PlayerProfiler is home to award-winning dynasty rankings and tools. Our Dynasty Deluxe package includes complete Dynasty Rankings, Rookie Rankings, Trade Analyzer, Draft Planner, Mock Drafts, and more. Check it out. Here, Ed DeLauter previews the 2025 NFL Free Agency rankings from a fantasy football perspective.
With hundreds of NFL players slated to enter NFL free agency, sorting through the fantasy-relevant players can seem daunting. Below is a list of the top 20 NFL Free Agency Rankings for fantasy football fans to monitor when the market opens on March 12th.
2025 NFL Free Agency Rankings
1. Davante Adams, WR, New York Jets
After pulling the plug on the Aaron Rodgers experiment, the Jets cut bait on Davante Adams whom the Jets acquired to appease Rodgers, for a 3rd round pick last season. In the 11 games he played with the Jets, Adams averaged 10 targets per game and 17.6 fantasy points per game. Entering his age 32 season, Adams showed last year that he still has plenty of juice left in the tank. He is easily the most talented wide receiver available in free agency and makes for a great addition for any contender looking for a short-term rocket boost at the wide receiver position. Rumblings have suggested that Adams can land wherever Rodgers ends up or on a West Coast team. The Chargers and Cardinals make for intriguing non-Rodgers-contingent destinations. UPDATE: Adams signed with the Rams on a 2-year, $46 million deal.
2. Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chris Godwin got off to a hot start in 2024 averaging 19.7 fantasy points per game. He was the wide receiver 2 overall in the first seven weeks of the season. However, his 2024 campaign ultimately ended in week seven after he dislocated his ankle. He hopefully will land in a spot where he sees the majority of his routes out of the slot as Godwin has failed to finish outside the top 24 wide receivers in fantasy points per game in every season he has run at least 50 percent of his routes out of the slot. The Buccaneers’ top priority this off-season is re-signing Godwin. However, there are many wide receiver-needy teams with cap space such as the Patriots. Raiders, or Commanders, who can easily open up the vault for Godwin.
3. Stefon Diggs, WR, Houston Texans
Stefon Diggs played eight games last season, his first with the Houston Texans after being traded away from the Buffalo Bills. The switch from Josh Allen to C.J. Stroud was no big deal for Diggs as he averaged 8 targets and 15.2 fantasy points per game. He was the WR8 overall through the first 8 weeks.
Tragically, Diggs sustained a torn ACL in week eight which forced him to miss the remainder of the season. Now, entering his age 31 season, Diggs will look to recover from injury and land in a spot where he can finish the rest of his career. A return to Houston makes logical sense as he would serve as a great compliment to Nico Collins on the outside. However, the recent addition of Christian Kirk makes that less likely.
4. Keenan Allen, WR, Chicago Bears
In his first season away from the Los Angeles Chargers, Keenan Allen disappointed finishing outside the top 24 wide receivers in fantasy points per game for the first time since 2016. While he led the Bears with a 27.2% target share, the Bears offense failed to sustain drives and Allen averaged only 4.7 receptions. That was the fewest receptions he has averaged since his rookie season in 2013. About to enter his age 33 season, Allen can likely provide some sure hands for any quarterback in need of wide receiver help. Teams looking for a short-term veteran option at receiver make the most sense.
5. Sam Darnold, QB, Minnesota Vikings
Sam Darnold is the lone free-agent quarterback who will instantly rise the tide beneath his future skill position player’s boats. Darnold is coming off a career year finishing as the QB9 in fantasy points per game. He also topped the league with a 50.8-percent Deep Ball Completion Rate. He also slung the ball downfield a ton with 61 Deep Ball Attempts which was ninth amongst all quarterbacks. Last season he ranked fifth in the league both passing yards and passing touchdowns, throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns. With the Vikings’ 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy now healthy, it is unlikely that Minnesota will re-sign Darnold. After trading away Geno Smith, the Seahawks are expected to be interested in acquiring Darnold’s services.
