Free Agency Landing Spots

Predicting moves with fantasy impact before NFL free agency opens on Wednesday at 4pm.

Technically, the tampering period starts Monday at noon, so we will know stuff before then. Hell, we already know some stuff now, and there's new stuff happening every day. General Sherman heads will know that lots of stuff happens during March...and also it probably doesn't end well for Atlanta.

QUARTERBACKS

Aaron Rodgers is playing his little games and lying about having a wife, and most of the other guys who played significant snaps last year are journeymen or backups without much fantasy impact outside of deep dynasty leagues (I see you, Marcus Mariota), so there's really only one big name that everyone is talking about at QB. And one little one.

Malik Willis

Zach - ARIZONA CARDINALS
Whatever Matt LaFleur did to make Willis look good with limited action in Green Bay will likely be shared with his brother Mike, the new coach in Arizona. I don't think Willis has earned the payday he's about to receive, but if he does end up with the Cardinals, his rushing upside (and Trey McBride) might make him a viable fantasy starter.

Matt - ARIZONA CARDINALS
First of all, why does Zach go first when his name starts with Z? For anyone who watched Malik Willis lead the Packers in his two late-season appearances against the Bears and Ravens, the growing hype around the former Titans starter makes sense. Across his limited sample in Green Bay, Willis finished 30 of 35 passing (85.7%) for 422 yards, three touchdowns, and a 145.5 passer rating while adding 123 rushing yards and two scores. It’s a tiny sample, but that kind of efficiency and rushing upside is exactly the profile that rebuilding teams like Arizona often gamble on when looking for a high-variance starter. I think he offers a refreshing alternative to running it back with ₖᵧₗₑᵣ ₘᵤᵣᵣₐᵧ.

Kyler Murray

Zach - INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
This is more just me not wanting him to go to the Vikings, but it's my post and I can pick who I want! If the NFL is a serious league, another team will punish Chris Ballard by making an offer to recently tagged Daniel Jones. If that happens, the Colts (who consider themselves contenders by the way! two firsts for Sauce Gardner!!) will need to pivot to someone not named Philip Rivers. The diminutive Murray, who has been maybe the worst downfield passer in the NFL the last few years, would be hoping for a similar redemption arc to Jones. Just skip the KOC part, pal.

Matt - MINNESOTA VIKINGS
He's going to da Vikings, Zach. Sorry. While this might be horrible news for Zach's boy 9, it's a great landing spot for ₖᵧₗₑᵣ ₘᵤᵣᵣₐᵧ. The Vikings have quietly built one of the league’s most quarterback-friendly environments: elite receiving weapon(s), a creative offensive scheme, and an organization that has repeatedly coaxed strong production out of mid-tier passers (9 is not even mid-tier, Zach!) For Murray, it offers a reset in a system designed to manufacture easy throws while still allowing him to create outside structure. For the Vikings, at worst, it represents a chance to have a cheap bridge QB while JJ McCarthy figures out how to play football. At best, maybe they bring ₖᵧₗₑᵣ ₘᵤᵣᵣₐᵧ back to his 2021 glory. From a dynasty perspective, the ripple effects would be immediate: Minnesota’s receivers would likely benefit, while Murray himself would instantly gain some fantasy upside in the short term throwing to Justin Jefferson and TJ Hockdawg.

RUNNING BACKS

Super Bowl MVP and all time "Zach Guy" Ken Walker headlines our shortlist, as the 25-year-old is set to leave a Seahawks team that just doesn't appear willing to pay a guy who spent most of 2025 splitting carries with Zach Charbonnet. That's ok, we'll keep drinking that garbage!

Kenneth Walker III

Zach - JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
For the sake of argument, let's pretend the salary cap doesn't exist. Let's also pretend that the Jags aren't about to let another guy on this list hit free agency because they can't pay him. Walker to the Jags would reunite him with Chad Morton and Shane Waldron, who were his runing backs coach and offensive coordinator his first two years in Seattle. Plus it would make Matt so mad as a Tuten owner.

