NFL Free Agency 2024: Early Fantasy Winners and Losers
The free agency frenzy in the NFL has been a wild ride, as several big-name players will be wearing new uniforms in 2024. So, who have been the biggest winners and losers among players who changed addresses? Here's a look at what’s been a mostly friendly free agent period, at least as it pertains to the world of fantasy football.
NFL Free Agency Fantasy Football Winners
Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Last season, Barkley finished ninth in fantasy points among running backs on a points-per-game basis. That’s pretty good considering his quarterbacks and offensive line were less than stellar. Now with the Eagles, running behind an elite line and in an offense that will score a ton of points, Barkley’s stock is rising in fantasy football drafts.
Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers
Jacobs signing with the Packers was a surprise, but a very welcomed one both in real and fantasy football. With the release of Aaron Jones, Jacobs will be the unquestioned lead back in one of the league’s brightest young offenses. So, despite coming off of a disappointing 2023 campaign, Jacobs will be ranked as an RB1 in fantasy land.
Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens
The 1972 Miami Dolphins. The Hysteria album by Def Leppard. Henry signing with the Ravens. “What are things that are perfect, Alex?” That’s right, this is a bananas great fit for Henry. Even at age 29 and with a lot of wear and tear, he still ranked eighth in points among backs last season. Now 30, he’ll share a backfield with Lamar Jackson in an offense that allowed Gus Edwards to rush for 13 touchdowns last season. The King lives!
Aaron Jones, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Jones looked like a world-beater in his final five games of last season (including the playoffs), rushing for 100-plus yards in every contest. That’s a positive, as is his move to Minnesota, where he’ll be the lead back for coach Kevin O’Connell. While his age and durability are concerns, Jones should see plenty of volume in this offense.
Zack Moss, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Moss looked great at the start of last season, scoring 17-plus points in four of his first five games including three with more than 20. That proved he can be an impact maker in a lead role. That’s what he’ll see with the Bengals after the release of Joe Mixon. I think second-year back Chase Brown will get his chances, too, but Moss could be an RB2 in 2024.
Gus Edwards, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
I’m guessing the Chargers will add another back in the NFL draft, but for now at least, Edwards is a winner. New offensive coordinator Greg Roman loves to run the football, and he digs bruising backs. Edwards, who played under Roman in Baltimore, knows the system and should make some noise next season, especially in the red zone.
Mike Gesicki, TE, Cincinnati Bengals
Gesicki hasn’t been on the fantasy radar lately, but moving to the Bengals could change that narrative. The Bengals wide receiver group has questions, as Tee Higgins wants to be traded and Tyler Boyd is a free agent. As a result, there’s a chance that Gesicki, who had 73 catches and 780 yards back in 2021, could see his value boosted.
Sam Darnold, QB, Minnesota Vikings
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Darnold has been a bust during his six years in the NFL, but landing in Minnesota could be a godsend. If he’s able to earn the starting job, he’ll be playing in a high-octane pass attack with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson at his disposal. The Vikes could (and likely will) draft a quarterback, but for now, Darnold is a winner.
NFL Free Agency Fantasy Football Losers
Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans
Pollard is coming off a disappointing 2023 campaign that saw him finish as the RB14 in fantasy land. He did look better down the stretch, but I’m wondering how consistent he will be in Tennessee. The Titans have added Calvin Ridley to what is suddenly a very talented offense, and Pollard will have to contend with playmaking second-year running back Tyjae Spears. I’d rank him as a mid-RB2 at best, and an inconsistent one at that.
Calvin Ridley, WR, Tennessee Titans
Ridley is a loser for a few reasons. First, the Titans have a lot of offensive weapons with the addition of Pollard and incumbents like Spears and DeAndre Hopkins already in the mix. Also, he will need Will Levis to really make strides at quarterback to be better than the WR18 finish he had last season. Ridley remains a No. 2 fantasy wideout, but I do have my concerns about his ceiling and his level of consistent production.
Antonio Gibson, RB, New England Patriots
Gibson would be more of a push, but he’s joining a Patriots offense that already has a good pass-catching runner in Rhamondre Stevenson. Remember, Stevenson caught 69 passes back in 2022. That doesn’t mean Gibson won’t see his chance as a receiver, but he has a pretty low ceiling. He’ll be a decent late-round handcuff in most drafts, but I don’t expect much standalone value for Gibson unless Stevenson misses time.
Jonnu Smith, TE, Miami Dolphins
Smith will be the best tight end in Miami, but it won’t mean much in the fantasy world. That’s because the offense doesn’t feature the position. In fact, Tua Tagovailoa targeted the position on just 9.3% of his pass attempts last season. That was the lowest percentage among quarterbacks with at least 200 passes, and it’s not ideal for Smith.
Gerald Everett, TE, Chicago Bears
Everett was a startable asset for fantasy managers at times last season, finishing as the TE19 on a points-per-game basis. That’s likely to change, however, as he joins a Bears offense that already has a featured tight end in Cole Kmet. That’s going to put a huge dent into Everett’s targets and catches, and in turn, his fantasy draft value.
Joe Flacco, QB, Indianapolis Colts
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Flacco was one of the best quarterbacks in fantasy football once he was signed off his couch and took over as the starter in Cleveland. In fact, he averaged 19 points in his six starts with the team. Despite that surprising success in the stat sheets, signing with the Colts gives Flacco no chance to start with Anthony Richardson ahead of him.
NFL Free Agency Fantasy Football Pushes
D’Andre Swift, RB, Chicago Bears
Swift was a good but not great option in fantasy leagues last season, finishing as the RB20 while posting pretty inconsistent numbers. Now in Chicago, I see Swift playing a similar role to the one he left in Philadelphia, only with more talent around him. The Bears still have Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson in their backfield, so Swift won’t be in a position to exceed last season’s totals. He’ll remain a No. 2 runner.
Austin Ekeler, RB, Washington Commanders
Ekeler is coming off a disappointing campaign that saw him finish just 26th in fantasy points among running backs. That has lowered his statistical expectations heading into next season. Landing with Commanders, where he’ll be the pass-catching option in the backfield, should keep Ekeler in the RB2/RB3 conversation in PPR formats.
Kirk Cousins, QB, Atlanta Falcons
I have Cousins listed as a loser, but it’s just a small downgrade. While the Falcons have some good weapons in the pass attack in Drake London and (maybe) Kyle Pitts, he left behind Jefferson, Addison and Hockenson and a pass-happy Vikings attack. So, for as much upside as Atlanta’s offense might have next season, Cousins was in a great spot from a fantasy perspective. I can see his numbers dropping slightly as a result.
Gabe Davis, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Davis signed a three-year deal with the Jaguars and will move into a starting role with Ridley moving on to Tennessee. That seems like it would make Davis a winner, and it might, but can we trust a wideout who couldn’t post consistently good numbers with Josh Allen and the Bills? I’m not so sure. That’s why he’ll be a push for me.
Devin Singletary, RB, New York Giants
Singletary landed in a good spot, at least for now, as he projects to be the top runner in an offense he knows from his time in Buffalo with head coach Brian Daboll. But when you consider the Giants depth chart, it seems inevitable that they’ll add another back in free agency or the NFL draft. So, while Singletary holds some flex value as it stands, I can easily see a scenario where he ends up in a committee with another back.
Russell Wilson, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Wilson, who finished as the QB14 last season, should be able to produce enough to be a No. 2 fantasy quarterback in Pittsburgh. Remember, new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was able to resurrect another veteran quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, while he was in Tennessee. The Steelers do need to add another wideout after trading away Diontae Johnson, but I still think Wilson will ultimately remain a QB2 next season.
