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Matt Donnelly's top six dynasty fantasy football winners on new teams in 2025. His top offseason risers for dynasty fantasy football leagues.
Many teams, players, and fantasy football managers look to the NFL offseason as an opportunity to right the wrongs of the previous season. For fantasy managers, this time is often spent focusing on the NFL Draft. However, we mustn't lose sight of veterans who have found new homes.
The NFL is a business, and just because an asset is aging doesn't mean it isn't valuable. There is the old saying, "What's one man's trash is another man's treasure."
Here are the top players for dynasty fantasy football who either signed with new teams in free agency or found new homes via trade in the offseason. But first, for a deeper dive into dynasty strategy, rankings, and trade tactics, you can check out our complete Dynasty Fantasy Football Guide.
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Davante Adams - WR, Los Angeles Rams
Last season, the New York Jets put the “fun” in dysfunctional. There is no other way to describe what was witnessed. Yet, human nature prevented many from shielding their eyes from watching the inevitable trainwreck in real time. One positive in a rather bleak situation was the performance of Davante Adams, who finished with 1,000 yards receiving for the fifth consecutive season while splitting his time with the Raiders and Jets.
In just 11 contests with the Jets, Adams posted 854 receiving yards, hauling in 67 of the 114 targets, if you want to call them that, that went in his direction. The 32-year-old Adams still has plenty in the tank, posting a 79.2 percent success rate versus press coverage.
Adams comes to Los Angeles looking to replace Cooper Kupp. While Kupp and Adams are similar in age, Adams has fewer injury concerns heading into the 2025 season. Even with the injuries, Kupp saw a 31.7 percent first-read target share last season, which ranked him 12th, eight spots behind Puka Nacua. Meanwhile, Adams was fifth with a first-read share of 34.7 percent and averaged 17.2 fantasy points per game.
Are there enough targets to go around for Puka Nacua to produce alongside Davante Adams?
Yes. Very clearly. Last year:
Nacua - 18.8 FPG on a 34.8% first-read target % (4th)
Adams - 17.2 FPG on a 34.7% first-read target % (5th)
Cooper Kupp - 31.7% first-read target % (12th) pic.twitter.com/2MFoPItkh3
— Fantasy Points Data (@FantasyPtsData) March 10, 2025
For fantasy managers, Adams still offers two or three more quality seasons, as Matthew Stafford finished ninth in pace of play, whereas Aaron Rodgers and the Jets ranked 25th. Sure, Nacua will be a factor, but Garrett Wilson was, too. Looking at Kupp's 8.3 targets per game with Nacua, there’s plenty of meat left on the bone for Adams to be productive.
Justin Fields, QB, New York Jets
Speaking of the Jets, how much money would you have paid to be a fly on the wall when the Jets had Rodgers fly out to their New York offices to tell the future Hall of Famer that his services were no longer required? Bottom line, New York realized that it was in a toxic relationship and got out.
Looking at 2025 and beyond, New York hopes it has found its franchise quarterback in Justin Fields, and Fields hopes to have his forever home after stops in Chicago and Pittsburgh. All early accounts are that Fields looks like a different quarterback, with much-improved footwork and mechanics throughout his offseason workouts.
There was a time when Fields posted back-to-back 40-plus fantasy weeks. One thing that will never be questioned is Fields' ability to pick up big chunks of yardage with his legs. In 2022, Fields' 1,143 rushing yards were the second most all-time by a quarterback in a single season. If Fields has improved as a passer, he becomes a valid dual-threat option under center.
They say if you love something, let it go. If it comes back to you, that’s true love. I’m not sure it’s the same thing, but after five years apart, Fields and Wilson are reunited, and what they do best as individuals complements each other beautifully.
Wilson’s 0.152 separation score against man coverage was the 12th highest among receivers. Meanwhile, Fields' 22.5 percent hit rate on deep throws was the highest mark at the quarterback position.
Stefon Diggs - WR, New England Patriots
New England has quietly had a very solid offseason. Drake Maye could very well be the biggest winner in fantasy when all is said and done.
During free agency, the Patriots added Garrett Bradbury and Morgan Moses, then drafted Will Campbell fourth overall to protect their investment in the future. They also added one of the most dependable targets available on the market, Stefon Diggs. Say what you will about him, but the guy produces wherever he is.
In a receiver's room that features DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, Mack Hollins, Kendrick Bourne, and Kayshon Boutte, Diggs automatically ascends to the alpha dog status among Patriots pass-catchers. Diggs has seen 90 or more targets in eight of the last nine seasons, falling short last year as he was limited to just eight contests due to injury.
Over that eight-game sample, Diggs would average 5.9 receptions, 8.0 targets, and 62 receiving yards per game playing alongside Nico Collins. Diggs would also record a 71 percent or greater success rate against man, zone, and press coverages.