Matt - KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
If there's anything Kenneth Walker is used to, it's an inexplicable timeshare. And who does that better than anyone? Da Kansas City Chiefs. The only RB they have left on the roster is the sneaky receiving threat Brashard Smith. Kenneth Walker III does everything else (and isn't so bad in the receiving game either.)

Rico Dowdle

Zach - WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
Do you remember that Austin Ekeler was on the Commander in 2025? Nobody does, because we all fell for the astroturfed "Bill" campaign. The Commanders have hated every running back that has put on the ketchup and mustard, from Antonio Gibson to Brian Robinson to JCM himself, but they will continue to throw darts until they've assembled enough backup RBs to form a single starter.

Matt - LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Las Vegas has already indicated they want to bring in a veteran running back to complement Ashton Jeanty, and Dowdle fits that profile well. He surprised early last season with some efficient running and burst, but his production faded down the stretch as his workload increased. In Las Vegas, he wouldn’t need to be a featured back, instead serving as a rotational runner and insurance policy behind Jeanty. From a dynasty perspective, this would solidify Jeanty’s role as the clear lead back while making Dowdle one of the more valuable handcuffs in fantasy, particularly if the Raiders commit to building their offense around the run.

Travis Etienne

Zach - KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
The Chiefs have been looking for a run game since they lost Kareem Hunt the first time. Clyde Edwards-Helaire wasn't it, Isaiah Pacheco wasn't it, and they got so desperate they brought back the aging Hunt just to give them a spark. As they continue to shed guys for salary and plot their return to the playoffs, a big move at RB wouldn't surprise me, and even a slight uptick in Etienne's receiving targets could make him dangerous in Andy Reid's big fat criminal offense.

Matt - DENVER BRONCOS
Denver missed out on the David Montgomery sweepstakes after Houston traded a 4th+(!) for the old cheese man. That alone tells us something important: Denver is not comfortable handing the backfield to RJ Harvey. If the Broncos want to take a swing, Travis Etienne is a logical target. Etienne would give Denver the explosive playmaker they appear to be searching for, with the ability to create chunk gains both on outside runs and in the passing game. After a down year in 2024, non-believers were crowning Tank Bigsby and expected ETN to be an afterthought. WRONG! Etienne (though yes, in a contract year,) ended up as RB10 last year. With promising young RBs Byashul Tuten and LeQuint Allen (trust me), Etienne became expendable in Jacksonville, as they look to build a passing offense around Trevor Lawrence and as Etienne will surely have enough suitors to cash in in a big way this week. A move to Denver could boost his value in an offense clearly looking for a more reliable lead back. From a dynasty perspective, that would immediately cap Harvey’s upside while restoring Etienne to the kind of dual-threat workload that saw him reach RB3 back in 2023.

Kenneth Gainwell

Zach - NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
I don't expect Pittsburgh to bring back Gainwell, even after a disappointing rookie campaign from third-round pick Kaleb Johnson. Kellen Moore is familiar with Gainwell from their shared 2024 season in Philly, and Alvin Kamara isn't getting younger. Even if the Saints draft Jeremiyah Love, signing Gainwell makes sense, as the Saints look to build around their promising(?) young(?) QB Tyler Shough.

Matt - DO NOT CARE
All I care about Kenneth Gainwell is that he is gone.

(Signed, da president of da Kaleb Johnson Believers Club)

WIDE RECEIVERS

DJ Moore is a Buffalo Bill, and the Cowboys tagged George Pickens, who is also threatening not to report without a long-term contract. It's only March, so we'll see. I also don't even want to add Wan’Dale Robinson to this list, because he will undoubtedly and without question become a Tennessee Titan, joining old pal Brian Daboll and promising young QB Cam "Cran" Ward.

Alec Pierce

Zach - NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Drake "The Schedule" Maye, despite his playoff regression, was the best deep ball passer in the NFL in 2025. Stefon Diggs is in jail, and the Patriots have plenty of cap space to attempt another run. Alec Pierce, who was one of the best deep ball WRs in the NFL in 2025, will seemingly command a contract disproportionate to his ability, but if there's one place it might work out, it's in New England.

