RADIO
These five star players changed teams this offseason. Mike Fanelli highlights their offseason moves and breaks down the fantasy football impact.
We have reached the halfway point of the offseason, and unfortunately, the more exciting half has already passed.
The NFL Draft is the best part of the offseason, but free agency and the trade market also play a critical role in teams' efforts to improve their rosters.
Now, let’s look at the top five stars who changed teams during this offseason.
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Aaron Rodgers, QB, New York Jets
The Green Bay Packers will have a new Week 1 starter at quarterback for the first time since 2017, as Rodgers is now a member of the New York Jets. This offseason, the Packers traded the future Hall of Famer for multiple draft picks, which included a second-round pick in this year's draft and a conditional first-round selection in 2024. As a result, Rodgers now takes over as the starter in New York.
After struggling with a combination of Zach Wilson, Mike White, and Joe Flacco at quarterback last year, the Jets needed to make a blockbuster move this offseason. Meanwhile, Rodgers had 26 passing touchdowns last year despite the team trading away Davante Adams and losing Marquez Valdes-Scantling in free agency. Despite those losses, the future Hall of Famer had the seventh-most passing touchdowns in the NFL last year while dealing with a thumb injury on his throwing hand.
While Rodgers will play for a new team for the first time in his career, fantasy players should still be excited about the star quarterback. He has always been a prolific touchdown producer, throwing 40 or more touchdowns thrice in his career. More importantly, Rodgers will have a strong supporting cast led by Garrett Wilson.
D’Andre Swift, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Unfortunately, Swift has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career. The former Georgia running back has missed 20% of the games during his three-year stint with the Detroit Lions and has left a handful of other games early due to injury. Due to his injury history, he hasn’t been able to handle a heavy workload.
Yet, when Swift is on the field, he has been productive. The veteran running back has averaged 4.6 yards per rushing attempt in his career. Furthermore, he averaged a career-high 5.5 yards per rushing attempt last season. Meanwhile, Swift has been a pass-catching machine, averaging nearly four receptions per game throughout his three-year career.
The Lions traded Swift to the Eagles during the 2023 NFL Draft after his three-year stint in Detroit. Philadelphia lost Miles Sanders in free agency, which means Swift should be the team’s Week 1 starting running back. While injuries have limited the former Georgia star’s upside, Swift has already shown he belongs in Philadelphia.
Calvin Ridley, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Ridley missed the entire 2022 season after being suspended for betting on NFL games. Furthermore, he only played five games in 2021 because of mental health issues. However, the veteran receiver was a fantasy superstar during the 2020 season. Ridley was the WR4 that year, averaging 15.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game.
In 2020, Ridley's stat line was excellent, with 90 receptions on 143 targets, amassing 1,374 receiving yards, and scoring nine touchdowns. While he fell just one short of his career-high in receiving touchdowns, he set new career highs in receptions, targets, and receiving yards. Despite only playing in five games over the past two years, many have high expectations for Ridley this season.
After spending four years with the Atlanta Falcons, Ridley was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars just before the 2022 NFL trade deadline. Although he has yet to take a snap as a Jaguar, Ridley should have a productive fantasy season. Last year, Trevor Lawrence finished seventh in pass attempts while averaging 34.4 per contest. Furthermore, Ridley will be the clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver in Jacksonville. Fantasy players should be excited to draft the star receiver.
DJ Moore, WR, Chicago Bears
Fantasy players were excited about Moore when he was a first-round pick of the Carlina Panthers back in the 2018 NFL Draft. However, the star receiver failed to reach his maximum potential because of the team’s quarterback situation. Moore caught passes from 16 different signal callers during his time with the Panthers, including Cam Newton, Kyle Allen, Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Darnold, PJ Walker, and Baker Mayfield.
Despite the quarterback carousel in Carolina, the star receiver has been a consistent WR2 in fantasy. Moore has totaled over 1,150 receiving yards in three of the past four years despite never totaling more than 93 receptions in a season. More importantly, the star receiver hauled in seven receiving touchdowns last year, which was a career-high.
Meanwhile, Chicago Bears Justin Fields is coming off a breakout sophomore season. The former Ohio State Buckeye finished top 10 in the MVP race in 2022. Furthermore, the star quarterback had a 5.3% touchdown rate last year, more than doubling his rookie season percentage. While we still have a few months until the regular season, the Fields to Moore connection is already looking elite.
Darren Waller, TE, New York Giants
Unfortunately, injuries are part of the game of football and no one knows this better than Waller. The star tight end has struggled to stay healthy the past few seasons, missing 41.2% of the possible games over that span, including eight contests last year. However, Waller was one of the top fantasy football tight ends before he struggled to stay healthy.
After being a non-factor early in his NFL career, the veteran tight end had a breakout season in 2019. Waller hauled in 90 receptions on 117 targets for 1,145 receiving yards and three touchdowns that season. However, the star tight end was even better the following season. Waller set career highs with 107 receptions on 145 targets for 1,196 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2020. Waller has earned high praise from his new quarterback, who described him as “an impressive athlete.”
This offseason, the Giants acquired the star tight end from the Las Vegas Raiders for a late third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. New York lacks a proven No. 1 wide receiver, meaning Waller should be Daniel Jones’ top pass catcher this upcoming season. Last year, Saquon Barkley led the team with 76 targets. Furthermore, Darius Slayton and Richie James were the only wide receivers with more than 45 targets last season. Waller could have a career year in 2023 if he can stay healthy.
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