Stefon Diggs 2024 #ReceptionPerception profile is up on the site!
Highlights:
- 71.6% success rate vs man coverage
- 78.8% success rate vs zone
- 71.4% success rate vs press
- Excellent on out-breakersObviously these results are much lower than Diggs’ peak elite seasons but… pic.twitter.com/6rJjk5u94S
— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) March 20, 2025
With no Collins in New England, it is reasonable to suggest that a healthy Diggs could return to his 2023 form, where he caught 107 of the 160 targets thrown in his direction, producing over 1,100 yards feasting on volume, especially on intermediate routes.
DK Metcalf - WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh may not have its quarterback of the future. Still, DK Metcalf is a proven elite option at the wide receiver position and will find success whether it’s Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, or even Will Howard getting him the rock. However, Howard is an interesting option and a player worth stashing, just in case.
Pittsburgh was in the market for a wide receiver and sent the 52nd pick to the Seahawks to acquire Metcalf’s services. Looking back on the draft, the best wide receiver options who would have presented themselves were Tre Harris and Jack Bech, who are ranked considerably lower than Metcalf in dynasty rankings.
Expectations are that Metcalf will be used as the X receiver in Arthur Smith’s offense. That should keep fantasy managers happy, considering that Metcalf excels at breaking routes such as slants, digs, and posts. In 2019 and 2020, A.J. Brown ran a slant, dig, or post 45 percent of the time under Smith. In 2022, Drake London would run the same routes at a 49.5 percent clip.
Adding to Metcalf's allure and fantasy outlook is that George Pickens, who had previously been rumoured to be on the trade block, found himself a new home, heading to Dallas, in exchange for a third-round draft pick. Pittsburgh will likely dip into the free agent market to partially fill the void left behind by Pickens and his 103 vacated targets from a season ago.
Evan Engram- TE, Denver Broncos
Sean Payton is always looking to create mismatches, and he’s hoping the signing of Evan Engram lands him his “Joker.” Broncos tight ends were not good last season, as Adam Trautman, Lucas Krull, Greg Dulcich, and Nate Adkins combined for 51 receptions and 483 receiving yards. Engram produced 365 receiving yards on 47 receptions and 10.1 fantasy points per game in just nine games last season.
Despite an injury-shortened 2024, the 2023 season was special for Engram, whose 116 receptions tied Jimmy Smith for the Jaguars’ all-time single-season mark and fell just three receptions short of Zach Ertz’s mark of 119.
As it stands, Engram slides into the No. 2 role in the passing game behind Courtland Sutton. While last year’s tight-end group only vacated 72 targets, there are an additional 70 targets to divvy up between R.J. Harvey and Engram with Javonte Williams' departure.
Fantasy managers got some much-needed options at the tight-end position this past draft, but 10.1 fantasy points per game is TE1-type production, which is the floor for Engram in Payton's offense.
Joshua Palmer - WR, Buffalo Bills
Some other worthy candidates have the historical production to make this list. Players like Cooper Kupp, Christian Kirk, DeAndre Hopkins, and even Najee Harris could claim this final spot. But this is dynasty, and we need to always keep one eye on the future. We know what those other players have to offer. On the other hand, Joshua Palmer hasn’t set his ceiling yet.
Palmer is going to get an opportunity in Buffalo. Josh Allen spoke highly of Palmer, explicitly mentioning his routes' fluidity and ability to create separation. Allen also said, “There’s a lot of advanced stats that show that.”
Indeed, there is, as Palmer ranked 12th (0.132) among 77 qualified wide receivers in Average Separation Score last season, per Fantasy Points Data. Palmer was also fifth in average depth of target (15.6) and doesn't turn 26 until September.
Josh Allen on the prospect of playing with Joshua Palmer:
“Very fluid in his routes. You know he creates a lot of separation, and there’s a lot of advanced stats that show that.”
Palmer ranked 12th-best among 77 qualifying WRs in Average Separation Score last season. pic.twitter.com/b9OmUa3R6u
— Fantasy Points Data (@FantasyPtsData) April 23, 2025
Allen needs some help. During the Bills’ latest postseason run, Khalil Shakir led the team in receptions (18), targets (20), and receiving yards (174). Among the receivers, Amari Cooper, Mack Hollins, Curtis Samuel, and Keon Coleman each had just eight targets over the three-game period. Outside Shakir, who is operating out of the slot, no receiver posted a route share greater than 70 percent last season.
Just Missed the Cut: Geno Smith (Las Vegas Raiders), Sam Darnold (Seattle Seahawks), Dyami Brown (Jacksonville Jaguars), DeAndre Hopkins (Baltimore Ravens), Cooper Kupp (Seattle Seahawks), Christian Kirk (Houston Texans), Jordan Mason (Minnesota Vikings), Deebo Samuel Sr. (Washington Commanders), and Najee Harris (Los Angeles Chargers)
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