The legal tampering period begins a few days early on March 9th, which is when teams can start negotiating with agents. During this time, both parties can come to verbal agreements on deals, but nothing can be signed and sealed until the start of free agency three days later.
Teams can also franchise tag any of these players as well before the period begins, which is explained here.
Now, let's take a look at our top 10 NFL running back free agents for 2026!
10. Rachaad White
White could be higher on this list for other people and the argument is understandable given his dual-threat ability in both the rush and pass game, but the 27-year-old running back is coming off a down year from his previous two 1,000+ scrimmage yard seasons.
The Buccaneers running back put up 572 yards on the ground with four rushing touchdowns and 218 receiving yards. He has yet to eclipse more than 4.3 yards per carry yet in his career. However, sites have White's market value at over $7 million per year, which is top three among all free agent RBs.
9. Brian Robinson Jr.
Robinson played in all 17 games for the 49ers last season, becoming a rarity on one of the most injury-riddled teams. However, being behind Christian McCaffrey, carries will be hard to come by.
The 26-year-old posted just 400 rushing yards on 92 carries - both career lows - with just two rushing touchdowns, the fewest since his rookie season, in which he also had two. However, teams could be looking to his 2024 campaign in which he started 13 games and put up 1,006 total yards and right rushing touchdowns.
8. Najee Harris
After not missing a single game in the first four years of his career and putting up four-straight 1,000-yard seasons with the Steelers, Harris tore his Achilles in Week 3 of the 2025 season as a new member of the Los Angeles Chargers, leaving him on the road to recovery.
Will he be able to get back to what he once was in 2026 or will this be the dramatic fall-off for the 27-year-old who once showed incredible promise? Who knows. But he still remains one of top backs available this free agency.
7. J.K. Dobbins
Dobbins is one of the most disappointing cases in the NFL in terms of him constantly showing just how much of an elite back he can be - but those injuries won't stop for him, unfortunately.
The 27-year-old was on track for another career year, just as he was in 2024 for the Chargers. Still, in nine starts (10 games), Dobbins managed to put up 936 total yards (772 rushing) with four rushing touchdowns. He averaged a stellar 5.0 yards per carry with the Broncos last season and was a major help in their offence at the time.
Whether it's the Broncos or another team, Dobbins will make an impact so long as he can find a way to stay healthy.
6. Tyler Allgeier
Despite averaging a career-worst 3.6 yards per game and a career-low 514 yards, the 25-year-old Allgeier also set a career-high with eight rushing touchdowns on the year.
Given that he's younger than both Robinson and White, and a lot healthier than Dobbins and Harris, Alggeier definitely has some advantages working for him in this free agency period. It's worth noting that he's only missed one game in four season -Week 1 of his rookie year.
He rushed for over 1,000 yards in his rookie season. But, being behind a star in Bijan Robinson, Allgeier hasn't come close to getting the 210 carries that he had in his rookie season. If there's a team out there looking for the fifth-youngest unrestricted running back free agent, and has the proper line and system in place for him, the market for Allgeier could be bigger than most think.
5. Kenneth Gainwell
In his fifth season, Gainwell finally had himself a small breakout year with the Pittsburgh Steelers. At 26, he put up a career-high in: rushing yards (537), receiving yards (486), and total touchdowns (8). Even though he may not be a premier back, so to speak, Gainwell is the most durable of all the top free agents on this list.
He has only missed one regular-season game in his entire career - in 2023 with a rib injury. During his time with the Steelers last year, Gainwell didn't even miss a single practice, let alone a game, something that's highly valuable in today's day and age.
4. Rico Dowdle
In his first season with the Panthers, Dowdle became one of the league's biggest underdogs. He finished 2025 with a career high of 1,373 total yards (1,076 rushing) and seven total touchdowns (six rushing).
His back-to-back seasons of at least 1,000 yards on the ground and averaging 4.6 yards per carry in both of them prove that Dowdle can make an impact wherever he signs. But his only drawback is that he's 27, which is a risky age to sign most running backs to any sort of long-term deals, even if they deserve it.
3. Travis Etienne Jr.
One has to imagine the Jaguars are looking to keep Etienne around after he put up his third 1,000-yard season in the past four years. The 27-year-old and former 25th overall pick finished 2025 with 1,399 total yards (1,107 rushing) and a career-high 13 total touchdowns (seven rushing).
Unfortunately, the trend of running backs keeping their peak performance past 27 years of age is a rarity nowadays. Not saying Etienne can't do it, but teams could snag Etienne up for a cheaper deal because of it. And they'd be getting one of the more explosive backs in the league because of it.
2. Breece Hall
The man who some might even argue should be the No. 1 free agent running back. Hall is coming off a career-season in what will probably be his final year with the Jets unless they franchise tag him.
The 24-year-old and former second-round pick posted 1,065 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns, along with 350 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown, last season for an awful Jets team.
The saying goes that "running backs are a dime a dozen." However, difference makers like Hall deserve to be paid.
1. Kenneth Walker III
The Super Bowl MVP might get the franchise tag from the Seahawks before hitting the free agent market on March 11th. However, if he doesn't, then expect the market to be extremely hot for the 25-year-old star back from the Seahawks.
In 2025, Walker posted 1,309 total yards (1,027 rushing) with five touchdowns. During the Super Bowl run, he elevated to another level - putting up 313 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground in just three games, including 104 receiving yards.
He ended up winning Super Bowl MVP after rushing for 135 yards, picking up crucial first downs for the Seahawks that helped them take down the Patriots. Read more about his heartwarming underdog story here.