Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel, USA Today Sports

Looking ahead to contracts can be a good source of value in dynasty fantasy football formats. Below are 10 running backs with contracts that make them candidates to be cut in 2022 or 2023.

2022 Cut Candidates

Kareem Hunt

Kareem Hunt is owed 6.25 million dollars this season in the final year of his contract. Hunt did not miss games from injury in the first four seasons of his career, before missing nine games in 2021. Hunt’s contract gives him the eighth-highest cap hit at the running back position in 2022 which makes him a candidate to restructure or be cut. The team drafted Jerome Ford and has the contract rights to DErnest Johnson, two deeper bench stashes who could benefit if Hunt is cut.

Chris Carson

Chris Carson will count 6.1 million dollars against the cap in 2022. Carson is recovering from neck surgery, which could complicate his contract situation. Seattle drafted Kenneth Walker, brought back Rashaad Penny, and could save 3.1 million dollars by cutting Carson.

2023 Cut Candidates

Cordarrelle Patterson

Cordarrelle Patterson broke out at 30 years old and was rewarded with a two-year, 10.5-million-dollar deal by the Falcons. Patterson has a 5.5-million-dollar cap number in 2023, and Atlanta could save 1.75 million dollars by cutting him with a 3.75-million-dollar dead money figure. The situation makes Patterson likely to be with the Falcons in 2023 unless he completely falls off in 2022. Tyler Allgeier is a popular day three running back with a candidacy for starting job but may have a difficult time taking the job from Patterson if Patterson continues to play his 2021 running back alignment.

Gus Edwards

3.25 million dollars fully guaranteed this season, but save 4.4 million dollars in 2023, with only 1.25 in dead money and no guarantees. This combined with the Mike Davis signing should create concerns about the health and longevity of Edwards. Edwards is a valuable injury away running back if he is healthy, but his contract uncertainty and the signing of Davis is a source of unease.

Joe Mixon

Joe Mixon is due 12.9 million dollars in 2023 with no guarantees left in his contract. The team could save 7.4 million dollars, with 5.5 million dollars of dead cap. Mixon is signed through the 2024 season, and Cincinnati could save 10.4 million dollars of the 13.1-million-dollar cap hit in 2024. Mixon has been the RB9 in drafts over the past month, which is at the high-end range of running backs who have a similar lack of security.