In the NFL, running backs are a dime a dozen. The running back position has the shortest life span in the game of football at the professional level. Most running backs have no loyalty as teams have no loyalty for the guys that risk it all running in between the tackles. Most teams these days have multiple guys carrying the football for them, not the one featured back like in the past. In the draft, you can select a running back & insert the rookie into the starting line up like changing a light bulb – in with the new & out with the old. Running backs are expendable just like this off-season saw the changing of the guard. Teams lost their guy to arch rivals. The replacement was always around the corner like waiting for the next bus to pull up at your team’s headquarters. The free agency market for the running back has been all about musical chairs. Like in your fantasy football league teams, just gobbled up on these available backs in the first round. Here’s my list of the changing of the guard in the first week of the NFL free agency for the 2024 season.

Josh Jacobs signs with the Green Bay Packers (4 years 48 million.)

First question: Why is Green Bay signing a running back when they already have Aaron Jones? Jones would not take a pay cut so he became collateral damage for ownership. EXPENDABLE. Jacobs averaged 3.6 yards per carry last season. Jones averaged 4.6 yards per carry. Jacobs has the better price tag for this upcoming season as Jones moves on.

Aaron Jones signs with Minnesota Vikings (1 year 7 million.)

Aaron Jones quickly finds a job with the archrival of the Packers. The Vikings!! Jones is thinking he will get back at the Packers organization for not taking the pay cut & then cutting him. Jones will play his former team twice next year to hopefully rub salt in his X-team’s wounds.

Zack Moss signs with the Cincinnati Bengals (2 years 8 million.)

Zack Moss had his break out year with the Colts filling in for Jonathan Taylor. Taylor started the year missing weeks due to a contract hold out. Taylor would end up missing a few games due to injury as well. Moss played 14 games & tallied up 794 yards on the ground with 5 touch downs. Moss is 26 years old and cheaper then Joe Mixon, so he became EXPENDABLE!! Mixon is a loose cannon. He was news for pointing a gun at someone at the airport. Mixon’s sister was involved in some kind of shooting incident with her boyfriend at Joe’s house. This is the same guy who clocked a girl in college before being drafted by the Bengals. The Bengals got a replacement and traded Mixon to Houston. Before Moss signed, the Bengals were going to release Mixon, but they found somebody to take him.

Joe Mixon’s new home is with the Houston Texans which is not a bad place to be with a team on the rise in the AFC. Mixon rushed for over 1,000 yards last season scoring 9 rushing touchdowns. Mixon is one of the big trash talkers in the league if only someone can get him a muzzle. Mixon will wear out his new home in Houston and become EXPENDABLE!!!

Devin Singletary signs with the New York Giants (3 years 16.5 million.)

The Texans don’t need Devin Singletary after they acquired Joe Mixon. Singletary, an X-Bills cast off, goes to New York and will suit up for the Giants where a former Bills offensive coordinator who’s head coach of the G-Men collects castoff players from Buffalo. Singletary is a Giant because Barkley could not collect the bigger contract making him EXPENDABLE. Singletary has not found a home yet since being on the EXPENDABLE list for the Bills last off-season.

Gus Edwards signs with the LA Chargers (2 years 6.5 million.)

Edwards had 13 rushing touchdowns last season for the Ravens. Now he leaves John Harbaugh for his brother Jim’s team, the Chargers. Edwards became EXPENDABLE when Ravens signed King Henry.

Derrick Henry signs with Baltimore Ravens (2 years 16 million.)

Many thought the King was dead. That the tank lost his threads. Last year Henry had 12 rushing touchdowns. He went over 1,000 yards as he tallied 1,167 of them. The Titans did not want to pay King Henry a ransom so he became EXPENDABLE in Nashville.

Tony Pollard signs with the Tennessee Titans (3 years 24 million.)

With the King leaving Honky Tonk Town, an opportunity came up for Tony Pollard as he gets a nice pay day. Pollard also leaves the side show they call America’s Team, the Cowboys, which is always a good thing. Pollard went over 1,000 yards and found the end zone 6 times last season in Dallas. The Cowboys wanted something better than Pollard so he became an EXPENDABLE for them.

Austin Ekeler signs with the Washington Commanders (2 years 11.43 million.)

Ekeler had a down year last year in his final season wearing the Chargers uniform. The Chargers are in salary cap hell and can only afford the talent of Gus Edwards, the former Raven. This is how Austin became EXPENDABLE. Ekeler has been a touchdown factory over his career. He has 39 career rushing touchdowns and 30 receiving touchdowns. The Commanders at least have a bigger following than Charger fans.

Antonio Gibson signs with the New England Patriots (3 years 11.25 million.)

Gibson had a down year only tallying up 265 yards total on the ground. Waiting grew impatient for Washington’s front office for Gibson to be that elite back he once was in 2021. With the Austin Ekelor signing the Commanders were not going to wait for Gibson to find his 2021 form when he had over 1,000 rushing yards. He became EXPENDABLE. Gibson is a talented back that has shown some flashes of being a great back as he had 7 rushing touchdowns in 2021. The Patriots probably gives him a better chance to play more than he had on the Commanders.

D’Andre Swift signs with the Chicago Bears ( 3 years 24 million.)

D’Andre Swift had his best season of his entire football career with the Eagles last year. Swift ran for over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. Now he can play the team that drafted him, the Lions, twice a year as he suits up for the Bears next season. The Eagles didn’t offer Swift a contract so he became EXPENDABLE in Philly.

Saquon Barkley signs with the Philadelphia Eagles (3 years 37.37 million.)

Saquon Barkley pissed off Giants fans signing with the enemy Eagles. Barkley is a guy that can run the ball between the tackles and help your team’s passing game out of the back field. He racked up 962 yards on the ground with six rushing touchdowns. He added 41 catches and 4 touchdown receptions. Swift went to the Bears. Barkley was not going to get the money staying in New York as he was franchise tagged last season. New York fans became EXPENDABLE here.

As you can tell, it did not take long for the General Manger vultures of these teams to swoop up these free agent running backs. Like the guy in fantasy in the snake draft taking two stud backs in back to back picks. Can you blame a team for letting these guys go free knowing you have cheaper & maybe even more talented options. They cost a lot of money. How many of these guys will be the reason they get their team in the Superbowl or deep into the post-season? The 49ers lost the Superbowl and have the best running back in the league with Christian McCaffrey. The Chiefs won the Superbowl and their starting running back, Isiah Pacheco, was drafted in the 7th round. One of these guys could be the difference. Most of them could fail with their new teams. Different systems. Different coaches. They have wear and tear on them. I’m guessing we will see a few rookies emerge as better options than these veterans next season. They don’t make them like they used too. Next season we will see at this time a pile of new name running backs in the free agent waters along with some of these guys that may find themselves washed up and dumped back into the pond. The EXPENDABLES will be looking for any vulture to hopefully pay them something just to keep playing by then.