As most of you know, fantasy football is a year-round thing here at Fantasy Football Xtreme. It’s never too early to start digging into next year, so below I have listed the top Unrestricted & Restricted Free Agent Running Backs for the 2008 NFL season. UFA: Unrestricted Free Agent | RFA: Restricted Free Agent

1. Michael Turner - Chargers (UFA)

None of the runners below even come close to Michael Turner in terms of future value in the NFL. Alright, maybe Marion Barber comes somewhat close, but Turner is easily the the best free agent rusher available in 2008 and he is likely to land a starting gig early in the off-season. If Turner finishes out the year healthy, as he did slightly injure his shoulder in Week 15, you might just see him inside our top 10-15 overall heading into 2008. Crazy? Well, that’s what people called us all last off-season when we had Tony Romo in our top 5-6 all off-season long. No, not in August… all off-season!

2. Marion Barber - Cowboys (RFA)

The Cowboys won’t let Barber slip away, as he is a restricted free agent. Barber is insanely talented and if he ends up getting all of the carries in Dallas next season, he might quite possibly be second-round material. Julius Jones will become an UFA this off-season, so there is a good chance Barber gets his wish, which is getting the keys to the starting running back job in Dallas.

3. Jamal Lewis - Browns (UFA)

Jamal Lewis, who will be 29 in August, is playing fantastic through Week 15 and he should continue to play solid football all the way through 2007. Even though Lewis is having much success in Cleveland this season, I wouldn’t be shocked if the runner looks to remain in Cleveland next year. He fits in, the team is on the rise and at his age, even though he is playing extremely well, I find it hard to believe that any team out there will offer Jamal a big-time contract (especially given this year’s free agent pool, especially once you mix in all the 2008 rookies). My gut tells me that Jamal will sign with Cleveland this off-season and stay with the up-and-coming Browns.

Other 2008 NFL Free Agent Running Backs

• Chris Brown (UFA) - TEN Might have a tough time landing a for sure starting gig, but might end up in a RBBC situation that could eventually lead to a starting gig somewhere.
• Julius Jones (UFA) - DAL While it is doubtful that Jones lands a starting gig anywhere, the soon-to-be 27-year-old could end up in a sharing-type situation that could eventually lead to a starting job with that team. He still has the talent.
• T.J. Duckett (UFA) - DET Might have a tough time even landing a for sure #1 back-up role with a team in 2008; He has some talent, but job openings are limited.
• Justin Fargas (UFA) - OAK Yes, he looked very solid before getting hurt last week, but the runner turns 28 in January (2008), so it’s hard to imagine him landing a starting gig; a competing-type situation could be on the horizon for Fargas, or a return to Oakland.
• Maurice Hicks (UFA) - SF While the rusher is more talented than most people know, he is turning 30 before the 2008 season even begins. We’d be shocked if Hicks was brought in to even compete as a starter for an NFL team in 2008.
• Mewelde Moore (UFA) - MIN We liked him early in his career, but Moore won’t likely find himself even competing to start in 2008.
• Vernand Morency (RFA) - GB We could see Green Bay bringing this guy back. He probably won’t get too many other offers if he decides to test the waters.
• Musa Smith (UFA) - BAL This kid has skills and will only be 26 entering the 2008 fantasy season - Starting gigs are limited, especially once the rookies get mixed in. Musa could get lucky if some team’s see the hidden talent.
• Derrick Ward (UFA) - NYG We love Ward, but his late season-ending injury (fractured fibula) will likely force him to stay in New York, if they decide to offer him a contract. We think they will and he may see the upside with the oft-injured Jacobs as the only rusher in his way.