Some early dominos are dropping in the 2023 free agency period. The biggest is Tee Higgins getting the franchise tag by the Bengals. Russell Wilson is expected to be out in Denver, which leaves him with a few destinations to revive his career. The Vikings have no fantasy-relevant running backs. Lastly, the Bears and Justin Fields drama is top-notch heading into the NFL Draft. Those decisions will have lasting effects for years to come.
The NFL increased the salary cap by $30 million to $255.400 million. General managers will be able to get extra creative with their accounting and financing departments, so expect some shocking announcements.
Let’s take a look at the top 50 free agents for fantasy football as I predict where players will sign and review their impact on the 2024 fantasy football season.
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Wide Receivers
- Player: Mike Evans
- New Team: Houston Texans
Fantasy Impact – Coming off a top-five fantasy finish last season with Baker Mayfield as his QB, Evans is seeking to play with an “elite QB.” The Texas-native will sign with Houston to play with an up and coming QB, who has the makings of a varsity athlete. The future Hall of Fame WR will top double-digit touchdowns in 2024 for a second consecutive season, which he accomplished in 2020 and 2o21 when he played with an “elite QB” in Tom Brady. Evans averaged 117 targets, 74 receptions, 1,1055 yards and 11 touchdowns during his three seasons with Brady. He could easily replicate these stats making him low end WR1 even with Nico Collins, who finished in the top 10 in 2023. The Texans would have the next great fantasy relevant WR duo in the footsteps of the Bengals, Dolphins, Eagles, and 49ers. (Editor Update: Mike Evans has resigned with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
- Player: Michael Pittman Jr.
- New Team: Indianapolis Colts
Fantasy Impact – His return is a no-brainer for the Colts as he provides a great weapon to an upcoming fantasy star in QB, Anthony Richardson. Pittman Jr has 22 receptions for 220 yards and one touchdown over four games with Richardson as his signal caller. His best game with Richardson was Week 1 where he caught eight balls for 97 yards with one TD on 11 targets, finishing as WR7. Pittman Jr has low-end WR1 appeal with a solid floor as a high-end WR2 as a likely candidate for the franchise tag.
- Player: Tyler Boyd
- New Team: Buffalo Bills
Fantasy Impact – Buffalo needs help at the WR position, as I forecast Gabe Davis leaving in free agency. Enter Boyd, who is great slot WR but has often been the third fiddle in Cincinnati. He will get a chance to play with another great QB with Josh Allen with the opportunity as the primary slot WR alongside Stefon Diggs. Boyd played well when Ja’Marr Chase and/or Tee Higgins missed games, which could led him to he high-end WR3 or WR2 in PPR leagues with a low draft cost should he sign with the Bills.
Quarterbacks
- Player: Jameis Winston
- New Team: Denver Broncos
Fantasy Impact – This is the reunion we all need but do not know it. Winston could easily take the starting QB job in Denver with Wilson’s imminent waiver announcement. Winston recently stated he wants a chance to be a starter and returning with Sean Payton would be great for him and the fantasy community. The last time he played meaningful games under Payton was in 2021 where he started seven games, compiling 1,170 passing yards with 14 touchdowns and only three interceptions. If Wilson was useful for fantasy in 2023, I can envision Winston being very useful with a discount on draft day. Eat those DUBS.
- Player: Russell Wilson
- New Team: New England Patriots
Fantasy Impact – The writing is on the wall for Wilson in Denver as is Mac Jones tenure in New England. Finishing as the QB13 in 2024, Wilson will get a fresh start for the Patriots with new OC Alex Van Pelt, who recently resurrected the play of Joe Flacco. Van Pelt averaged 22.6 points as the Browns OC since 2020, which makes Russell useful for fantasy purposes but is no more than a floor QB2 with a chance of a QB1 status if the Patriots make a splash in free agency.
- Player: Ryan Tannehill
- New Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Fantasy Impact – Pittsburgh needs help at the QB position and Ryan Tannehill could be great fill gap for a franchise struggling to find a franchise QB since Ben Roethlisberger retired in 2021. He doesn’t move the needle in the fantasy community, but as starter, he’s worth a flier in two QB leagues. I would lower expectations for the Steelers WR core if Tannehill is named the starter.
| Free Agent | Position | From | Prediction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kirk Cousins | QB | Vikings | Vikings |
| Ryan Tannehill | QB | Titans | Steelers |
| Baker Mayfield | QB | Buccaneers | Buccaneers |
| Gardner Minshew | QB | Colts | Colts |
| Joshua Dobbs | QB | Vikings | Titans |
| Jameis Winston | QB | Saints | Broncos |
| Russell Wilson | QB | Broncos | Patriots |
| Derrick Henry | RB | Titans | Ravens |
| Josh Jacobs | RB | Raiders | Raiders |
| Saquon Barkley | RB | Giants | Chargers |
| Tony Pollard | RB | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| Austin Ekeler | RB | Chargers | Eagles |
| Gus Edwards | RB | Ravens | Giants |
| Ezekiel Elliott | RB | Patriots | Patriots |
| Devin Singletary | RB | Texans | Texans |
| Alexander Mattison | RB | Vikings | Packers |
| D’Andre Swift | RB | Eagles | Vikings |
| Jerick McKinnon | RB | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| Zack Moss | RB | Colts | Titans |
| A.J. Dillon | RB | Packers | Cowboys |
| Antonio Gibson | RB | Commanders | Chiefs |
| Dalvin Cook | RB | Ravens | Vikings |
| Cam Akers | RB | Vikings | Buccaneers |
| Tee Higgins | WR | Bengals | Bengals |
| Michael Pittman Jr. | WR | Colts | Colts |
| Mike Evans | WR | Buccaneers | Texans |
| Odell Beckham Jr. | WR | Ravens | Ravens |
| Calvin Ridley | WR | Jaguars | Jaguars |
| Tyler Boyd | WR | Bengals | Bills |
| Gabriel Davis | WR | Bills | Giants |
| Michael Thomas | WR | Saints | Broncos |
| Noah Brown | WR | Texans | Bengals |
| K.J. Osborn | WR | Vikings | Cowboys |
| Marquise Brown | WR | Cardinals | Commanders |
| D.J. Chark | WR | Panthers | Lions |
| Josh Reynolds | WR | Lions | Bengals |
| Rashid Shaheed | WR | Saints | Saints |
| Greg Dortch | WR | Cardinals | Cardinals |
| Curtis Samuel | WR | Commanders | Panthers |
| Kendrick Bourne | WR | Patriots | Patriots |
| Parris Campbell | WR | Giants | Giants |
| Mecole Hardman | WR | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| Darnell Mooney | WR | Bears | Chiefs |
| Randall Cobb | WR | Jets | Jets |
| Hunter Henry | TE | Patriots | Broncos |
| Dalton Schultz | TE | Texans | Texans |
| Gerald Everett | TE | Chargers | Bengals |
| Mike Gesicki | TE | Patriots | Dolphins |
| Noah Fant | TE | Seahawks | Commanders |
| Austin Hooper | TE | Raiders | Raiders |
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Cheers!