6. Aaron Jones, RB, Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings signed former longtime Packer Aaron Jones to a one-year $7 million contract last off-season and proceeded to use him as an all-purpose weapon out of the backfield. Jones rushed for 1,380 yards on 255 carries. He also caught 51 receptions for 408 yards.
Jones now reenters free agency at 30 and will likely find another one-year deal. Rumors have him headed back to Minnesota or other destinations such as the Las Vegas Raiders. Wherever he lands, he will likely be used as a key part of the offense until the wheels fall off. UPDATE: Jones re-signed with the Vikings for two years.
7. Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Najee Harris has rushed for over 1,000 yards in every season of his four-year career. However, his fantasy success has always been sustained by opportunity rather than efficiency. He hasn’t seen fewer than 250 rushing attempts per season in his career however he has failed to average more than four True Yards per Carry in any season. Coming off his rookie contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Harris will likely find a home on a squad looking for serviceable consistent production at the running back position. Chances are, much like Harris’ efficiency, sub-optimal, that this landing spot is exciting for fantasy football.
8. J.K. Dobbins, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
J.K. Dobbins returned from an ACL tear, and torn Achilles to produce one of the most impressive comeback seasons at the running back position of all time. While Dobbins is an amazing story to root for given his injury history, his fantasy production was a bit of a mixed bag last season. He was 44th among all qualified running backs in yards created per touch however, he had 10 breakaway runs which placed him 15th among all running backs. Long story short, Dobbins struggled to create yards consistently but did have some nice long runs throughout the season. It would make sense for Dobbins to return to the Chargers in free agency considering his history with offensive coordinator Greg Roman. If he does go elsewhere he may struggle to find fantasy relevancy as a committee back.
9. Evan Engram, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars cut Evan Engram just before the start of free agency making him the most intriguing tight end available. The soon-to-be 31-year-old tight end is only one year removed from leading the position with 143 targets and 114 receptions. After finishing as the TE2 overall in 2023, Engram failed to duplicate that success last season seeing fewer snaps on the field, and fewer snaps out of the slot. Engram will hope to find a team that utilizes him as a big slot receiver as opposed to a more traditional tight end. The Broncos, Chargers, and Patriots make for interesting landing spots.
10. Rico Dowdle, RB, Dallas Cowboys
In four years Rico Dowdle went from an undrafted free agent to starting running back for the Dallas Cowboys. Last season, his first season as a starter, he was able to rush for more than 1,000 yards and also caught 39 receptions. He finished as the RB24 in fantasy points per game scoring 12.4 fantasy points throughout 16 games.
Dowdle ranked 17th among all running backs with 944 Yards Created however aside from this metric there was very little else associated with his effort last season that was efficient. Dowdle’s best path to fantasy viability next season is likely a return to Dallas. No matter where he lands it is most likely that he is on the short side of a committee because of the talent of the running backs in the incoming draft class.
11. Marquise Brown, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Marquise Brown signed a one-year, prove-it deal last season with Kansas City. Unfortunately, he didn’t have time to prove much. Prior to the start of the season, Brown sustained an injury that forced him to miss 14 games. He did see at least seven targets in the two regular-season games in which he was active however he failed to crest double-digit fantasy points in either contest. Still only entering his age-28 season, Brown makes for an intriguing option for those teams in free agency that strike out on some of the other wide receivers.
12. Amari Cooper, WR, Buffalo Bills
After posting a career-high 1,250 in receiving yards in 2023, Amari Cooper looked washed last season. Spending time with the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills, Cooper posted a career-low 547 receiving yards and 44 receptions. Towards the end of the campaign, he was essentially phased out of Buffalo’s offense running less than 20 routes per game from Week 15 onward including the playoffs. Cooper may have to settle for a for a ‘prove-it’ type of deal this offseason.
