Tue Mar 18th 2025

Quarterback and Running Back Changes

Happy New Year!  It's the start of the NFL new year, which means it's free-agent frenzy time. Though this year's free agency class is less impactful than recent years, many trades have spiced up this opening week of the NFL.

This time of year is a rollercoaster for dynasty managers as doors open or close on players on our rosters. Players come and go in free agency and trades. The quarterback shakeups have been the biggest surprise this year, while the running backs have been "meh" with a rookie class about to surpass them.

In this article, I share my thoughts on the high-profile moves made among quarterbacks and running back. I've decided only to provide commentary on players who changed teams rather than those who re-signed with their previous teams. That said, here are my thoughts on the biggest moves made among quarterbacks and running backs changing teams.
Also, I wrote this article on Friday, March 14th. If there have been quarterback or running back trades of free agent signing since then, I did not mention them.

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Geno Smith

• Smith was surprisingly traded to the Raiders to be reunited with his former coach, Pete Carroll. Smith will have weaker weapons in Las Vegas, to be sure, but he has Brock Bowers to run the offense through, and the Raiders are likely to add weapons in the draft, including the possibility of Ashton Jeanty. From a dynasty perspective, Smith would be better off in Seattle, at least until they traded away D.K. Metcalf (more on that trade next week) and let Tyler Locket go. Given the changes to the Seattle roster, this trade is a wash as far as Smith's dynasty value goes, and I can't wait to see what weapons they add in the draft to change his dynasty value, especially if the Raiders don't draft a quarterback. Smith is an effective middle-of-the-pack NFL quarterback, and this team change does not change that fact. His offensive weapons and quarterback competition in the draft will determine his dynasty value in the next few months.  As for others affected by his addition, I think Smith is good for Bowers and could make him more productive than his ragtag quarterbacks did in his rookie season. Beyond that, it's too hard to say with all of the weaknesses in their offense until more upside players are added in the draft.

Sam Darnold

• Darnold filled the gap left by Geno's departure to become the new starting quarterback in Seattle. His dynasty value stock took a big bump by giving granted a starting position again, whereas he could have been relegated to a backup role. The Seahawks seem committed to Darnold and to a run-first offense, which is not great for Darnold's dynasty future, and they, too, could draft a quarterback in this year's class.  So, the new team and opportunity are great, but he'll have to prove it early to beat out the competition and establish his future with the Seahawks. As a manager of many Darnold teams in Dynasty, I am pleased that he landed a starting role and am confident he can keep the role for this season, but I will be far less certain if they draft a quarterback in this class. I'm concerned about the Seahawks' run-first plan and their loss of D.K. Metcalf from Darnold's productivity, but I'm not sure they are done rebuilding their offense in the draft and creating more opportunities to produce. That said, no matter what they do, I don't think he can produce in the Seahawks' system as he did in Minnesota's last year.

Justin Fields

• Fields completely revised his dynasty value with a sure opportunity to start with the Jets next year. His window is short, but if he proves something quickly, he could be one of the biggest dynasty risers of this season. His rushing ability alone makes him a prime dynasty asset; it's just his longevity that has caused questions for his dynasty managers. Those who have patiently waited on him this season will be highly rewarded if he finally hits this season and earns the permanent role as the Jets' quarterback. He can do it, and I hate that I have no shares of Fields in my dynasty leagues. I'll make plenty of trade requests for him after the draft if the Jets do not draft a quarterback early. I'm hopeful for Fields' dynasty stock, but strangely at the same time less so for Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson, since Fields scores so many points on his own, apart from his running backs and receivers.

Daniel Jones

• Jones's value took another jump after being signed by Indianapolis, whose general manager had already said this offseason that they'd bring in competition to compete for the starting quarterback role this season. After adding Jones this week, it's clear that he is the competition. If you've followed me for long, you know I have been down on Richardson from the start, and I have been right so far. I've also been higher on Jones than most, despite his struggles, though Richardsson's have been worse. These two enigmas get to battle it out this year, and I hope it is a real battle. Jones has always been a player I've favored more than others, and Richardson less than others. I hope to be proven right years later as they compete one-on-one. Richardson has the first right of refusal, but it sounds more like a true competition than ever before. I'm hopeful for this last and final opportunity for Jones.

