2023 CFL Free Agent Rankings: Running Backs & Fullbacks

Photo: Paul Yates/BC Lions

There are still well over 100 pending CFL Free Agents who will hit the open market Tuesday, February 14th 3DownNation has taken the liberty of ranking each upcoming free agent by position to illustrate who the most in-demand players will be.

The CFL has always been a passing league, but a solid running game is important, especially in the postseason. Below we’ve listed the league’s outstanding free agent running backs and fullbacks. Check back tomorrow to see our ranking of recipients.

The league negotiation window is currently open. Pending free agents can speak to teams across the league during this time, although the window closes on Sunday, February 12 before free agency officially begins on Tuesday, February 14

Please note that “N” denotes national players (ie Canadians) and “A” denotes American players.

run back

1. James Butler, BC Lions (A)

The 5’7, 210-pound ball carrier had a breakthrough year in 2022, rushing for 1,060 yards and seven touchdowns and making 53 receptions for 384 yards and four touchdowns over 17 starts. The budding 28-year-old wasted no time in putting on his best game of the season last year. He had 141 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns in a Week 1 win over Edmonton.

2. Walter Fletcher, Montreal Alouettes (A)

The 26-year-old was effective on the ground and in the air last season, rushing 85 times for 486 yards and a touchdown and catching 29 passes for 353 yards and a touchdown in 14 games. William Stanback is considered a star in La Belle Province, but Fletcher was the more prolific rusher in 2022, averaging 5.7 yards per carry versus Stanback’s 4.5.

3. AJ Ouellette, Toronto Argonauts (A)

The Ohio product started in nine games last year after Andrew Harris suffered a chest injury and became a household name for his solid game and flashy hairstyle. He had 98 carries for 516 yards and two touchdowns and 38 receptions for 350 yards and one touchdown in 13 regular-season games and remained a factor in the postseason, scoring three touchdowns en route to a Gray Cup title.

4. Wes Hills, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (A)

The CFL ball carrier sophomore has dressed for just seven career games, but he made the most of his opportunities when they came, rushing for 384 yards and a touchdown last season and catching 11 catches for 105 yards. The Wildwood, NJ native has the tallest height of any running back on this list, measuring 6ft 1 and 218lbs.

Photo: Michael Scraper/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

5. Andrew Harris, Toronto Argonauts (N)

The 12-year veteran is a contender for induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame but has struggled with injuries since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and has only picked up for 15 regular-season games over the past two seasons. Despite showing flashes of his old brilliance at times, the soon-to-be 36-year-old averaged a career-low 4.3 yards per carry in 2022.

6. Shaq Cooper, rough rider from Saskatchewan (A)

The 29-year-old signed for Saskatchewan late last season after Jamal Morrow and Frankie Hickson were placed on the six-game injury list. He only had five carries but was intermittently productive during his four-year CFL career, rushing for 645 yards and three touchdowns and catching 35 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown in 17 games.

7. William Powell, Ottawa Redblacks (A)

The two-time East Division All-Star’s return to the nation’s capital has been marred by injuries in the past as he played just seven games, rushing for 306 yards and a touchdown and catching nine passes for 55 yards. Powell turns 35 next month and one has to wonder if he’s got gas left in the tank at this point in his career or not.

defender

Photo: Bob Butrym/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

1. James Tuck, Roughrider from Saskatchewan (N)

The seven-year veteran has dressed for 87 career games with five different CFL teams, recording seven catches for 83 yards, a carry for five yards and 53 special teams tackles. The six-foot, 230-pound native of Aurora, Ont. will be 33 years old in June.

2.Charlie Power, Calgary Stampeders (N)

The 31-year-old has dressed 100 games as a member of the Stampeders since being selected by the University of Saskatchewan in the third round of the 2013 CFL Draft. He has had seven receptions for 37 yards, a carry for three yards, 80 special teams tackles and three forced fumbles over the course of his career.

3. Mario Villamizar, BC Lions (N)

The former sixth-round pick has dressed for 40 career games since entering the league in 2019, recording two receptions for 13 yards and four special teams tackles. The native of St. Catharines, Ont. missed most of the 2021 CFL season due to a torn Achilles tendon but otherwise remained healthy throughout his career.

Source: 3downnation.com