Instant Fantasy Analysis

Mon Mar 10 9:35am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Metcalf heads to the Steelers


The NFL does such a good job of staying relevant all season long. Free agency hasn’t even officially opened but the NFL continues to dominate headlines. Teams are agreeing to deals with free agents and trades are happening nearly every day. There is so much to keep up with, but we are here to help. It is time for some instant fantasy analysis of the latest moves from around the league.

Here is the latest. . . . .

The Jaguars traded receiver Christian Kirk to the Texans. This is a great spot for Kirk to land. He could become the go-to possession receiver for Houston. With Tank Dell’s status up in the air for the coming season, Kirk could take his role in the offense. Kirk should pair with Nico Collins to form a solid duo for quarterback C.J. Stroud. With that said, Kirk probably isn’t more than a No. 3 or 4 fantasy receiver. He isn’t likely to post some of his huge numbers from past seasons but should be able to get 70-plus receptions with around 1,000 yards. He should be a good depth piece or spot starter.

Las Vegas found their quarterback for the coming season, trading for Geno Smith. This is a big upgrade for the Raiders offense and their playmakers in the passing game. As for Smith, this probably isn’t a great spot for his fantasy value. He does reunite with his old coach, Pete Carroll, but the weapons in the passing game are lacking a little in Las Vegas, especially if you compare what he had to work with in Seattle. The only positive is the Raiders could be playing from behind, giving Smith more chance to air out. Smith could see his numbers dip a little from his days in Seattle. He is going to be spot start material for fantasy teams. 

The Seahawks got their quarterback a few days later, agreeing to a deal with Sam Darnold. This could be a good fit for Darnold and the Seahawks. He isn’t going to post the huge numbers he did with the Vikings explosive offense last year, though. We would consider Darnold more of a spot starter for fantasy teams this year. He should have a few big games but likely be pretty ho-hum most weeks.

Defense end Myles Garrett requested a trade a few weeks back but money apparently talks. The Browns signed Garrett to a massive contract extension, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history. Garrett will continue to lead the Browns top defense, which is good news for that fantasy unit.

The Vikings agreed to terms with running back Aaron Jones on a new two-year contract. This keeps Jones in Minnesota for a few more seasons. Jones was 15th overall in fantasy running back scoring this past season and has obvious fantasy value in this offense. He should be considered a top No. 2 fantasy back for the coming year. Injury is always a concern for him, especially at his age, but as long as he is on he field, he should produce good numbers in this offense.

The Rams made a big move for their offense, agreeing to terms with receiver Davante Adams on a two-year contract. Adams will replace Cooper Kupp, who the team is trying to move. Adams should be a healthier version of Kupp and produce some good numbers in this top offense. It wouldn’t surprise to see Adams push 100 receptions this coming season, being a top possession target for Matthew Stafford. Consider Adams a top No. 2 for fantasy teams. And don’t downgrade Puka Nacua because of this move. Nacua remains the top target in this offense and produced big numbers when Kupp was healthy and playing at a high level.

Pittsburgh added another top weapon to their passing game, trading for DK Metcalf. And he is signing a new, five-year contract with the team. It is hard to gauge Metcalf’s fantasy value right now, though, because we don’t know their quarterback. We will have a better idea of his value once that is figured out. For now, Metcalf should be considered a solid No. 2 fantasy receiver in this offense. The Steelers don’t have a great history in recent seasons of producing big fantasy receivers. Metcalf could be a little hit or miss for a team that likes to run the ball.

The Jets agreed to terms with Justin Fields to be their starting quarterback. This is a really intriguing signing for fantasy purposes. Fields might not be the best passer but his rushing totals really boost his fantasy value. As long as he is starting, he has good fantasy value. And he also gets to reunite with former college teammate Garrett Wilson, which could be a plus as well. Overall, Fields in a starring role is a plus for fantasy teams. He has the potential to a be top-10 fantasy quarterback if all goes well for him.

Dalles added Javonte Williams to their running back room. This is an interesting signing. It is thought the Cowboys want to address the running back position in the draft but for now, Williams looks to have the first shot to start. And if starting, he could have his best season to date in Dallas. He could do well in their pass-first offense, getting plenty of chances as a receiver out of the backfield. We’ll know more about this signing after the draft, though.

The Chargers seem to be moving on from JK Dobbins, agreeing to a deal with Najee Harris. This might be a downgrade from Dobbins a little but is a great fantasy spot for Harris. He seems like he could be a perfect fit for the Chargers offense. It would not surprise if he has his best fantasy season to date in this offense. 

