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The second installment of the 2018 NFL free agency preview of available players, cut candidates, and landing spots, here is a look at the running back position around the NFL landscape:

2018 FREE AGENT running backs

Top shelf

• LeVeon Bell
• Carlos Hyde
• Isaiah Crowell

Starter Upside

• Jamaal Charles
• Jeremy Hill
• Alex Collins

Committee Options or Backups with Upside

• Rex Burkhead
• Orleans Darkwa
• Peyton Barber
• Alfred Morris
• Terrance West
• Damien Williams
• Dion Lewis
• Jerick McKinnon

 Burkhead is the most interesting name of this group as a strong two-way back optimizing his greatest opportunity to-date in his career with the Patriots in 2017. Darkwa and Barber are more downhill power options who likely land somewhere as the No.2/3 and need to work their way up with an injury much like their sporadic opportunity thus far. Morris and West are in the Jeremy Hill type mold of maybe there is something still present to contribute but the upside is waning for dynasty owners. Damien Williams and Dion Lewis are intriguing but be skeptical of Lewis thriving outside of New England, who has quizzically used the undersized back consistently between the tackles more than as a pass-catcher. 

Pass-centric options

• Shane Vereen
• Charles Sims

Reclamation projects or stopgaps

• LeGarrette Blount
• Frank Gore
• Thomas Rawls
• Eddie Lacy
• Darren McFadden

Even farther down the rabbit hole of reclamation projects or stopgaps is this quintet. Gore continues to produce but is clearly in the final season or two of relevancy. Lacy and Rawls appear nearly out of chances and do not be surprised if neither attracts much free agency interest at least until late in the offseason (if at all). McFadden retired after not getting a sniff with Dallas cutting him (and still being inactive post-Ezekiel Elliott suspension). He is a long shot to hit a roster in 2018, but not impossible. Blount is enjoying a run of success (on his third NFL team nonetheless) in 2017 as the Eagles threaten defenses on all levels as an offense. Blount is strictly a two-down thumper and would be ideal in a bigger committee (or closer role) paired, at a minimum, with a receiving specialist.

Cut Candidates

• T.J. Yeldon
• Chris Ivory
• Matt Forte
• Marshawn Lynch
• DeMarco Murray
• Latavius Murray
• Doug Martin
• Jonathan Stewart
• C.J. Anderson

 These backs are under contract for 2018 with their existing teams, but candidates to be cut. Yeldon would be the best bet to remain with Jacksonville of them as his contract is affordable and he has risen from healthy scratch to the clear No.2 for Jacksonville as spelling Leonard Fournette on passing downs. Latavius Murray as a low dead money number for 2018 if Minnesota wants to save some money with Dalvin Cook slated as the starter, returning from injury.

Of Lynch, Forte, and DeMarco Murray, all have had their moments in 2017 but Lynch surprisingly looks to have the most left in the tank for another season of prominence. Murray should land another 1A/B opportunity in 2018 if departing Tennessee. Doug Martin has no dead cap money remaining on his deal with Tampa Bay and this offseason is a golden opportunity to move on from the team's perspective.

Jonathan Stewart has one year remaining on his current deal and averaging a career-low 3.2 yards-per-rush and having a non-existent receiving role with Christian McCaffrey highly involved, Carolina can save plenty of cap space by cutting the soon-to-be 31-year-old back. C.J. Anderson's contract has exhausted its dead money and 2018 is the perfect time to move on for Denver as Devontae Booker is seeing more time to close the season and Anderson has been a pedestrian back for the past two seasons.

2018 running back LANDING SPOTS

The NFL Draft class projects as a strong one, making some of the free agent landing spots tenuous dynasty bets with added competition yet to come via the draft. These landing spots are based on projected free agents, offensive strength, and potential cut candidates.

Premium Landing

• 49ers
• Raiders
• Ravens

 These assume Carlos Hyde and Marshawn Lynch are off the rosters. All three would be optimal opportunities for a new back (veteran or rookie) to rise to the 1A role in short order. The 49ers have the 2017 Rams potential in 2018 for a rising tide offense with a quarterback upgrade (likely Jimmy Garoppolo as the Week 1 starter), a top-5 drafted rookie, plus the most cap space in the NFL to address holes via free agency.

1A Availability

• Browns
• Dolphins
• Colts
• Seahawks
• Giants
• Jets

The Dolphins, Giants, Jets, and Seahawks appear wide open. Unless Isaiah Crowell returns to Cleveland, the 1A is open there. Marlon Mack has been inconsistent as a rookie to avoid negative plays and take the available yards (a common flaw of his college tape) and looks more like a committee option than a future long-term starter.

Intriguing Committee or Situational Upside

• Patriots
• Broncos

Primary Backup with Upside

• Jaguars
• Buccaneers
• Vikings
• Eagles

The Buccaneers could be a tier or two higher pending Doug Martin's status on the depth chart. At a minimum, the No.2 job is wide open for Tampa Bay in 2018. The No.2 spot behind Leonard Fournette can be fruitful with his hard-charging style and history of missed games. Beyond Dalvin Cook could be addressed in Minnesota with Latavius Murray under contract and Jerick McKinnon a free agent. Jay Ajayi projects as a key piece of the Eagles backfield next year, but another back could fill the LeGarrette Blount spot with Corey Clement looking like a back to stick from the undrafted ranks.

Follow @ChadParsonsNFL