Kenny Pickett

• Pickett landed in Cleveland after surprisingly getting traded from Philadelphia for Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a draft pick. For now, he's the presumed starting quarterback for Cleveland, though they're a top candidate to draft a quarterback with their first pick in the draft. The Browns have since brought Russell Wilson in for a visit, indicating they're not finished searching for a quarterback. Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield's recent success gives teams reason to take chances on first-round quarterbacks who were unsuccessful with their first few teams. I'm less hopeful that Pickett can regain a starting role in Cleveland, but I did pick him up in a few leagues in the meantime in case Cleveland does not make any more quarterback moves in free agency or the draft. Every offensive player in Cleveland's dynasty stock is held down until they find an answer at quarterback. I'd prefer that they re-sign Jameis Winston, who raised the dynasty stock of every player when he was their starter for a time last year. 

Najee Harris

• Harris landed with the Chargers, the exact team I wanted him to play for. He moves to the top of their depth chart as the Chargers released Gus Edwards and thus far have not re-signed J.K. Dobbins. I expect the Chargers to draft a running back, but after signing Harris, I doubt they will do so with one of their first picks. Harris was the best free-agent running back in this class, and the Chargers signed him to use him, even if just for the length of his one-year contract. Harris does not do anything particularly well, but he's serviceable in every way and has never missed a game with an injury. Dobbins and Edwards helped the Chargers last year as one-year rentals. Harris can do the same this season. This signing gives his dynasty stock a one-year boost while we wait to see if he's a free agent again next year. As for the team he left, Pittsburgh has only signed Kenny Gainwell thus far, giving Jaylen Warren the starting role next season, which I've wanted for years since Warren is one of my most rostered players.

Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders

• Williams and Sanders will get opportunities to revive their fading careers with the Cowboys next season. That is unless the Cowboys draft a running back with one of their first two picks. Sanders was one of my favorites in his class, and I drafted him on a ton of my teams; I've since dropped him from every team until this morning when I added him back in one. It's the opposite for Williams, as I was much lower on him in his class than others and have never had a share of Williams. He was signed first and has a bigger contract, so I assume he will begin the season as the Cowboy's starter ahead of Sanders, but I still think Sanders is the better back. It will be a fun offseason story to follow. For now, both of their fading dynasty value rises with the hope of a possible starting role. However, if the Cowboys draft a running back early, as I expect them to, their dynasty value will fall to their lowest point yet. This is their last chance of their careers to earn a starting role.

Rico Dowdle

• Dallas could have re-signed Dowdle after his very productive end of the season last year, but they let him go to sign with Carolina, where he will back up Chuba Hubbard while Jonathan Brooks waits another year to heal from his second ACL surgery. I don't like this move for Dowdle's dynasty value. He was signed as a depth piece. Hubbard was too good for the Panthers last year to lose significant touches to Dowdle next year. Hubbard's dynasty managers should not fear this transaction. He's their lead-back, at least for the next season. Brooks is the player Hubbard managers should worry about, but they have a second year of reprieve from that threat. Hubbard was one of the best surprises of last season, and I expect him to be just as productive this year, especially since Bryce Young improved so much by the end of the season and the Panthers will very likely add some weapons in the passing game in this year's draft.

Raheem Mostert

• Mostert signed a one-year deal with the Raiders, giving his dynasty stock one temporary final boost at the end of his career. As of now, he's their lead back ahead of Sincere McCormick and Zamir White. However, the Raiders are sure to draft a running back and are a prime candidate to draft Ashton Jeanty in the first round. Should that happen, all of the Raider running backs' dynasty value would fall to the ground, and one would likely get cut. I've held onto many Sincere McCormick shares over the offseason while waiting to see what the Raiders do in free agency in the draft. The Mostert signing does not make me willing to drop McCormick because Pete Carroll loves competition and will gladly play the underrated player if he's performing better. McCormick could still win the starting role. However, if the Raiders draft Jeanty or even a second-tier running back in the second round, McCormick will not make it past roster cut day on my dynasty teams.

Khalil Herbert & Elijah Mitchell

• Herbert and Mitchell get a slight boost from their fading dynasty stock because they're both in line to become the primary backups in Indianapolis and Kansas City. They've both performed well on the field in their limited opportunities, and dynasty managers have long wanted to see them get more opportunities. Injuries and crowded depth charts have held them down throughout their careers. These primary backup roles are the highest they've climbed in a depth chart in years, so this is good news for them and their dynasty managers. Herbert and Mitchell could be on the waiver wire in many dynasty leagues. If so, I would certainly add them. Dynasty Freeks know how important it is to backfill our rosters with backup running backs. That's the new role Herbert and Mitchell play, and they should be rostered in every dynasty league.

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