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Player Notes
Greg Joseph May 16 10:50pm CT
Greg Joseph

The San Francisco 49ers signed free-agent veteran kicker Greg Joseph to an undisclosed one-year deal on Friday, according to his agent. Joseph will head to the NFC West after he spent 2024 kicking for three teams -- the New York Giants, Washington Commanders and New York Jets. In eight games with those three clubs, the 30-year-old veteran went 16-for-20 on his field-goal attempts (1-for-2 from 50-plus yards) and 11-for-11 on his extra-point tries. Joseph will be in a competition in training camp for the starting kicking job this summer with Jake Moody, who will be the favorite to win the competition. Joseph entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Florida Atlantic before debuting with the Cleveland Browns in 2018. He has an 82.3% success rate on 141 career field-goal attempts over his six seasons in the league.

From RotoBaller

John Jenkins May 16 10:40pm CT
John Jenkins

The Baltimore Ravens announced on Friday that they agreed to terms on an undisclosed one-year deal with free-agent nose tackle John Jenkins. Even though Jenkins has played some of the best football of his career in his 11th and 12th seasons the last two years with the Las Vegas Raiders, he'll likely be a rotational piece on the interior of Baltimore's defensive line in 2025. The 35-year-old veteran was originally a third-round pick (82nd overall) by the New Orleans Saints in the 2013 NFL draft out of Georgia. Jenkins played a career-high 581 defensive snaps with the Raiders a season ago and finished with 46 tackles (13 solo) and two pass breakups in 17 starts. He was even better the year before with a career-best 61 tackles (24 solo), a sack and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. Jenkins will not be on the IDP fantasy radar.

From RotoBaller

Brock Purdy May 16 4:20pm CT
Brock Purdy

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has agreed to a massive extension with the organization on Friday. The two sides have agreed to a five-year, $265 million deal, which includes $181 million in guaranteed money. The 2022 Mr. Irrelevant gets his big payday with $165.1 million coming his way in the first three years of the deal. Purdy saw his numbers take a dip in 2024, but that was partly due to the 49ers dealing with so many injuries. He still threw for 3,864 passing yards with 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 15 games with the 49ers last season. The 25-year-old should bounce back in 2025 with a healthy team around him. This seems like a bit of an overpay by the 49ers, but that is the cost of keeping a top tier quarterback in the NFL these days.

From RotoBaller

Aidan Hutchinson May 16 3:50pm CT
Aidan Hutchinson

Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (leg) saw his 2024 campaign come to an end after five games due to a serious leg injury. Hutchinson was hopeful to return for the postseason, but this wasn't an easy injury to overcome. Despite that, Hutchinson reportedly is looking good in practice, according to Lions' defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers. This is the kind of injury that could've ended someone's career, so seeing Hutchinson making this much progress is fantastic. The organization was hesitant to talk about projections, but they believe Hutchinson can return to playing at the same level he was before this injury.

From RotoBaller

Greg Zuerlein May 16 3:40pm CT
Greg Zuerlein

New York Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein has been released by the organization on Friday. This news doesn't come as a shock after Zuerlein struggled last season. He appeared in eight games, Zuerlein made only 9-of-15 field goal attempts, which is the worst of his career. The 37-year-old missed time with a knee injury as well, so it wouldn't be surprising if he decided to retire. If not, Zuerlein will likely need to earn his spot in training camp on another roster. The expectation is that Anders Carlson and Cade Davis will compete for the starting gig this fall.

From RotoBaller

Chris Olave May 16 3:30pm CT
Chris Olave

The New Orleans Saints are reportedly interested in trading wide receiver Chris Olave. The Pittsburgh Steelers have called the Saints asking about the availability of Olave. On paper, the Steelers do make sense after they traded wideout George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. The Saints appear to be headed towards a rebuild and trading Olave would get the organization a nice return. It's worth noting the Saints don't seem overly eager to trade Olave, but they'd be foolish not to listen to offers. They recently picked up the fifth-year option on Olave last month. It's hard to imagine the Saints trade Olave unless the Steelers make an unbelievable offer for the stud wideout.

From RotoBaller

Derek Carr May 16 11:40am CT
Derek Carr

Everyone concedes that quarterback Derek Carr (shoulder) was dealing with a torn right labrum and "significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff," but not everyone believes it's the full story of why he abruptly retired, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Katherine Terrell. Just before free agency in early March, word began to spread within league circles that Carr, who was heading into the third year of a four-year, $150 million contract, was open to playing elsewhere. According to three league sources, one of his representatives spoke with at least two teams in the market for a QB about potential interest in Carr. A team source said Carr had a close kinship with last season's coaches in New Orleans, who are all now gone, and the Saints' plan to restructure his contract was another potential source of friction. New head coach Kellen Moore never fully committed to Carr being the starter in 2025, either, before learning of his shoulder injury. It sounds as though in addition to his shoulder injury, Carr knew 2025 was going to be his last with the Saints, and rather than trying to figure out a plan to play elsewhere, he decided to hang up his cleats.