Matt - NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Alec Pierce run straight. Alec Pierce catch ball. To the New England Patriots, who believe they are fully back, that will be enough to dump loads of money on Pierce.

Romeo Doubs

Zach - PITTSBURGH STEELERS
I have no idea if Aaron Rodgers will come back to the Steelers, but if he does, I wouldn't be surprised to see him lobby for Doubs, who he publicly praised when they were together in Green Bay. The Steelers have been rumored to be in on a WR since way back before Brandon Aiyuk went AWOL, and even if they draft one high, Romeo Doubs would be a solid option opposite b while the rookie gets up to speed with Rodgers.

Matt - BUFFALO BILLS
After trading for DJ Moore, the Bills’ receiver room now consists of Moore, Khalil Shakir, Josh Palmer, and Keon Coleman- a group of complementary options rather than a clear cut second weapon. That makes Romeo Doubs an interesting potential fit if Buffalo looks to add another reliable target for Josh Allen. Doubs has quietly developed into a dependable possession receiver who can win on the boundary and in the red zone, traits that would complement Moore’s ability to stretch defenses and Shakir’s work in the slot. Buffalo’s offense can thrive when Allen has multiple receivers he trusts to win quickly against man coverage, and Doubs has shown that capability in Green Bay. From a dynasty perspective, landing in Buffalo would likely stabilize Doubs as a weekly flex option while giving the Bills another physical receiver capable of converting high-leverage targets.

Rashid Shaheed

Zach - Atlanta Falcons
This is more of a toss-up pick. Kevin Stefanski will likely want to add weapons around Michael Penix Jr, and Shaheed immediately provides a deep ball element to the Falcons passing game. Drake London is great, Kyle Pitts got tagged, and big-time Zach guy Casey Washington is still there, so there’s not necessarily a shortage of receiving options, but the Falcons should want to eliminate all excuses for Penix. Shaheed could ultimately end up anywhere looking for a high-end WR3, or maybe even a low-end WR2 in the right situation.

Matt - LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
I agree with Zach. I wouldn't be surprised if Shaheed ends up on a number of teams (Chargers, Steelers, Bills, Bucs). But, the Raiders are widely viewed as a potential landing spot given their need for explosive plays (or any plays, really) in the passing game, and the connection with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak (who worked with Shaheed in New Orleans) only strengthens the possibility. Las Vegas also enters free agency with significant cap space (around $88 million), and with the team widely expected to select quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick, they will need to surround their rookie passer with legitimate receiving options. After trading away Jakobi Meyers last season and cutting Geno Smith this past week, the Raiders’ offense is clearly entering a reset phase. Shaheed’s elite speed would immediately add a vertical element to the offense, forcing defenses to respect the deep ball and giving a young quarterback an easy way to generate chunk plays. From a dynasty perspective, a move to Las Vegas would likely keep Shaheed in the boom-bust deep threat role he has thrived in, but with the potential for increased volume as the Raiders rebuild their passing game around a rookie quarterback.

Jauan Jennings

Zach - New York Jets
The Jets are desperate. Aaron Glenn is a dead man walking. They lured Frank Reich away from Stanford to walk the hallowed halls of MetLife. It will be a disaster. Jennings was impressive in 2024, but failed to replicate that same success in 2025, which might hurt his market, but I still expect the Jets to throw money at the first pass catcher who is even willing to talk to them. Jennings would immediately step into the WR2 role, but the big question is still who the QB will be.

Matt - SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
In San Francisco, Jennings operated as a tough possession receiver who thrived on third down and in high-leverage situations (see: end zone,) using his size and physicality to move the chains. Seattle could use that kind of reliability as they continue shaping their passing attack, giving their quarterback another dependable intermediate target while allowing their faster receivers to stretch the field. From a dynasty perspective, Jennings landing in Seattle would likely keep him in a complementary role, but one with enough volume and red-zone usage to occasionally produce flex-level fantasy weeks.

