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Free agency can have a significant impact on a player's fantasy football value. Who has the most to gain or lose in free agency during the 2025 NFL offseason
Free agency gets started later today with the legal tampering period. However, deals cannot be officially signed until Wednesday. Still, we won't have to wait long before news of future deals is reported. Not surprisingly, free agency can significantly impact fantasy football value.
A good player can become a great one in the right system. Of course, the opposing argument also exists. A great player can become just an average one in the wrong situation. That's why free agency and the NFL Draft are so important for fantasy football value. We want to target talented players (obviously), but the player's situation and team environment can significantly impact their value for this season.
Let's look at some players at each of the four primary positions to see who has the most fantasy value to be gained and lost this week. To take advantage of our great premium tools, please use promo code "BOOM" to receive a 10% discount.
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Quarterback
It's no secret that Darnold's fantasy football value will decrease as it looks all but guaranteed he won't return to Minnesota. Darold has had multiple stops in his career including New York, Carolina, San Francisco, and Minnesota. He's only been good in Minnesota. With the Vikings, he had head coach Kevin O'Connell, a strong offensive line, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson. He also had a solid running game with Aaron Jones.
All in all, it was arguably one of the best environments for any quarterback in the NFL and Darnold flourished. Wherever he goes next won't be nearly as friendly.
The best spot now looks to be the Seattle Seahawks, assuming DK Metcalf is not traded. If he is moved, Seattle becomes far less appealing. Despite what happens with Metcalf, Seattle's offensive line is a significant concern. Seattle's offensive line has been in the bottom third of the NFL for several seasons, whereas Minnesota's last year was arguably top 10. That's a big deal for an immobile passer like Darnold.
Geno Smith was pressured on 38.5% of his dropbacks last season despite having the 11th quickest time to throw at 2.82 seconds
if Sam Darnold takes over, his time to throw last year was the 3rd longest 3.08 seconds (and was pressured at the 4th highest rate, 37.9%)
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) March 8, 2025
Darnold's fantasy value will fall even more if he ends up with the Jets, the Giants, or the Titans. He was a top-12 quarterback last year in Minnesota, but even in Seattle, which is his best-case scenario, his spot would drop him outside of the top-15 and likely even further down than that. If he ends up in New York or Tennessee, he should be ranked as a QB3.
Running Backs
Fantasy managers are likely sick of Harris and don't think he's very good, but he's had 1,200 or more scrimmage yards and at least six touchdowns in his four seasons in the NFL. He's played 17 games in every season.
His health has contributed to his overall counting stats, but regardless, it's been an impressive start to his career. Guys with four straight seasons of 1,200 scrimmage yards are generally not viewed as negatively as Harris is. He's not the explosive runner that others are, and he's not a great pass-catcher, but he's dependable and consistent, and NFL coaches value that.
Pittsburgh's offensive line has been bad to downright awful in each of his four seasons. In the last four years, Pittsburgh has finished 16th, 28th, 26th, and 21st in points scored. They've also finished 23rd, 25th, 23rd, and 23rd in total yards gained. Needless to say, he hasn't gotten any help from his environment. He's dealt with questionable offensive coaching, dreadful quarterback play, and a below-average offensive line.
He won't ever be Bijan Robinson, but in the right situation, he could be better than we've seen.
Najee Harris Unlikely To Return To Steelers? https://t.co/VaG5O2YhNG
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) March 5, 2025
Reports have indicated he'll be moving on from Pittsburgh this season. No matter where Harris goes, he's likely to be the team's primary ball carrier. In that sense, his role is unlikely to change much, but the environment could change significantly.
Imagine Harris behind the Chargers' offensive line with coaches like Greg Roman and Jim Harbaugh. Harris has been a middling RB2/3 in the past three seasons, but he could flirt with top-20 numbers in the right spot. He'll be one of the names I'll watch closely this week.
Dowdle had 274 total touches, over 1,300 scrimmage yards, and five touchdowns last year with Dallas. The Cowboys opted to do nothing at running back in the previous offseason. They lost Tony Pollard in free agency and rolled with Dowdle.
Yes, they signed Ezekiel Elliott, but that, unsurprisingly, didn't work out. Eventually, Dallas realized Elliott had nothing left and gave the full-time job to Dowdle. He responded with his best season as a pro.
He'll be 27 this season, and in his first three seasons in the NFL, he had less than 600 scrimmage yards. It's doubtful anyone will view Dowdle as their No. 1 starter. His best-case scenario is that Dowdle lands in a running back by-committee situation, but that's not guaranteed.
For the second half of the 2024 season, Dowdle was a weekly RB2 for fantasy managers. It's a long shot that he'll maintain that kind of fantasy football value once the free agency dust settles.
Dobbins suffered two significant injuries while with the Ravens. He had an up-and-coming rookie season but was never able to fulfill that promise after suffering a torn Achilles and a significant knee injury that included multiple ligaments that were damaged. He landed in Baltimore this past offseason and finished with over 1,050 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns in 13 games. For fantasy managers, he was a weekly RB2 option. He was a strong weekly start.
He had a couple of things working for him. The Chargers had a decent offensive line. Justin Herbert is a star and forces the defense to pay extra attention to the passing game. Coaches like Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman were also significant positives. They've both always established a strong and effective running game.
Along with all of that, Los Angeles had no one else at running back. Rookie Kimani Vidal wasn't ready, and Gus Edwards struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness all year.
He's unlikely to end up in a similar situation in 2025, even if that's back in Los Angeles. With how much significance Harbaugh and Roman put on their running game, even if they re-sign Dobbins, they'll surely add more competition than just Gus Edwards.
