Time To Hang It Up: Five NFL Running Backs That Should Retire Before The 2024 Season

Craig Rondinone analyzes which running backs should think about retiring before the 2024 NFL season starts. These players may not be as effective as they once were.

The 2024 NFL offseason has been littered with notable retirements.

Aaron Donald, Fletcher Cox, Jason Kelce, Matt Ryan, and Matthew Slater headline a long laundry list of retirees. Former Arizona Cardinals running back double threat David Johnson hung up his helmet recently to join the group tired of being tackled. He should not be the only running back to call it a career before the 2024 NFL campaign kicks off, though.

Running backs lose the luster in their legs quicker than any other position in football. That’s why you do not see many 28-year-olds or older veterans on running back depth charts these days in the NFL. So, which running backs should retire from the league before the 2024 season starts? Here is my take.

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Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys

Fantasy footballers have watched the tread come off Elliott’s tires for a couple of years now. He is no longer the explosive playmaker he was when he first entered the NFL. Now, Elliott is a between-the-tackles plodder who is still in the league because of his nose for the end zone and the way he pass protects. He only was able to muster five total touchdowns and a career-low 3.5 YPC last season with New England, though.

Ezekiel Elliott officially signed his one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys. pic.twitter.com/RdqoWo2JWI

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 30, 2024

Elliott is returning to his roots by signing a one-year contract with Dallas and could stumble his way into some touchdowns in that pass-first offense, but his best years are WAY behind him. If he stopped now, nobody would fault him.

He has a chance at some fantasy value because the Cowboys did not exactly load up their running back room in the offseason. Elliott does not have the wheels and the burst to take advantage of this golden opportunity, however. Most likely, he would be part of a dreaded running-back-by-committee situation. If he does not call it quits, the Cowboys faithful might call it for him.

Rashaad Penny, Carolina Panthers

Everything lined up for Penny to be a fantasy force last year after he signed a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. Former top tailback Miles Sanders had taken his talents to the Carolina Panthers, and the rest of the runners on the roster were backups who did not look like 20-touch-per-game ball-carriers except for D'Andre Swift. In the end, Swift has a 1,000-yard year, and Penny only suited up for three games and was a healthy scratch for the rest of them.

first look at Panthers new RB Rashaad Penny 👀#keeppoundingpic.twitter.com/7NGcPsIXPr

— =͟͟͞Blande (@JustBlande) May 20, 2024

Penny signed a deal with Carolina for 2024, but the injury-prone back will be lucky to make the roster. He will have to battle the aforementioned Sanders, folk hero Chuba Hubbard, and second-round rookie Jonathon Brooks for touches and time. Penny is a distant fourth on the depth chart in this scenario. His fantasy value would be higher if he retired.

Jeff Wilson Jr., Miami Dolphins

Wilson and Miami head honcho Mike McDaniel have been tight since their days as players and coaches with the San Francisco 49ers. Wilson has been a McDaniel favorite due to his straight-line running, his leadership, and his locker-room presence. The seven-year pro has a career YPC of 4.5 and actually averaged 4.6 YPC in very limited action last year. The issue is that limited action could be even more limited if he sticks around in 2024.

Wilson was only afforded 41 carries playing behind Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane last season. Both backs had explosive seasons (when healthy) and should both be top-25 fantasy backs this season. Then, Miami added the speedy Jaylen Wright in the sixth round of this year’s draft and still employed vet Salvon Ahmed, too. Can Wilson still make the team, thanks to his intangibles and his experience with McDaniel’s offense? Maybe he should not take the chance.

Ameer Abdullah, Las Vegas Raiders

The good news for Abdullah coming out of last season was that he averaged 5.9 yards per carry. The bad news was he only had 15 rushing attempts in 17 contests. Abdullah was a distant third on Las Vegas’ running back depth chart behind longtime workhorse Josh Jacobs and the emerging Zamir White. This year, he should be third again behind White and the newly signed Alexander Mattison.

Abdullah will be 31 at the season’s start and has not amassed more than 500 combined yards in a year since 2017. He has been a seldom-used role player for the past few seasons, and that is the best he could hope for in 2024. His fantasy value is nil. Abdullah should only be listed on fantasy cheat sheets in AFC West-only leagues.

Chase Edmonds, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay is Edmonds’ fourth team, and it is surprising the Bucs wanted him back after a 2023 season where he averaged 3.6 yards per rush, 5.8 yards per catch, and failed to score a touchdown. The fact is that the team relied on top tailback Rachaad White to have one of the bigger bulks of backfield touches in the league in 2023, and it appears that will happen again this year.

Edmonds is a third-down specialist known for his ability to catch balls out of the backfield, but White is one of the best pass-catching backs in the NFL. Edmonds will have a tough time finding touches behind White and rookie Bucky Irving in Baker Mayfield’s offense. There would be no shame if he tapped out of the NFL now.

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