X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Time To Hang It Up: Five NFL Running Backs That Should Retire Right Now

Mark Ingram II - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers

Which NFL running backs should retire ahead of the upcoming 2023 NFL season? Joe Nicely looks at five NFL players who could hang it up this offseason.

While long considered a "superstar" position, the role of running back in the NFL has been a large point of discussion lately, as franchises are continually choosing not to pay running backs "superstar" contracts.

There comes a point in every player's career when the wear and tear of the game begin to take its toll. In this article, we shine a light on five NFL running backs who have reached a crossroads in their careers and need to seriously consider retirement.

Whether it's due to a decline in production, a pattern of injuries, or simply the passing of the torch to a new generation, these running backs must weigh the long-term impact on their health and legacy as they contemplate their next steps. Join us as we examine the cases of these veterans and explore the factors that indicate it may be time for them to hang up their cleats.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

#5. Brandon Bolden, Las Vegas Raiders, Age 33

2022 Stats: 16 Games, 17 Rushing Attempts, 66 Rushing Yards, Nine Receptions, 57 Receiving Yards, 1 TD

The longtime New England Patriots utility back failed to make an impact in his first season as a Las Vegas Raider. Brandon Bolden was presumably brought to Vegas due to his Patriot ties and familiarity with Josh McDaniels' offensive system.

While Bolden may well have provided veteran leadership in the locker room, he did little on the field, as Josh Jacobs was a one-man wrecking crew for the Silver & Black this season. The 33-year-old Bolden logged just 17 carries and reeled in a mere nine catches in 2022. He's now failed to top 200 total yards in five of his last six seasons in the NFL.

 

#4. Rex Burkhead, Houston Texans, Age 32

2022 Stats: 16 Games, 26 Rushing Attempts, 80 Rushing Yards, 37 Receptions, 51 Receiving Yards, 2 TDs

Rex Burkhead - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Another former New England Patriot running back, Rex Burkhead's production noticeably declined in his second season with the Houston Texans. After totaling 613 yards from scrimmage for the Texans in 2021, Burkhead tallied just 284 scrimmage yards in the 2022 campaign.

Dynamic rookie Dameon Pierce quickly earned the starting running back job and workhorse duty in the Houston backfield, turning the aging Burkhead into an afterthought. The truly concerning thing for the 32-year-old is that even after Pierce went down with a season-ending injury in a Week 14 loss, he was a non-factor in Houston's final four games of the season.

With Pierce unquestionably the Texans RB1 of the future – and Burkhead on an expiring one-year deal – it might be the last we see of the scrappy veteran in a Houston uniform.

 

#3. Melvin Gordon III, Kansas City Chiefs, Age 29

2022 Stats: 10 Games, 90 Rushing Attempts, 318 Rushing Yards, 25 Receptions, 223 Receiving Yards, 2 TDs

Melvin Gordon was just one of many casualties in what was a dumpster fire of a year for the Denver Broncos. Gordon entered 2022 off back-to-back campaigns with over 1,000 total yards, but his third season in the Mile High City was marked by puzzling usage and massive ball security issues that resulted in five fumbles across 10 games.

After opening the year in a timeshare with fellow Broncos back Javonte Williams, Gordon appeared primed for a workhorse role after Williams went down for the season with a torn ACL in Week 4. However, Gordon's usage actually decreased after Williams was sidelined.

In a key Week 6 divisional matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football, the 29-year-old saw just three total opportunities and appeared stunned in postgame interviews. Things never really improved, as limited playing time, ineffectiveness, and fumbling troubles eventually led to Gordon's release from the Broncos following Week 12. The former superstar ended 2022 on the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad and enters the offseason with the NFL's fourth-most career rushing yards among active players.

 

#2. Mark Ingram II, New Orleans Saints, Age 33

2022 Stats: 10 Games, 62 Rushing Attempts, 233 Rushing Yards, 16 Receptions, 223 Receiving Yards, 1 TD

Mark Ingram II - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers

After spending the first eight seasons of his career with the Saints, Mark Ingram II appeared rejuvenated upon his return to New Orleans in 2021 after a hiatus that saw him spend two years in Baltimore and two games in Houston.