Wherever he ends up, Dobbins may be lucky to provide fantasy managers with RB3 value, much less than the top 20 value he offered last season.
Wide Receiver
Godwin was a top-15 receiver in Tampa Bay. Baker Mayfield was an MVP candidate, and Tampa Bay operated as a top-10 offense. They passed the ball at a high rate. All in all, Tampa Bay was one of the best environments for a pass-catcher.
Not only that, but the combination of Godwin and Evans fits perfectly. Evans works downfield, while Godwin can terrorize teams in the short and intermediate parts of the field. The other part of this duo is that they're on an even playing field.
Per league sources, Chris Godwin will be incredibly sought after, assuming he gets to free agency. Patriots expected to be the driver there. It's gonna cost more money than you would have thought (think in excess of $25 million per) despite the season-ending injury.
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) March 7, 2025
Earlier in free agency, it seemed like it was only a matter of time before Godwin re-signed with Tampa Bay. However, his departure has become more realistic the closer we've gotten to free agency. He may price himself out of Tampa Bay if he gets to free agency, and Godwin's fantasy football value will take a big hit if that happens.
If he reaches free agency, New England and Carolina will likely be the most interested parties. The Panthers' head coach, Dave Canales, coached Godwin when he was in Tampa, and Carolina desperately needs to give Bryce Young more weapons. New England's interest in acquiring a significant addition at receiver has been no secret.
If he leaves Tampa Bay, Godwin's fantasy value could drop significantly. He was a top-20 receiver last year. Given his age, the injury he's overcoming, and potentially being a New England Patriot, Godwin's fantasy value could drop to mid-WR3 this week, depending on where he ends up.
Re-signing with Tampa would keep him on the WR2 radar.
From 2022 to 2023, Cooper had 260 targets, 150 receptions, 2,410 receiving yards, and 14 touchdowns. He's been a top-20 receiver in both seasons despite dealing with below-average quarterback play and a poor team offense with Cleveland. In 2024, he caught passes from Deshaun Watson, the worst quarterback in the NFL.
Then, he was traded to Buffalo, but he dealt with a wrist injury and missed multiple games. He never seemed to find his groove with his new team when he returned.
Learning a new playbook is something that takes players an entire offseason. Cooper had to do it on the fly in a couple of weeks while not getting on-the-field practice time because of the injury.
He only had 547 yards last year and will be 31, so it's no guarantee he'll bounce back. However, his value could increase in the right landing spot. Right now, after his 2024 season, he's mainly off every fantasy manager's radar. He's coming off the worst season of his career and is now 31.
However, if he lands in Green Bay, back in Dallas, Carolina, Jacksonville, or Los Angeles with the Rams or Chargers, we should see his fantasy value bounce back quite strongly. All those teams need a receiver upgrade and have varying levels of potent offenses and quarterback play.
Diggs had 500 yards and three touchdowns in eight games with Houston last season and 1,123 yards and eight touchdowns in 2023 with Buffalo. Diggs isn't the same player he was in Buffalo during his prime, but he proved last year that he can still play and be productive.
He'll be 32 this season and is now coming off a torn ACL. Many fantasy managers have him completely off their draft boards. Given the receiver state of this free agency class, Diggs may garner more interest than what you'd typically associate with him.
Diggs will likely want to go to a competing team with a good quarterback situation. That could include the same teams listed for Cooper. If he were to end up in Dallas or Los Angeles, Diggs would go from a wholly forgotten man to someone fantasy managers would have some interest in.
Slayton has had more than 700 receiving yards in four of his six NFL seasons. This is despite catching balls from Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito, Tim Boyle, Tyrod Taylor, Davis Webb, Mike Glennon, and Jake Fromm. Brian Daboll, Joe Judge, and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett were his coaches. Having four out of six seasons with 700 or more yards in that environment is somewhat impressive.
Giants WR Darius Slayton expects to receive "a lot of interest" in free agency as a "niche" deep threathttps://t.co/wFAzCWpJAK pic.twitter.com/2ZJjrdcYIS
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) March 5, 2025
Slayton isn't going to transform into a superstar. Not at 28. However, he could have a Darnell Mooney-like effect on a team in the right environment.
Mooney was largely written off, too, after a couple of bad seasons in Chicago. Like Chicago, New York has been an awful environment for a pass-catcher. If Slayton went to a team that had good coaching and strong quarterback play, he could surprise.
That doesn't mean he'd be a top-24 receiver, but he could be someone who provides WR3/4 value. If he were to end up in Dallas as Dak Prescott's No. 2 receiver and primary downfield threat opposite CeeDee Lamb, he could have the kind of season fantasy managers expected out of Brandin Cooks when he was first traded there.
Slayton could go from entirely irrelevant to a late-round sleeper who ends up providing fantasy managers strong bench play and flex value for bye weeks and as an injury replacement.
Tight Ends
Engram was cut from Jacksonville, and he could see his fantasy value drop significantly because of it. In his three seasons with Jacksonville, he's averaged 7.1 targets per game. That equates to 120 targets over 17 games.
Very few teams, if any, will provide him with that volume. With Jacksonville, he was viewed as a TE1 with top six potential. Those dreams are long gone.
The Broncos and the Chargers could allow him to maintain at least the same fantasy value he had in Jacksonville. Engram's value is likely to decrease significantly outside of these two landing spots.
He's been a capable pass-catching tight end for most of his career, which will likely keep him as a tight end that fantasy managers will want to throw a dart on in 2025 drafts. Still, Engram's fantasy value could crater depending on where he goes. There's virtually no chance that his fantasy value increases.
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