Tue Mar 4th 2025

Top 10 Impactful Free Agents

The NFL new year begins a week from tomorrow, which means the free agency period will begin next week. The free agency period always shakes up the dynasty value of players, both the free agents and the teams that sign with or leave. It's a roller-coaster period in the NFL calendar for dynasty managers who either renew hope in their players and see them get more opportunities or lose hope in their players buried on depth charts.

This year's free agent class is pretty small. One top-tier quarterback and a few quarterbacks may get a chance to start with a new team. There are two solid running backs, but that's about it. There's a top-tier wide receiver and a host of old wide receivers and/or those returning from season-ending injuries.

It's fun to speculate on the free agent class before the new calendar year begins, so I put together my top 10 free agents list and speculated where the top 10 would sign.

Sam Darnold

• The Player: Sam Darnold was the dynasty comeback player of the year. He had the best year of his career after signing as a free agent with Minnesota last year. He made the most of his one-year deal by having the most productive year of his career. He'll be a day-one starter for some team next year and will see if last year was a one-year wonder or one he can build upon. Despite his terrible final two games to end the season, he did enough to prove to an NFL team that he's a starter. I'd rather have Darnold than any of the quarterbacks in this draft class, so one quarterback-needy team will make a deal for him.
• Hopeful Landing Spots: The Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy to become their future starter, but his injury in the preseason led to Darnold starting every game last season. The Vikings could give Darnold the Franchise tag if they want McCarthy to develop for a year, so there is still a possibility that he will stay in Minnesota. As one with many shares of Darnold, I'd prefer to see him sign with a team without competition for a starting role. I could see him signing with Tennessee, especially if they want to use their first pick of the draft on Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter. The Raiders also need a quarterback and pick high enough in the draft to possibly select Sheduer Sanders. The Giants seem more inclined to sign a veteran than draft a quarterback, especially since the GM and coaching staff are on the hot seat and need to win immediately. They cannot afford to slowly develop a rookie even though they will likely be in position to draft a quarterback. I'd like to see Darnold back in the Big Apple with the Giants and Malik Nabers.

Tee Higgins

• The Player: Higgins had an incredible season last year, at least when he was on the field. He had the fourth-highest scoring points per game last season. His teammate, Ja'Maar Chase was first. Higgins has always been capable of being a team's WR-1. It's just that he's on the same team as Chase. This year, he could get his chance to be a WR-1 on another team, but one could easily argue that being a WR-2 in Cincinnati is better than being a WR-1 on another team. No matter where he lands, he will produce for dynasty managers.
• Hopeful Landing Spots: Joe Burrow has been very vocal in the public about wanting the team to re-sign Higgins, but the Bengals are one of the most frugal teams in the NFL and they have to sign Chase to a new contract this offseason, too. They could place the franchise tag on Higgins, but he'd be very unhappy with that. As a Higgins manager, I would love to see him stay in Cincinnati. If they let him go in free agency, I'd like to see him sign with Carolina or New England, where he could help out their young quarterbacks and have no competition for the most targets on those teams. Drake Maye and Bryce Young would benefit greatly with Higgins as their top target.

Najee Harris

• The Player: At this time last year, one of the biggest surprises was when the Steelers did not exercise their fifth-year option on Harris. As a result, Harris went into the season knowing it was likely his last with the Steelers. I am sure it will be. He played in every game last season but only finished as the 20th-highest-scoring running back. He's lost a step and is not effective enough in the passing game to be a top-tier dynasty running back,  but he is the best free-agent running back in this class and will get picked up by a team that signs him to lead a committee backfield. Last season was the year of the veteran running back with a new team. If it happens again this year, Harris is the top candidate.
• Hopeful Landing Spots: I could see the Bears signing Harris with their new coach, Ben Johnson, using him as he did David Montgomery in Detroit the last few seasons. I could see the Vikings signing him to be their lead back, especially if they do not re-sign Aaron Jones. I could also see the Chargers signing him to be their power back, seeing him as a younger option over the two free agents they signed last year, Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins, who never took over the backfield. I'd most like to see him with the Chargers, where he could be a workhorse in their system. The truth is that wherever he lands in free agency, he could be surpassed in the draft since this year's rookie class is loaded with excellent running backs who could get drafted by the team Harris signs with.

Russell Wilson

• The Player: Wilson did not help the Steelers much in his first season as their starter. He held off Justin Fields for the entire season, though. I still think he's a candidate to start for a team next season, especially for a team with a young quarterback to develop or plans to select a quarterback in this year's draft. He is too proud to sign with a team to be a backup. His days as a starter in superflex dynasty rosters are certainly coming to an end. Whichever team he signs with, it will be a short contract, if not a one-year contract, and it will be his last.
• Hopeful Landing Spots: Pittsburgh has another choice to make this offseason. Wilson and Fields are free agents, so they will be active in the quarterback market or choose to re-sign one of their guys from last year's roster. They've proven they prefer Wilson over Fields, so I doubt they will sign Fields. Wilson is definitely an option for them to re-sign, especially if they have a quarterback or two they like in this year's rookie class. If he does not re-sign in Pittsburgh, I could see him reuniting with coach Carroll in Las Vegas. If the Titans want to draft Carter or Hunter with the first pick, they could sign Wilson while they develop Will Levis for another year.  As I already stated, the Giants need to go the veteran route, so Wilson is at play for them, too. I prefer that he stay in Pittsburgh, but the reunion with Carroll could also be fun to see.