However, the 33-year-old Ingram looked every bit his age in the Saints backfield in 2022 and endured the worst statistical season of his career before a torn MCL in Week 13 ended his year. The former Heisman Trophy winner logged career lows in rushing attempts and rushing yards, while his lone trip to the end zone marked the first time since an injury-plagued 2013 campaign that he failed to record multiple TDs in a season.

Ingram has put together a sterling professional career and is one of just three active NFL running backs with over 8,000 career rushing yards. Already a beloved Saints legend, he has nothing left to prove and last year's season-ending injury might expedite his retirement decision.

 

#1. David Johnson, New Orleans Saints, Age 31

2022 Stats: 5 Games, 12 Rushing Attempts, 24 Rushing Yards, 4 Receptions, 47 Receiving Yards, 0 TDs

You're forgiven if you mistakenly thought David Johnson was already retired, as the 31-year-old started the 2022 season without a spot on any 53-man roster. The New Orleans Saints called the veteran up from their practice squad when Mark Ingram II went down with a torn MCL in Week 13 and Johnson looked completely washed in limited action across the last five games of the year while averaging just 2.0 yards per carry.

It was just the latest reminder of Johnson's dramatic decline from fantasy football superstar to has been. His best season came when he exploded for 2,118 all-purpose yards and 20 TDs for the Arizona Cardinals in 2016. Unfortunately, Johnson suffered a dislocated wrist in the 2017 season opener and did not play another game that year.

After a bounce-back season in 2018 in which he posted 1,386 total yards and 10 TDs, the Northern Iowa product slumped in 2019 across 13 games and was ultimately dealt to the Houston Texans in a trade that sent DeAndre Hopkins to Arizona. Johnson was released by the Texans after two lackluster seasons.

He's a classic example of what can happen at the running back position in the NFL, as his career was like a shooting star - shining brightly for a fleeting moment in time. Running backs age in the opposite fashion as wine and Johnson's time in the league appears to be nearing its sobering end.

 



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis

POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Trent Grisham

Activated From Paternity List
Cleveland Browns

Greg Newsome, Ogbo Okoronkwo Could Be Available Via Trade During The Draft
Tobias Myers

Activated Off Injured List, Starting On Thursday
Arizona Cardinals

Paris Johnson Jr. Completely Healthy This Offseason
Jacob Stallings

Nick Martini Sitting In Game 1
Carolina Panthers

Derrick Brown Expected To Be Ready For Start Of Season
Jorge Polanco

Sitting Against Lefty
Denver Broncos

Broncos Fielding Calls For No. 20 Pick In NFL Draft
David Festa

Optioned To Triple-A

Browns, Giants Both Like Jaxson Dart
Willi Castro

Placed On 10-Day Injured List

Kevin Stefanski Thinks Travis Hunter Can Succeed As Two-Way Player
Hagen Smith

Showing Strikeout Potential At Double-A
Texas Rangers

Kohl Drake Strikes Out 10 On Wednesday
Linus Ullmark

Attempts To Overcome Playoff Struggles Thursday
Robby Snelling

Tallies Nine Punchouts For The Second Time This Season
Anthony Cirelli

A Game-Time Call Thursday
Javier Rivas

Continues Hot Start To High-A Regular Season
Logan Thompson

Comes Up Big In Game 2
Chase Petty

Strikes Out Seven On Wednesday
Connor McMichael

Strikes Twice In Wednesday's Win
Cade Horton

Shines On Wednesday
Anze Kopitar

Tallies Four Points In Game 2 Victory
Adrian Kempe

Notches Two Goals, Two Assists In Wednesday's Win
Tyler Seguin

Gives Stars Series Lead With Overtime Winner
Gabriel Landeskog

Delivers Six Hits In First Game Since 2022
NFL

Browns, Giants, Patriots Receive Calls For Picks Nos. 2-4
Austin Wynns

Collects Three More Hits on Wednesday
Emilio Pagán

Emilio Pagan Closes Out Reds Win
Trevor Larnach

Launches Another Long Ball
Oneil Cruz

Keeps Stacking Stats
Logan Webb

Works Six Scoreless Innings In Giants Win
Christopher Morel

Mashes Second Homer Of The Season
Tyler Herro

Scores Game-High 33 Points In Wednesday's Loss
Donovan Mitchell

Fires In 30 Points In Game 2 Win
Paolo Banchero

Notches 32 Points In Game 2 Loss
Jaylen Brown

Posts 36-Point Double-Double Wednesday
Jalen Green

Erupts For 38 Points In Game 2 Victory
Brandin Podziemski

Limited To 14 Minutes Wednesday
Jimmy Butler III

Set For MRI Thursday
Chandler Simpson

Extends Hitting Streak To Four Games
Jacob Melton

Quiet Since Returning From Injured List
Lazaro Montes

Hits Home Run No. 5
George Kittle

Wants To Be Highest-Paid Tight End
Tyler Lockett

Joining The Titans

Will Shedeur Sanders' Game Translate To The NFL?
Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders Could Go With Offensive Lineman At No. 6 Overall
NFL