TIGHT ENDS

It's not an exciting free agency class for TEs. Kyle Pitts got tagged in Atlanta, Travis Kelce is deciding whether to come back to the Chiefs (see: working on a single cheerio with his index finger after accidentally flipping his bowl over), and Tyler Higbee got a contract from the Rams - sorry to all Terrance Ferguson heads. To me (Zach) there's only one name worth talking about with real fantasy impact.

David Njoku

Zach - ATLANTA FALCONS
They tagged Kyle Pitts, but Njoku has experience with new HC Kevin Stefanski and QB coach Alex Van Pelt. It might seem silly to pay two TEs, but Pitts' future is still technically uncertain, and Stefanski's Browns played the highest rate of 12 personnel in the NFL last year at 41%. Atlanta has the cap space, and a reunion could be in play.

Matt - PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
After letting Dallas Goedert fly, the Eagles need a new easy button for their Fullback in Chief, Jalen Hurts. Philadelphia’s offense has historically leaned heavily on the tight end position, and replacing Goedert with another athletic, mismatch-capable player would make a lot of sense structurally. Although Njoku had a down year, taking a backseat to Harold Fannin Jr., he has quietly developed into one of the more reliable receiving tight ends in the league, with the ability to win down the seam and generate yards after the catch. These are traits that would translate well into an Eagles offense built around spacing and play-action. With AJ Brown's future up in the air, it makes TE even more important. With defenses already forced to account for Philadelphia’s rushing attack and outside receivers, Njoku could step into a role that produces consistent middle-of-the-field opportunities. From a dynasty perspective, landing in Philadelphia would likely be a breath of fresh air for managers who have had to weather the dependency on Cleveland QBs the last few years.

Isaiah Likely

Zach - NEW YORK GIANTS
I don't think Likely will command a big contract. He was a fantasy darling for years, and the Ravens seemed poised to let Mark Andrews walk in favor of the 25-year-old Likely, but that changed after a combination of injury concerns and general regression. I don't feel confident in this pick, because I don't really know how the league feels about Likely, but the Giants might be looking to improve the TE room alongside "Zach Guy" Theo Johnson, and Likely could be a low-risk, high-reward option.

Matt - KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
I have no idea why the Ravens chose Mark Andrews over Isaiah Likely but that's not my problem. I expect Likely to have a strong market. Not sure Isaiah Likely has committed enough crimes to garner the Chiefs' full attention as a pass catcher, but it makes plenty of sense to me. The Chiefs are always looking for ways to add versatility to Patrick Mahomes’ passing attack, and Likely would give them another athletic weapon who can move around the formation and create mismatches against linebackers and safeties. More importantly, Travis Kelce is old as hell. Even if Kelce remains productive in the short term, Kansas City has to be thinking about what the offense looks like when he finally slows down or walks away. I think Noah Gray has long been seen as the guy who steps in afterward, but can we imagine both Gray and Likely as options in that offense? As a Chiefs hater? Disgusting. Gross. I do not like it.

Chigoziem Okonkwo

Zach - PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Philly's TE room is depleted, with Dallas Goedert and co. likely hitting the market. Howie Roseman is a supposed genius because he knows how to use void years better than anyone else in the league, but that will catch up with him. Another long-time fantasy darling, Chiggy could ultimately stay with the Titans, but he could also be a sneaky good addition to an Eagles team that wins despite playing terrible football. Honestly, if he ends up in Philly, he will move up my draft board as a late round redraft target in 2026.

Matt - NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
This one is also gross to me. I hate it. It would make far too much sense. The Patriots have been searching for more explosive skill players as they rebuild their offense (goodbye Stefon Diggs,) and Okonkwo’s athletic profile fits that need well. He has consistently flashed yards-after-catch ability and the kind of movement skills that allow him to line up across the formation rather than functioning as a traditional in-line tight end. For a Patriots offense that has lacked dynamic middle-of-the-field threats in recent seasons, Okonkwo could provide a much-needed spark. Hunter Henry cannot live forever.