From RotoBaller

Shedeur Sanders May 16 11:20am CT
Shedeur Sanders

Former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders went from being a projected first-round pick in this year's NFL draft to not being taken until No. 144 overall in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns. The Browns passed on Sanders six times before taking him with their seventh pick. However, head coach Kevin Stefanski is confident Sanders can be a successful NFL QB. "We're getting a guy that really is not so concerned about where he landed in this draft, but he is willing to put in the work and that's what we're going to do," Stefanski said. The 23-year-old has a long ways to go to work his way up a QB depth chart in Cleveland that includes Joe Flacco, Deshaun Watson (Achilles), Kenny Pickett and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. He's accurate but has average arm strength, and his athleticism doesn't jump off the page. NFL teams believe he's a backup, at best. Time will tell if Sanders can prove them wrong.

From RotoBaller

Harold Fannin Jr. May 16 11:10am CT
Harold Fannin Jr.

The Cleveland Browns and rookie third-round tight end Harold Fannin Jr. agreed to term on a four-year, $6.7 million contract on Friday, a source tells FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. Fannin set FB single-season records for catches (117) and receiving yards (1,555) by a tight end at Bowling Green in 2024 and will now join a Browns tight end room that includes David Njoku and Blake Whiteheart, among others. The 20-year-old was selected with the 67th overall pick in the third round. Although his production in college speaks for itself, he's undersized at the position at 6-foot-3 and 241 pounds and also isn't fast enough to have a ton of long-term fantasy upside. The Browns will try to develop Fannin's pass-catching skills so that he can eventually overtake Njoku as their starting TE, but that's unlikely to happen in 2025, if ever.

From RotoBaller

Keaontay Ingram May 16 10:10am CT
Keaontay Ingram

The Kansas City Chiefs have waived Keaontay Ingram with an injury designation. The organization previously spoke highly of the 25-year-old running back, but his tenure in Kansas City comes to an end after just one game and zero offensive touches. Prior to his one-year stint with the Chiefs, Ingram amassed 181 scrimmage yards and one touchdown through two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. The former sixth-round pick out of USC could land somewhere else as a depth body in camp, but it's hard to envision him having any fantasy relevance in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Deshaun Watson May 16 9:50am CT
Deshaun Watson

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told the media that he added 7-on-7 passing reps to the team's practice program in order to maximize reps for rookies. According to Zac Jackson of The Athletic, rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel took the first snaps in the competitive drills, which was expected given that he was selected 50 picks earlier than Shedeur Sanders. The Browns gave Sanders plenty of reps, too, and Stefanski cautioned against reading into the exact order of quarterbacks. "I wouldn't look into anything," Stefanski said. "I think you'll see this whole weekend, going through the spring we don't pay too close attention to who's in for that first snap." This surely won't be the last time we hear about competition in the Browns' quarterback room, and it's important not to speculate about any decisions with Week 1 still several months away. Over these next few months, Cleveland will look to narrow its quarterback room down from five players to just two or three. Deshaun Watson (Achilles) doesn't really factor into the Browns' plans this year, but Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Gabriel, and Sanders could all get involved.

From RotoBaller

Jaxson Dart May 15 9:10pm CT
Jaxson Dart

ESPN's Jordan Ranaan writes that if all goes well with New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson as the starter and he stays healthy, rookie first-round QB Jaxson Dart will sit and redshirt in his first year in the NFL. If things don't go well and the Giants are losing, or if Wilson gets hurt, Dart is expected to find his way into the lineup. The 6-foot-2, 224-pound 22-year-old has the size and skills to succeed in the NFL, but he lacks a true wow characteristic and will probably benefit from sitting and learning in his first year in the league. The G-Men have extra QB insurance in veteran former first-rounder Jameis Winston, too, which means Dart could be the backup if Wilson gets injured or benched. Even if Dart does end up making starts in 2025, he won't really be on the redraft radar in fantasy as the Giants prioritize his long-term development.

From RotoBaller

Eric Johnson May 15 6:40pm CT
Eric Johnson

On Thursday, the Indianapolis Colts claimed defensive tackle Eric Johnson II off waivers after the New England Patriots recently released him. The Colts also waived safety Marcel Dabo and designated tight end Maximilian Mang as an exempt/international player. Johnson will enter his fourth season in the league and serve his second stint with the Colts after they selected him in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The Missouri State product appeared in 11 games for the Patriots in 2024, notching 17 tackles (two solo). He's a fine rotational piece on the defensive line, but doesn't project to make too much of an impact on the field or in fantasy. Johnson hasn't garnered a single start through 39 career games and is currently buried way down on the team's unofficial depth chart.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Addison May 15 3:10pm CT
Jordan Addison

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison has a jury trial set for June 16 following his 2024 citation for DUI. The trial is set to take place in the Superior Court of California. A pre-trial hearing was held on Monday. In December, Addison pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor DUI charges. He is accused of driving under the influence with at least a .08% alcohol level near the Los Angeles International Airport after a police officer found him asleep at the wheel and blocking a lane of traffic. The 23-year-old's status and situation should be monitored. While the NFL has not been quick to act in many cases like these, he could face punishment from the league depending on the results of the trial.

