The Top-25 NFL Offseason Moves for Fantasy Football Impact in 2025

April 9, 2025

Scott Engel's top 25 offseason moves for fantasy football. His top signings and transactions for fantasy football impact in 2025.

In terms of generating fantasy football headlines, this offseason has not been comparable to the previous one. Before the 2024 campaign, we saw Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Aaron Jones, and Joe Mixon change teams.

This offseason, Najee Harris was the biggest running back name to make the news, and we haven’t seen any other highly significant RB moves to this point. Free agency is not finished, though, and there may be more notable transactions coming this month.

For now, though, it is essential to stay on top of all the latest player changes through free agency and trades, and we rank the top 25 moves of the offseason so far. Backup running backs are listed, too, as you must always be aware of the handcuffs for the starters who will be drafted in fantasy football later this year.

Most Impactful Fantasy Football Moves: 21-25

25. Elijah Mitchell signed with Kansas City, but the Chiefs also brought Kareem Hunt back. The K.C. backfield looks like it might create a lot of fantasy uncertainty next season.
26. AJ Dillon is now the projected backup to Saquon Barkley in Philadelphia.
27. The Raiders are being viewed as the top landing spot for Ashton Jeanty. Raheem Mostert will probably slide in as a veteran backup if and when that happens.
28. Alexander Mattison is now the backup to De'Von Achane in Miami.
29. Marquez Valdes-Scantling is the new deep threat in Seattle, but he will likely be the third WR and has never been trustworthy at all in fantasy football.

Most Impactful Fantasy Football Moves: 11-20

20. 20. Kenneth Gainwell might be a sneaky source of TDs in Pittsburgh, or he could be an afterthought following the NFL Draft.
    21. Khalil Herbert hooked on with the Colts. There always seems to be a need to know who is the primary backup to Jonathan Taylor.
    22. Jordan Mason is now the handcuff to Aaron Jones, and he could also steal some goal-line carries, which will potentially drive down the appeal of Jones as a top 25 RB.
    23. Rico Dowdle did not break out overall as hoped with Dallas, although he did deliver some quality performances. Now, he enters a more crowded backfield in Carolina, although the outlook of Jonathon Brooks is uncertain. He will likely back up Chuba Hubbard and might not be worth drafting in 2025 as more than a handcuff.
    24. Joshua Palmer was a consistent fantasy disappointment with the Chargers because he projects to be more of a secondary WR, and expectations were higher at times when he was with Los Angeles. With the Bills, he will likely operate as a third or fourth option for Josh Allen.
    25. Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston both signed with the Giants. Fantasy players will want Winston to emerge as the eventual starter, as he can be streamed for bigger passing numbers than Wilson while elevating the output of Malik Nabers more.

Jameis Winston has $4 million in incentives that begin kicking in at 43% playing time 💰 pic.twitter.com/7iLdu3NPQx

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) April 7, 2025

14. Geno Smith is back with Pete Carroll in Las Vegas, and he is another decent Superflex and two-QB option. If the Raiders draft Ashton Jeanty, the Las Vegas offense should be adequately balanced around him to prevent any significant drop in fantasy production.
15. None of the top 20 fantasy quarterbacks changed teams. Sam Darnold is coming off a career year, but the Seahawks traded DK Metcalf and figure to be more run-based in 2025. Darnold can certainly be a respectable Superflex and two-QB league starter, though.
16. The Ravens signed DeAndre Hopkins a few years too late. Lamar Jackson still hasn’t worked with a true standout No. 1 WR, and Hopkins was not the same guy with Kansas City last year. He will still be draftable, though, for some potential receiving volume.
17. Dyami Brown performed better than ever in the playoffs for Washington last season. He has never been reliable otherwise, though. The Jaguars may give him a chance to work prominently along with Brian Thomas Jr., though, so draft Brown in seasonal leagues as a WR4 in 2025.

Most Impactful Fantasy Football Moves: 1-10

10. 10. Before the NFL Draft, Javonte Williams is atop the Dallas depth chart as the new No. 1 RB. If the Cowboys opt for Omarion Hampton with the No. 12 overall pick, which is a legitimate possibility, Williams would head into the 2025 season with an uncertain outlook. But if Dallas waits until after the first round to tab an RB, the ex-Bronco might have a better shot to compete for quality playing time. Miles Sanders may be a backup.
    11. Cooper Kupp is heading into his age-32 season, and he has not played more than 12 games in the last three seasons. Playing most of the schedule this year could mark him as a quality fantasy WR3. While the best years are behind Kupp, the longtime Rams star is not fully done.
    12. Christian Kirk will now have the opportunity to function as a No. 2 WR for Houston, a role that needed to be filled to further support C.J. Stroud. Tank Dell models more as an ideal No. 3. If he can stay on the field this season, Kirk may have some appeal as a value play. He’s only logged 20 games in the past two seasons.

Don't sleep on Christian Kirk with the Texans 😴 pic.twitter.com/Nyfl8YdPrb

— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) March 14, 2025

7. Sean Payton values the tight end, so Evan Engram ended up in a good fantasy situation in Denver. While he has not been a regular source of viable TD production in recent seasons, that could change with the Broncos. Engram should be targeted as a back-end TE1 in 2025 drafts.
8. Stefon Diggs provides Drake Maye with a more authentic No. 1 target, and he should be a very busy pass-catcher with the Patriots. But the former Bills standout is on the way back from a major knee injury, and he is no longer a dominant WR. Diggs might stack up respectable PPR totals because of volume.
9. Deebo Samuel Sr. fills an obvious need at No. 2 WR for Washington, and if he can stay healthy, Terry McLaurin will have an ideal complement. Samuel is a YAC demon who will move the sticks for Jayden Daniels while McLaurin thrives downfield. The ex-49er will be a worthy risk as a fantasy WR3 in 2025.
10. Davante Adams is 32 years old and will now be the No. 2 WR for the Rams behind Puka Nacua. Yet, he still performed well enough last year to believe that he can remain a top 25 fantasy WR. If you are faced with a tight decision on Adams and another player in a summer draft, pivot to the other option based on his age. Otherwise, though, he should still deliver adequate production.
11. DK Metcalf is coming off his worst statistical season and got his wish to be moved out of Seattle. We might not find out who the new Pittsburgh quarterback is until later in April. Once that position is addressed by the Steelers, Metcalf can be more firmly projected as a WR2. He does have the potential to get back to double-figure TD receptions. Locking up Aaron Rodgers or trading up for Shedeur Sanders will be the best QB scenarios for the new Steelers WR.
12. Najee Harris is the only active running back who has rushed for 1,000-plus yards in each of the last four seasons. He never quite produced as hoped in Pittsburgh but may be a better fantasy fit with the Chargers. Jim Harbaugh can lean on him as a true power running lead RB, and considering J.K. Dobbins rushed for nine TDs with Los Angeles last year, Harris could certainly soar into double figures in TDs and function as a quality fantasy RB2.
13. Justin Fields gets a significant boost back to fantasy relevance as the new quarterback for the Jets. Just two seasons ago, the ex-Bear finished as a top-6 fantasy QB. I would not hesitate to draft him as a back-end fantasy QB1 in 2025. Aaron Glenn has already indicated that he intends to take full advantage of Fields’ dual-threat abilities, which is very encouraging for fantasy purposes.

Aaron Glenn on Justin Fields:

"He has a quiet confidence about himself… He can really throw the deep ball really, really well. Obviously, his legs are something that's dynamic not just in college but the NFL as well. I just think he's ready to break out as a top-notch… pic.twitter.com/tmyitxHZX2

— Dylan (@nyjetsfansonly) March 30, 2025

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