The NFL free agent class for 2015 is deep at running back and this year in free agency names like Darren McFadden, DeAngelo Williams, CJ Spiller, Frank Gore, Ryan Mathews, Mark Ingram and Ben Tate could be targets for teams over the top player in DeMarco Murray, including the Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins.
Murray is the top player among the running backs and the Cowboys may end up keeping him, but there is a good chance he ends up elsewhere in 2015. Teams that can't afford to woo Murray will look at the lower level names on the market and there are some solid options among that group. Frank Gore and Mark Ingram are both coming off of productive seasons, while players like Mathews, Williams and Spiller will try and bounce back from injury plagued seasons.
Those three players could be high upside options at an affordable price due to the injuries, with Spiller being a player that should get some attention. The Bills likely will let him walk and ESPN.com reports that the Raiders, Dolphins and Jets are potential landing spots for Spiller. The Jets hired Chan Gailey to run their offense and he previously coached Spiller in Buffalo and helped him to his best career season. The Jets ditched Chris Johnson this offseason and could look at Spiller as a potential replacement to play alongside Chris Ivory.
McFadden is a free agent after signing a one year deal last offseason for the Raiders and he could be a potential target for teams on the market. According to NFL.com, the Bengals could be a potential target for the running back, as he previously played for offensive coordinator Hue Jackson in Oakland. Jackson has praised McFadden in the past and he could be a nice depth option for Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill. McFadden has dealt with injuries in the past, but he played in all 16 games for the first time last season and could be a fit for the Dolphins or Bengals.
McFadden had his best season in 2010 when he set career highs with 1157 rushing yards, 47 receptions and 507 receiving yards with 10 total touchdowns. According to ESPN.com, the Panthers are releasing DeAngelo Williams and now he is on the market after dealing with injuries in 2014. Williams is going to be 32 years old and while he is coming off of a bad season, he could be a high reward option at a cheap price for teams. Williams had not had any injury issues the previous three seasons and now the Panthers are focusing on Jonathan Stewart as their main back.
Williams had just 219 yards last season in six games, but in the previous three years he only missed on game. A team like the Raiders, Browns or Dolphins could take a chance on Williams, while he also could be a fit for depth with a team like the Redskins, Vikings or Giants. Williams is a good receiver out of the backfield and could help teams on third down if he can stay healthy.