Jaguars, Raiders Looking To Trade Up In First Round
New Orleans Saints

Saints Won't Pick Up Fifth-Year Option On Trevor Penning
Nick Chubb

Not Interested In Retirement
George Pickens

Drawing Trade Interest
Rashee Rice

Taking Part In Offseason Program

Concerns About Tetairoa McMillan's Lack Of Effort
Jahan Dotson

Eagles Decline Fifth-Year Option On Jahan Dotson
Brandin Podziemski

Upgraded To Available
Cam Davis

Looking For Better Fortunes At TPC Louisiana
Michael Porter Jr.

Listed As Questionable For Game 3
Minnesota Vikings

Vikings Waive NaJee Thompson, Trevor Reid
Adam Svensson

Making Third Apperence At Zurich Classic
Jake Fromm

Lions Release Jake Fromm
Seattle Seahawks

Cameron Young Let Go By Seattle
Davion Mitchell

Moves Into Starting Lineup Wednesday
Brandin Podziemski

Picks Up Questionable Tag
Al Horford

Starts Game 2
Michael Porter Jr.

Practices On Wednesday
Jayson Tatum

Out On Wednesday
Isaiah Stewart

May Miss Another Game Thursday
NYI

Cal Clutterbuck Announces Retirement
Pavel Zacha

Recovering From Small Procedure
Nikolaj Ehlers

To Miss At Least Two More Games
Miro Heiskanen

Still Out On Wednesday
John Klingberg

Enters Oilers Lineup For Game 2
Evander Kane

To Make Season Debut Wednesday Night
Gabriel Landeskog

Likely To Play In Game 3
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Posts Team-High 26 Points In Tuesday's Loss
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Notches 27 Points Despite Poor Shooting
Max Greyserman

Aiming For Similar Success At TPC Louisiana
Pascal Siakam

Scores Team-High 24 Points In Game 2 Win
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Posts Big Double-Double In Game 2 Loss
Lee Hodges

A High-Upside Player In New Orleans
PGA

Nico Echavarria Looks To Ride Off Of Elite Putting In New Orleans
Julius Randle

Leads Timberwolves In Scoring In Game 2
Gary Woodland

A Player Worth Watching In New Orleans
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Nets 31 Points In Lakers Win
Max McGreevy

Returns To The Zurich Classic Of New Orleans
Rasmus Hojgaard

In Search Of Consistency Ahead Of Zurich Classic
Sam Stevens

A Boom-Or-Bust Candidate In New Orleans
Nicolai Hojgaard

Looking To Turn Season Around At Zurich Classic
John Tavares

Collects Two Points In Overtime Win
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Looks To Sway A Hot Putter In Teams Favor At Zurich Classic
Frederik Andersen

Posts 40th Postseason Win
Akshay Bhatia

Looking To Bounce Back At TPC Louisiana
Carson Young

Looks To Turn Things Around At TPC Louisiana
Kirill Kaprizov

Leads Wild To Valuable Road Win
Matthew Tkachuk

Returns With Three-Point Performance
Erik Van Rooyen

Looking For Momentum In Louisiana
Anthony Cirelli

Suffers Undisclosed Injury Tuesday
Gabriel Vilardi

May Return To Jets Lineup Thursday
Andrew Novak

Making Start At TPC Louisiana After Near Miss At Harbour Town
Ben Griffin

Making Third Career Start At Zurich Classic
Taylor Moore

Competing With A New Teammate In New Orleans
Wyndham Clark

Making Return To New Orleans
Kurt Kitayama

Teeing It Up Again In New Orleans
Collin Morikawa

Back At Zurich Classic For Fifth Time
Thomas Detry

Making Third Appearance At New Orleans Team Event
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF