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1. Knowshon Moreno

The Broncos originally had a cheap club option for 2014, but somehow that option was voided, per ESPN Denver's Cecil Lammey. So Moreno hits the market, coming off a career year with the Broncos.

Once a punch line teetering on the edge of the roster, Moreno surged back from the brink to meet those first-round expectations. He surpassed 1,000 rushing yards and hit double-digit touchdowns for the first time in his career, bucking the injury-prone and bust labels all at once.

Sure, it probably helps that teams had to worry about Peyton Manning shredding their defense, but Moreno has been good in his own right, getting tough yards and being a trustworthy pass blocker for Manning.

2. Ben Tate

Free agency has been a long time coming for Tate, who has been stuck behind Arian Foster in Houston throughout his career. But a lost season in The Bayou City claimed Tate, who was largely underwhelming before being put on injured reserve with cracked ribs.

The 25-year-old still managed 771 yards and four touchdowns despite playing through that injury for a good portion of the season.

Tate is young, and he has flashed his potential in the past. That should net him plenty of interest around the league.

3. Rashad Jennings

Like Tate this year, Jennings had a marvelous opportunity to shine in a contract year when Maurice Jones-Drew went down in 2012. Worse than Tate did this season, Jennings stunk it up.

One year later, however, and Jennings has redeemed himself in a big way with the Raiders.

Jennings has rushed for 584 yards and all six of his touchdowns at a 4.7 yards-per-carry clip since McFadden went down with an injury against the Eagles in Week 9. Outside his awful 2012 campaign, Jennings has averaged 4.9 yards per carry in his four-year career.

4. Darren McFadden

When he entered the league, McFadden was following in Vikings running back Adrian Peterson's footsteps. Expectations soared for the former Arkansas running back. Then reality hit.

Or, more accurately, injuries. Every year.

McFadden is the modern-day poster child for "injury prone," never playing more than 13 games in a season and averaging just over 11 per season.

More importantly, however, is the fact McFadden no longer looks like the dynamic back he was a few years ago. The six-year veteran has averaged just 3.3 yards per carry over the past two seasons. He has had to deal with scheme changes and a patchwork offensive line, but so has Jennings, who severely outshined McFadden this year.

5. Maurice Jones-Drew

Despite injuries in recent years, Jones-Drew has been quite effective for the Jaguars. But he has been healthy this year, and is averaging a paltry 3.5 yards per carry.

Jones-Drew will be 29 this March, and he is heading into the twilight of his career. He is a hard-nosed running back with something left to give, but he will likely be best in a timeshare.

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported Jones-Drew and the Jaguars are mutually interested in the veteran re-signing in Jacksonville. If that doesn't happen, it will be interesting to see how much interest he gets on the open market.

6. Rashard Mendenhall

Given Arizona's success this season—particularly running the ball—you would think Mendenhall is in for a nice payday this offseason. But he is only averaging 3.1 yards per carry, and rookie Andre Ellington is severely outplaying him.

Mendenhall is a decent goal-line backup in the Shonn Greene and Michael Bush mold, but nothing more.

7. Donald Brown

It seems like a little-known fact that Brown is a former first-round pick, but the Colts might want to bury that information.

Recently, however, Brown has turned a corner. He has actually overtaken Trent Richardson, who the Colts traded a first-round pick to obtain earlier this year. He has over 700 total yards and seven touchdowns, both better than his counterpart.