising tailback Brian Robinson Jr. from the Washington Commanders to fill an early-down role in their ground attack. He logged 92 carries for 400 yards and two touchdowns in a limited role behind Christian McCaffrey, who's still the league's best pass-catching running back.

Following his fourth Pro Bowl campaign, the 2025 Comeback Player of the Year is still a workhorse running back. With that said, he has nine years of tread on his legs. The Niners need to start limiting the 29-year-old's touch volume to preserve him.

With 2025 fifth-rounder Jordan James and 2024 fourth-rounder Isaac Guerendo on the roster, San Francisco may prefer a low-cost veteran addition in free agency. The Athletic's Vic Tafur believes the team has big plans for James next season, but it wouldn't hurt to add veteran insurance.

After four consecutive 1,000-plus-yard rushing seasons in Pittsburgh, Najee Harris only played in three games with the Los Angeles Chargers last season before tearing his Achilles tendon in Week 3. The 27-year-old finished the year with 15 carries for 61 yards.

Harris suffered an eye injury in an offseason fireworks incident, which likely factored into his slow start to the 2025 campaign. Due to his Achilles injury, he didn't have a chance to regain momentum out of the backfield alongside Omarion Hampton. 

Because of Harris' modest numbers in a shortened 2025 campaign, he could be an attractive target at a bargain rate for the 49ers if they pursue a physical ball-carrier to replace Robinson. 

Isiah Pacheco: New Orleans Saints

AP Photo/Ed Zurga

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco

Alvin Kamara's time with the New Orleans Saints could soon come to an end, or he may have to accept a lesser role. The 30-year-old has missed 13 games over the previous three seasons. His contract will be void at the end of the 2026 campaign.

Head coach Kellen Moore has shown he can get the most out of the ground game. He's fielded a top-nine rushing attack in three of his previous five seasons as an offensive coordinator and play-calling head coach. 

Throughout his career, Kamara hasn't been a high-volume ball-carrier, logging fewer than 195 carries in six out of nine seasons. He's not fit to handle a heavy workload on the ground after battling injuries over the last few years.

Kendre Miller is recovering from a torn ACL, and Devin Neal suffered a season-ending hamstring injury late in his rookie campaign. The Saints need a ball-carrier who can handle a large portion of the rushing workload, specifically on first- and second downs.

Although Isiah Pacheco has dealt with injuries over the last two seasons, he's at least shown the ability to make big plays on the ground when healthy. In his first two campaigns with the Kansas City Chiefs, the 2022 seventh-rounder out of Rutgers ran for 830 and 950 yards, while averaging more than 4.5 yards per carry.

Sure, Pacheco benefited from defenses keying in on Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs' aerial attack, but he's an explosive ball-carrier when at full strength. On a modest pay rate, the 26-year-old could provide a boost to the Saints' run game.

Kenneth Walker III: Houston Texans

AP Photo/Steve Luciano

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III

The Seattle Seahawks have $61.9 million in cap space. They have the resources to retain Kenneth Walker III after his best season, which concluded with winning Super Bowl LX MVP. 

Yet it's not a given that the two sides agree on a deal. Walker could receive a strong offer on the open market and be on the move after racking up a career-high 1,309 scrimmage yards. 

The Houston Texans saw Woody Marks develop into a lead running back over the course of his rookie season, but he averaged just 3.6 yards per carry. Joe Mixon missed the entire 2025 campaign because of a foot injury, and head coach DeMeco Ryans is unsure of the 29-year-old running back's future with the team.

Even if the Texans believe Marks can be more efficient in a featured role, they shouldn't put all their hopes on that panning out. They need to balance the offense, especially given quarterback C.J. Stroud's inconsistent play over the last two seasons. 

In Seattle, Walker fared well sharing the backfield with Zach Charbonnet. He could do the same with Marks to elevate the Texans' ground game.

Houston can restructure Derek Stingley Jr.'s and Nico Collins' contracts to clear enough cap space for Walker's contract.

Rachaad White: Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White

The Washington Commanders could have their top two rushers from last year back together in 2026. Jacory Croskey-Merritt is entering his second year, while Washington can match whatever offer restricted free agent Chris Rodriguez Jr. receives on the open market. 

Still, the Commanders need a primary pass-catching running back.

Croskey-Merritt and Rodriguez caught 12 passes combined last season. Austin Ekeler, who's been one of the league's best receivers out of the backfield, tore his Achilles last September and is entering his age-31 season as a free agent.

Washington should add Rachaad White to complete its backfield platoon. He can be the third-down pass-catcher among the group. The 27-year-old has registered 205 receptions for 1,450 yards and 11 touchdowns in 67 games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Averaging 3.9 yards per carry, White may not be an ideal fit for a team that needs a lead ball-carrier. But he can fill a role on passing downs for the Commanders, who need more versatility at running back.

Team salary-cap and player contract details are provided by Over the Cap.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.