Believe it or not, it’s time to start thinking about Free Agency. The beginning of the Free Agent Signing Period starts at midnight on February 29th. These rankings were comprised regardless of free agent status (i.e. Restricted or Unrestricted) but the status is indicated as “RFA” for “Restricted Free Agent” and “UFA” for “Unrestricted Free Agent” to the right of the player name. The definitions of each are as follows:

UFA: A Player who has at least four years experience at the expiration of a contract can sign with any team with no compensation to his former club.

RFA: Restricted free agents have three years of experience at the end of their contracts and must be tendered an offer sheet before April 15. The player's current club has seven days to match the offer, or the player's rights revert to the team that tendered the sheet. Teams are awarded compensatory draft picks based on the quantity and quality of restricted free agents it loses to other squads in the previous year's free-agent period.

Top Five Free Agent Running Backs

1. Marion Barber- RFA- Though he is restricted, Barber will draw at least the same amount of interest from NFL teams that Michael Turner did a year ago in the same situation. “Marion the Barbarian” is an absolute freak with the ball in his hands and maybe the toughest running back in the NFL. No matter where he ends up, Barber is going to get paid this off-season and with 34 touchdowns in his first three seasons, he deserves it.

2. Michael Turner-UFA- We’ve been hearing about it for at least two years, but finally in 2008 we will be able to see what Michael Turner can do as a starting running back for an NFL team. As LT’s back-up for the last four years, Turner averaged 5.5 yards per carry on 228 carries and has shown the explosive burst that NFL GM’s covet. Turner could walk away from the free agent signing period as the highest paid player to sign with a new team.  

3. Jamal Lewis- UFA- A resurgent Lewis showed the world in 2007 that he still has plenty left in the tank. Showing burst and decision making that we haven’t seen from him in two years, Lewis responded to the doubters with his highest rushing total (1,304), his highest ypc (4.4), and most scores (11) since 2003.

4. Julius Jones- UFA- Look for Jones to prove that the Cowboys completely misused him the last two seasons. Prior to Marion Barber’s arrival, Jones had all the makings of a productive NFL back accumulating 819 yards rushing in 8 games during his rookie year. Even with Barber around, Jones accumulated 2,077 rushing yards in 2005 and 2006 and scored nine touchdowns prior to his dismal 2007 output.

5. Justin Fargas- UFA- Even to this day announcers during the course of a Raiders game will always find some way to interject that Fargas’ father was a prominent figure in a forgettable 70’s sitcom. The thing they overlook is that Fargas has become a solid NFL back who can run between the tackles for tough yards or around the outside and show his speed. Fargas eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark for the first time in his career in only seven starts.

Best of the Rest:
6. Aaron Stecker- UFA
7. Ron Dayne- UFA
8. Chris Brown- UFA
9. Derrick Ward- UFA
T-10.Tatum Bell- UFA
T-10.Michael Pittman- UFA