This running back free agent class is a fairly strong one. There are power backs, scat backs, and all-purpose backs all available. The way the NFL is set up now, we’re going to start seeing more and more star running backs hitting the open market because the position has become so interchangeable. You can see that with some of the names in this class.

10. Darren McFadden

As far as pure talent goes McFadden could easily be at the top of this list. However, with his long injury history there’s no way he can make the top spot. Any team that decides to sign McFadden will be taking a big risk and certainly won’t be able to count on him being healthy for the length of the season. But as I said before, he’s incredibly talented and can make defenses look silly when he’s healthy and on his game.

9. Shane Vereen

Shane Vereen just might be the best receiving running back in the NFL. If he isn’t the best one, he’s certainly the most underrated one. With Vereen getting more opportunities to showcase his abilities this season, he certainly took advantage of it. I expect Vereen to either re-sign with the Patriots or look for a team who likes to use their running back in the pass game.

8. Mark Ingram

Ingram is a very solid running back. He is a running back that an offense can depend on to get yards when they need him to. The power back is an endangered species in today’s NFL and Ingram is one of a dying breed. He is a back who can push the pile and really earn his money on short yardage and goal line plays. However, he can do so much more than that. He forces defenses to drop at least one extra player into the box on almost every play.

7. Reggie Bush

Reggie Bush wasn’t scheduled to be a free agent this offseason but the Lions ended up releasing him. Bush is one of the most versatile backs in the entire league and forces defenses to know exactly where he’s at on every single play. He can line up as a wide receiver or a running back and is absolutely electric in open space. Wherever he lands will certainly have a player that defenses have to plan for the entire week they prepare.

6. Justin Forsett

2014 was a career year for Justin Forsett. He finished the season with 1,266 rushing yards averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Forsett is a very shifty back with above average speed. His patience this season is what allowed him to have such a successful year. This past season earned him an awful lot of money.

5. Stevan Ridley

Ridley isn’t a running back who does any one thing exceptionally well. But’s he’s good at just about everything. He runs with power, has good vision, can catch the ball well when asked to, and while he doesn’t have breakaway speed, he certainly isn’t slow. He’s also a solid blocker. Unfortunately for Ridley he missed most of the season in 2014 and that will certainly affect his upcoming contract. Whoever ends up signing him will most likely get quite a steal.

4. Frank Gore

What Gore brings to the table is more than what just shows up on a stat sheet. He brings a presence to the locker room and a work ethic to the practice field that is extremely hard to find in the NFL. To make it all even better: he’s pretty good with the ball in his hands too. His patience and vision is unrivaled. He shows great power if a linebacker should decide to meet him in the hole and has enough speed to break off a few big runs here and there. While he doesn’t have many years left he can certainly improve a backfield for another year or two.

3. Ryan Mathews

Matthews is another running back who seems to be off the field almost as much as they are on it. For those times he’s on the field he is extremely talented. What separates Matthews from other running backs is his vision and speed. Once he finds the hole in the line, he hits it quickly and will be 40 yards downfield before you know it. In 2013 Matthews stayed healthy for the entire season and that’s what a team are going to be hoping for when they give him a new contract this offseason.

2. C.J. Spiller

Spiller is a bit of a mystery. In 2012 and 2013 he was one of the best running backs in the league. He was close to unstoppable in those two seasons, especially in 2012. However, in 2014 he took a few steps back. The question that teams are going to have to ask themselves is: which C.J. Spiller are we going to get if we sign him? If the team that signs him can utilize his skills of running outside the tackles, we could see him go through somewhat of a Renaissance .With his speed he can turn just about any run into a touchdown at anytime.

1. DeMarco Murray

This one is kind of a no-brainer. Murray is coming off the best year of his career where he rushed for a league leading 1,845 yards. Murray doesn’t have incredible speed but he runs hard on every single play. When he sees an opening in the defense he doesn’t hesitate and makes the defense pay more times than not. If the Cowboys decide to let Murray walk this offseason I have a feeling he’s going to make Dallas regret it for a long time.