What a day! It was the first day of NFL Free Agency and it did not disappoint. The news was firing early and often with impacts to Dynasty rosters everywhere. The running back landscape changed tremendously. Below is a recap of all the day’s events up until 5:00 pm EST and their impacts on Dynasty. Enjoy!
*Click Image Above for Full Tweet
Source: Player Profiler
Pittman has steadily improved each season in fantasy, peaking at the WR 21 last year in fantasy PPG. He is now tied to Anthony Richardson for the foreseeable future. Richardson only played 3 full games this season but in those games, Michael Pittman averaged 18 fantasy points which was good for the WR 10 overall. Pittman is still only 26 years old. Per Dynasty Data Lab, his startup ADP is WR 14. Chris Olave, Nico Collins, Brandon Aiyuk, D.J. Moore, and Jaylen Waddle are the players right in front of him. You can argue for him as high as WR 9 for Dynasty. Pittman remains a buy at his current market value.
*Click Image Above for Full Tweet
Source: Player Profiler
Unhappy that he failed to get a long-term extension, Tee Higgins requests a trade out of Cincinnati. Higgins wants WR1 money on a team that has one of the league’s best alpha wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase. Apparently, he will need to look elsewhere. Higgins is just 25 years old and has regressed over the past few years. He peaked at 15.7 fantasy points per game in 2021 but bottomed out at a mere 11.5 fantasy points per game this past season. This is not the type of performance you would expect from someone looking for a new contract. Per Dynasty Data Lab, Higgins is the WR 23 in startup ADP. This puts him right after D.K. Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Jordan Addison. This is an appropriate spot and for win now teams you may want to consider a player like Mike Evans several spots behind him.
*Click Image Above for Full Tweet
Source: Player Profiler
This is a surprising move in my opinion. Khalil Herbert continuously ranks in the top echelon of running backs for PFF grade. Herbert ranked 21st overall for PFF while Swift was 55. But alas Herbert’s Dynasty value takes a huge hit here along with Roschon Johnson. The Bears are expected to add Caleb Williams and make this offense far more prolific. Swift with this kind of job security will be a primary beneficiary of that. Swift stayed healthy all last year which was unusual for him. But his performance behind that incredible Eagles offensive line was underwhelming. Swift is 25 years old. Per Dynasty Data Lab, D’Andre Swift has a Dynasty ADP startup value of RB 17. While I am not as high on Swift as the Bears apparently are, he nonetheless has job security and likely attachment to Caleb Williams. His RB17 value is sure to increase based on this news and he should be considered as high as the top 10.
*Click Image Above for Full Tweet
Source: Player Profiler
This backfield looks messy and I don’t want part of it for Dynasty. Dynasty owners were hopeful Spears would take the next step but this crushed his value. Per Dynasty Data Lab, Spears was the RB 14. He now will drop to below 20 with Pollard joining the Titans. I see this as a running back by committee situation. Pollard is 26 years old. Per Dynasty Data Lab, he has a startup value of RB 24. That is a fair value for someone who just got a new contract but in a time-share situation, I am going to pass on making any offers to him.
*Click Image Above for Full Tweet
Source: Player Profiler
This is just to update you. Gabriel Davis should no longer be starting on any contending Dynasty teams. The player you want now is Khalil Shakir. Depending on who else the Bills add Shakir could be a big beneficiary of more playing time. He finished a solid 33rd in yards per route run last year and was particularly strong down the stretch and in the playoffs. Shakir is only 24 years old. Per Dynasty Data Lab, Shakir is the WR56 in Dynasty Startup ADP. He is a strong buy at that value even if they do add another player.
*Click Image Above for Full Tweet
Source: Player Profiler
The release of Aaron Jones is good for Josh Jacobs‘ Dynasty value. He gets the security of a new deal and goes to one of the best young offenses in the NFL. He should get plenty of touchdown opportunities. I am buying Jacobs over Tyjae Spears, Isiah Pacheco and Rachaad White each of whom are currently ahead of him in the Dynasty Data Lab Dynasty startup ADP.
*Click Image Above for Full Tweet
Source: Player Profiler
This is a big one. Fellow DFF analyst Jason Woodworth is doing a deep-dive into this signing and the impacts for Dynasty. Check out his article as this summary will only cover the surface. A four-year deal for the 35-year-old Cousins is the big news here. Reading between the lines though they will have an out after two years. I expect Cousins production to take a small hit. The Vikings are one of the top teams year in and year out in pass volume. This past year they were fourth in the NFL in pass attempts. The weapons are also a tad worse in Atlanta as he goes from Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson to Drake London and Kyle Pitts. London and Pitts are the biggest winners of this signing. I prefer London to Waddle, Collins and Olave who are each ahead of him in Dynasty startup ADP right now. London has eclipsed 23% target share in each of his first two seasons but has suffered from woeful QB play. The Falcons had the 8th lowest pass attempts in the NFL last year.
*Click Image Above for Full Tweet
Source: Player Profiler
Saquon was the prized jewel of this free agent RB class and he got paid like it with a 3-year, $37.5 million contract. The landing spot is ok. It’s better than the Giants. He should get plenty of rushing yards but the concern is does Hurts vulture his touchdown opportunities. Hurts also doesn’t checkdown to his running backs as much as most quarterbacks. Barkley is 27 years old. This contract takes him to age 30 with the potential of a release at age 29. I think RB 9 is an appropriate price for him right now in Dynasty. This would vault him up 3 spots from his current startup ADP of RB 12 and ahead of Rachaad White, James Cook and Kenneth Walker.
*Click Image Above for Full Tweet
Source: Player Profiler
Gus Edwards may be the biggest value mover of anyone this free agency. As of right now, the Chargers backfield is his and the prospects in the NFL draft are a weak class. He certainly isn’t a sexy name but we know Harbaugh and Roman love to run the ball. Edwards is 28 soon to be 29. I will definitely be sending out offers. He was going for a fourth round pick before this signing. He is certainly worth a third-rounder now. His efficiency is still solid.
*Click Image Above for Full Tweet
Source: Player Profiler
Singletary was very effective last year. He was the RB 13 in fantasy the second half of the season. The landing spot isn’t fantastic but he has the inside path to being the starter. Singletary is 26 years old. Per Dynasty Data Lab, he is the RB 40 in ADP. He gets a slight bump here but I prefer targeting someone cheaper in a better situation like Edwards.
*Click Image Above for Full Tweet
Source: Player Profiler
Minshew signed for 2 years, $25 million. He will compete for the starting job here. The Raiders may also take a QB in the NFL draft but they realize they aren’t in a position to get one of the premium picks. Minshew isn’t very interesting for fantasy. His fantasy points per game last year weren’t all that different vs. what you could get from a wide receiver in that SF spot. But if you are desperate for a potential starter as many teams are he should certainly be cheap. A third-rounder should do it but I wouldn’t go any higher.
I hope you enjoyed reading my article. My goal is to provide actionable advice you can utilize to improve your dynasty team. You can follow me on Twitter @force_fantasy. #DFFArmy #FantasyFootball #AlwaysBeBuilding #NFL #NFLDraft #NFLTransactions #NFLTrades #AlwaysBeScouting
Click here for a 12-month DFF Membership. This gets you access to our Discord for private fantasy advice with our team of analysts. It also gets you access to our annual Dynasty Rookie Draft Guide.