From RotoBaller

Christian Barmore May 15 2:30pm CT
Christian Barmore

New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore (illness) has been cleared for football activity and expects to play in Week 1, according to NFL.com. The 2021 second-round pick out of Alabama played in just four games due to a blood clot issue, so this is great news for the team and the 25-year-old. Barmore has appeared in 48 games over the last four years, totaling 139 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 15.5 run stuffs, one forced fumble, and nine deflections. He'll play opposite newly signed free agent Milton Williams in 2025, and the duo could be an underrated unit in the NFL.

From RotoBaller

Hunter Long May 15 2:30pm CT
Hunter Long

The Jacksonville Jaguars released tight end Patrick Murtagh on Thursday, according to NFL.com. The 25-year-old Australian joined the NFL International Player Pathway in 2023 and was assigned to the Detroit Lions before stepping down due to a medical issue. He then spent time with the Jaguars in 2024 and this offseason before being cut. The organization recently signed former Buffalo Bills tight end Quintin Morris, and has Brenton Strange, Johnny Mundt, and Hunter Long already on the roster. Based on development thus far, it would be a surprise if Murtagh ever appears in an NFL game.

From RotoBaller

Caleb Williams May 15 12:50pm CT
Caleb Williams

According to details from a forthcoming book reveal, quarterback Caleb Williams and his family consulted with lawyers to find potential ways around being drafted first overall by the Chicago Bears in 2024. "Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die," Carl Williams, Caleb's father, told Seth Wickersham, author of "American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback," in the months before the 2024 draft. Caleb Williams ultimately decided he could make it work in Chicago before struggling to a QB16 finish in a rookie season that saw Bears head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron both fired. The 23-year-old threw for 20 touchdowns and six interceptions while taking a league-high 68 sacks. The good news is that the Bears did everything they could to give Williams help heading into his sophomore season, so the former first overall pick is set up to succeed in Year 2.

From RotoBaller

Anfernee Orji May 15 12:20pm CT
Anfernee Orji

The Tennessee Titans claimed linebacker Anfernee Orji off waivers from the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday and waived running back Jabari Small in a corresponding move, according to Paul Kuharsky. Orji went undrafted out of Vanderbilt before joining the Saints for his rookie season in 2024, where he accumulated 30 tackles (16 solo) and two tackles for loss in 16 games (two starts) in his first year in the league. The 24-year-old will now look to earn a 53-man roster spot in Tennessee in training camp this summer. Small, 23, also went undrafted out of Tennessee before joining the Titans. The 5-foot-9, 198-pounder spent time last year on the Titans' practice squad and did not get into an NFL game. He's unlikely to be claimed off waivers, at which point he'll be free to sign with any NFL team before training camp this summer.

From RotoBaller

Trayveon Williams May 15 12:20pm CT
Trayveon Williams

The New England Patriots announced that they released defensive tackle Eric Johnson II on Wednesday after signing free-agent running back Trayveon Williams. The Patriots claimed Johnson off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts on Aug. 28 of last year. The 26-year-old played in 11 games with New England last year and finished with 17 total tackles (two solo) in his third NFL campaign. Johnson was originally a fifth-round selection (159th overall) by the Colts in 2022 out of Missouri State. The 6-foot-4, 320-pounder had only 18 tackles (seven solo), one sack, a tackle for loss and one fumble recovery in 28 games (no starts) in his first two years in the league in Indy. Johnson will be looking to find a new team before training camp starts this summer.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Reed May 15 12:10pm CT
Jayden Reed

Green Bay Packers passing-game coordinator Jason Vrable said that wide receiver Jayden Reed is up to 199 pounds (up from 185 as a rookie) and has been one of the leaders of the receiver group this offseason. Vrable said that Reed has been "helping Matthew Golden with every single play." The 25-year-old was on pace for his first 1,000-yard season in 2024 in his sophomore campaign in the first half before fading down the stretch and then suffering a dislocated shoulder in the wild-card playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite the team adding Golden and Savion Williams in this year's draft, the Packers still view Reed as their "top receiver." However, until we see it, the slot wideout's volume could be volatile, even with Christian Watson (knee) potentially miss half the season. Reed has the potential for a breakout, but he should be viewed as a boom/bust WR3/flex.

From RotoBaller