13. Justin Fields, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Justin Fields started the 2024 season as the Steelers starting quarterback after Russell Wilson’s debut in black and gold was delayed due to a calf injury. During his time as starter, Fields played as a conservative passer throwing for only 124 Air Yards per game.
However, he was able to provide fantasy production with his legs, rushing for at least 50 yards or a touchdown in four of his six starts. If Fields is able to land a starting job in free agency he is a player that can provide consistent fantasy production with the potential for QB1 overall spike weeks.
14. Dyami Brown, WR, Washington Commanders
Dyami Brown had the best season of his four-year career posting a career-best 308 receiving yards on 40 targets. He seemed to hit a stride with Jayden Daniels late in the season seeing at least 4 targets per game from week 13 onward. Only 25 years old, Brown presents a youthful option at the wide receiver position for teams looking for a potential upgrade.
15. Zach Ertz, TE, Washington Commanders
Zach Ertz signed a one-year deal with the Washington Commanders last offseason and proceeded to show new signs of life having his best season since 2021. Ertz finished as the overall No. 7 tight end in fantasy points. A return to the Commanders makes the most sense, considering his history with offense coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. However, he presents a plug-and-play upgrade at the position for most teams despite entering his age-34 season.
16. Mike Gesicki, TE, Cincinnati Bengals
Mike Gesicki signed a one-year deal last season with the Bengals and served as the team’s primary receiving tight end. Playing only 46.3 percent of snaps, Gesecki averaged 8.3 fantasy points per game, He ran 64.8 percent of those snaps out of the slot. He will either return to the Bengals or play a similar role for a team looking for a big slot receiver.
17. Darius Slayton, WR, New York Giants
Darius Slayton, much like the Giants offense, had a down season last year posting only 573 receiving yards on 71 targets. Before last season, Slayton posted two consecutive 700-yard-plus receiving campaigns as New York’s primary field-stretching wide receiver. He has yet to have a season with an average target distance under 11 yards.
Slayton would be a great addition to any franchise looking for a field-stretching receiver from the boundary. Teams like the Texans, Chargers, and Bills would make a lot of sense.
18. Juwan Johnson, TE, New Orleans Saints
Juwan Johnson has served as the Saints’ primary tight end for the past three seasons. He finished 18th in fantasy points per game in two out of those three seasons. He likely will be part of a tight end rotation wherever he lands after free agency. A reunion with Sean Payton in Denver would likely be his best path to fantasy relevancy.
19. Russell Wilson, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
After missing the first six games due to injury, Russell Wilson was re-inserted as the Steelers starting quarterback and brought a much-needed vertical element to the passing game. He completed 46.7 percent of his Deep Ball attempts. If he re-signs with the Steelers or is under center elsewhere in 2025 the the Russell Wilson moonball will likely boost any skill players whose routes are primarily run downfield.
20. Aaron Rodgers, QB, New York Jets
After missing all of 2023 due to a ruptured Achilles, Aaron Rodgers’s long-awaited debut with the New York Jets failed to live up to expectations. Despite hand-picking his offensive teammates and coaches, Rodgers posted one of the worst seasons of his career, passing for only 3,897 yards and completing 63 percent of his passes. Father Time may have finally caught up to the future Hall of Famer. However, Rodgers will likely still be able to secure a starting gig entering his age 41 season despite whatever drama he might bring along with him.
Honorable Mention-Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Tee Higgins would rank first on this list if he were truly a free agent. However, the Bengals placed the franchise tag on Higgins with the hopes of working out a deal to keep him together with teammates Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase long-term. Higgins was active for only 12 games last season, however when he was only field fantasy players rejoiced as he averaged 18.5 fantasy points per game, fifth amongst all qualified wide receivers. Higgins will likely stay in Cincinnati this season even if the side cannot work out a long-term deal. However, considering the lack of quality free agent wide receivers, a team could pay the Bengals a hefty price of two first-round picks to make Higgins their number one wide receiver.
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