Aaron Jones

• The Player: Jones was among the many free-agent running backs who had productive seasons with their new teams. He played fantastically during his first season in Minnesota, and he stayed healthy, playing in every game. He finished as the 16th-highest-scoring running back last year. It was his fourth-highest-scoring season in his eight-year career. He's 30 years old, so the odds are that his best years are behind him, which is why Green Bay let him go in free agency and why Minnesota only signed him to a one-year deal. We'll see who is willing to do so again this year.
• Hopeful Landing Spots: I would love for the Vikings to re-sign him. That would be his best option because he would be their lead back to start the season, though he may face competition if the Vikings draft a running back in this deep class. The only other team where I could see him as the lead running back would be the Raiders, but they're most certainly drafting a running back early. I can't see another team signing him to be their leadback, but if I had to pick one, I could see him signing with Carolina to spell Chuba Hubbard while they wait for Jonathan Brooks to get healthy. I could also see him on the Colts as a third-down back in the passing game. I hope he re-signs with the Vikings. That's the best spot for him and his dynasty managers.

Chris Godwin

• The Player: Godwin's season was tragically cut short last year when he was having a career year. He was second among wide receivers in average points scored and was first in average points scored at the time of his injury. He was on pace to blow away his career best in fantasy points per season, which came in his second year in the league, proving that he had not hit the age cliff. He should make a full recovery and return to form in his 29-year-old season. I'm confident in his ability to produce for dynasty teams next season, especially if he stays in Tampa Bay.
• Hopeful Landing Spots: I absolutely want Godwin to stay with the Buccaneers. The Buccaneers have already stated they want to re-sign him, so I am confident a deal will be done. If, for some reason, they do not resign him, I'd like to see him sign with the Rams to replace Cooper Kupp, with the Cardinals to give the team a veteran weapon in the passing game, or with the Texans to replace what they wanted in Stefon Diggs last season.

Stefon Diggs

• The Player: Diggs is a free agent after just one year in Houston. Unfortunately, he got injured so early in the season that we did not have time to see if he could be productive with another team as a 30-year-old. He's a year older now and is looking for another team. Diggs fell off the cliff pretty fast, proving the Bills right for trading him. We cannot say for certain that Diggs is done as a dynasty asset, but his age and recovery from injury make him far less likely to help dynasty teams from now on. Still, when he signs with a new team, his dynasty stock will rise.
• Hopeful Landing Spots: I seriously doubt that Houston will re-sign Diggs. He will find himself on a new team, and I bet he will want the team to be a contender. As a Cowboys fan, I would love for him to take the team-friendly contract to play with his brother. Dallas would be a perfect landing spot for him to finish his career. The Chargers would also be nice for Diggs, who could be the veteran leader on a team with young and developing receivers. Besides that, I don't like any other landing spot for Diggs.

J.K. Dobbins

• The Player: Dobbins was one of the year's biggest surprises last season. He came back from his many injuries to prove he still had some gas in the tank. The Chargers took a gamble on him and his health, and he produced, especially at the start of the season, when he scored 8 touchdowns in the first 12 games. After that, he battled with injuries. He did enough for teams to be interested in adding him as a depth piece or committee back next season, with the chance of him becoming much more than that. He's the only other back in this free agency class with upside. Many teams will pursue Dobbins this year.
• Hopeful Landing Spots: I'd love to see him get a chance to be the lead back for the Raiders. That's my favorite landing spot for him if I was a dynasty manager. The same is true for the Cowboys. That said, the Cowboys and Raiders are among the most likely to target a running back in the draft this year, which could bury Dobbins on a depth chart. He may do better for himself and dynasty managers if he lands on a team with an opportunity to be a committee back that could out-produce the committee and take a lead role. For that condition, I would like to see him land with Pittsburgh to compete with Jaylen Warren, with the Browns to compete with Jerome Ford, or the Patriots to compete with Rhamondre Stevenson.

Keenan Allen

• The Player: Allen had a very up-and-down year in his 32-year-old season and first season with the Bears after signing with them as a free agent last year. Sadly, Allen's best fantasy days are behind him. As one of my favorite receivers of all time, I hate to admit it. For years, he was my most rostered player. I've since traded him away in every league but one. Some teams will add him this season to be a veteran presence and win with veteran savvy, but he's no longer a reliable starter except in the deepest of leagues.
• Hopeful Landing Spots: I'd love to see him land on a Super Bowl-contending team to be the extra piece to get a team to the top. He'd be a great addition to the Chiefs, who often add veteran free agents to their receiver room. Rashee Rice will likely miss the start of this season, and Allen could fill in for him to help the Chiefs start the season and play less of a role as the season continues. The Bills would also be an interesting landing spot, as their wide receiver corps is weak. They tried adding Curtis Samuel last season, but it did not help them, so they may be open to veterans joining their squad. Allen fits the hard-working knee-cap-biting mentality of Dan Campbell and the Lions. It would be fun to see him play a role in getting the Lions to the Super Bowl.

Jameis Winston

• The player: I just can't quit Jameis Winston. Since his rookie year, I've loved him. Almost every time he gets a start, he produces for dynasty teams but loses for NFL teams. I wish somehow he could win for both, and I still believe he can. Darnold and Wilson are the sure-fire quarterbacks to land a starting job this year as free agents, but Winston is my dark horse.
• Hopeful Landing Spots: I would love to see Winston stay put in Cleveland, but the team has already shown a lack of confidence in him. A team that plans to draft a second-tier quarterback in this rookie class should sign Jameis to their team to serve as a placeholder and mentor as they develop. They could learn from Winston through positive or negative examples! He's the best tutor either way! I would love to see the Giants sign him and draft a quarterback in the second round. I would love to see the Colts sign him and see if he can outplay Anthony Richardson. I'd like to see him land with the Jets, see Tyrod Taylor's conservative play contract with Winston's reckless play, and decide which is better. I can't quit Winston and want to see him get one last chance as a starter.

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