5 free agent running backs not named Austin Ekeler the Chiefs could sign
By Ryan Heckman
2. Devin Singletary
Going into the 2023 season, the Houston Texans were hoping for bigger and better things from second-year running back Dameon Pierce. After an impressive rookie campaign, all things considered, Pierce looked like the workhorse in Houston. Yet, whether it was due to injury or simply not being the same player, Pierce wound up taking a back seat eventually.
Devin Singletary, another former Bills back, took over as the primary ball carrier in Houston last year. And, he never looked back once he took over the job. Singletary tallied a career-high 216 carries and also rushed for a career-best 898 yards in 2023. In the spirit of finding a guy who can excel in both phases of the offense, we'll highlight the fact that Singletary also caught 30 passes last season.
As games wore on, Singletary became the kind of back who only got going even more. He's a guy you can depend on if you're needing a spot starter in the wake of an injury to Pacheco, God forbid. He's someone who will get better the more you feed him. Like Pacheco, Singletary does run pretty hard. While he isn't as full of steam as Pacheco is, Singletary works for those extra yards and, when he sees daylight, he has the sneaky speed to take it the distance.