Contracts & Free Agency

It’s officially March Madness, NFL Style! On March 14th, we saw a two-day window open where teams could contact players. And we instantly saw fireworks with monumental contracts firing off left and right. We wanted to take a closer look at the free agency acquisitions that affect fantasy football the most, and what they mean for your best ball, redraft, and dynasty teams in the future! So without further adieu, here is the 2022 Fantasy Football Free Agency Impact Guide.

The Miami Dolphins broke the ice on the running back market, signing Chase Edmonds. Schematically, it has all the look of a smash selection. And even if they sign or draft another RB, his 13.8-percent (No. 8 among qualified running backs) Target Share proves he’s among the premier pass catching backs in the NFL. Edmonds remains a great RB to target in fantasy drafts.

Derek Carr was great last season and now gets Davante Adams to throw the ball to. He finished as the QB14 in fantasy last season but should improve upon it with the best receiver in the NFL at his disposal and a loaded division with shootout potential. There will be many startable quarterback options this season. Carr is firmly entrenched as one.

Chase Edmonds is already one of the best receivers out of the backfield and will get the opportunity to showcase more of that skillset this season in a revamped Miami offense that saw them acquire Terron Armstead and Tyreek Hill. Miami’s offensive line should hold up better than the last two seasons while plenty of space should be created underneath as defenses have to deal with both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. The Dolphins offense will improve as a whole, and Edmonds looks like a big beneficiary.

The offseason is an exciting time for both the organizations and the players, and it is the time where new storylines begin. Teams are looking to fix last season’s mistakes, and free agents are looking for a fresh start. There has certainly been some movement that will change the trajectory of some NFL teams for years to come. Let’s take a look at some players going to new teams via free agency.

One year after being PFF’s worst offensive line, the Dolphins have brought in three-time Pro Bowl tackle Terron Armstead. He will bring in veteran leadership and be a valuable asset to the Dolphins offensive line for up to five years. It’s put up or shut up time for Tua Tagovailoa, who still hasn’t really impressed at the NFL level. All the pieces are there, now it’s time for us to watch.

The return of Jameis Winston to the Saints brings several different fantasy implications, not only for him, but for the team’s skill players. As a starter for New Orleans last season, Winston averaged 17.2 fantasy points per game with 14 passing touchdowns to just 3 interceptions in seven games. He also tacked on 166 rushing yards, showing he has the rushing potential to be impactful in fantasy. Winston had two top-5 weekly fantasy finishes in that time. However, he had four games under 15 fantasy points, showing he was a very volatile option on a Saints team with limited receiving options.

After releasing Cole Beasley, the Buffalo Bills went out and signed Jamison Crowder. Crowder (whose Best Comparable is Beasley) has spent the majority of his career as a slot receiver. Last season in twelve games, he took 334 (No. 17) Slot Snaps at a 66.8-percent Slot Rate. In Buffalo last season, Beasley had an 82.1-percent Slot Rate with Isaiah McKenzie filling in the slot as well. With Beasley out, Crowder’s role will almost certainly be as Josh Allen’s slot receiver, a position where Beasley saw over 100 targets each of the last three seasons.

The PlayerProfiler and RotoUnderworld maestro of opportunities, head game analyst, and NFL draft analyst Cody Carpentier is back with the 2022 NFL Draft Team Needs. Look for more Mock Drafts in the Dynasty Deluxe section under NFL Draft Index. Aside from NFL Mock Draft Data, you can find 2022 Rookie Mock Draft ADP (SuperFlex and 1QB) as well as Dynasty Mock Draft ADP (SuperFlex and 1QB), a Dynasty League Trade Finder App, Rankings, Trade Analyzer, and the Brand New Dynasty Dominator Reloaded.

Big free agents the Chargers can add in the $10-$20 million per year contract range include Allen Robinson, Chris Godwin, Brandon Scherff, Dont’a Hightower, Larry Ogunjobi, and Tyrann Mathieu. Maybe even Davante Adams ($20 million-plus). Tom Telesco has more than enough cap flexibility to add key free agents, even re-sign a player or two. The Chargers will have the money to make a star pair like Allen with Godwin or James with Mathieu.

Aaron Rodgers is not technically a free agent yet, but the speculation around his future continuers. The Denver Broncos are the most rumored team to land Rodgers and potentially free agent Davante Adams with him. There is also a chance the Packers will retain both, while the Steelers, Commanders, and even the Buccaneers could have a shot at Rodgers. Whichever team lands him would be a top-tier free agent destination and a candidate to be a big free agency winner.

Some teams face a massive struggle to become salary cap compliant while also entertaining hopes of being competitive in 2022. The Saints cap situation appears perilous to the outsider, and all the more concerning when one considers the weakness of the team heading into the new year.

You can’t pay everyone, that’s the truth of the salary cap system. But can the Buccaneers pay anyone and remain competitive next season? Even if Tom Brady goes back on his retirement and returns, how do the Bucs keep all his toys around for another season?

Doug Pederson makes a splash and gets his second-year QB a legitimate No. 1 WR to pair with third-year Laviska Shenault in the slot. As the former HC of the Eagles, Pederson knows from firsthand experience the impact Amari Cooper has on an offense. Releasing him is a bet on CeeDee Lamb’s ascension into the group of elite WRs. And a lesser bet on Dallas’ ability to scout rookie WRs.

At one point last offseason, I genuinely thought the Chiefs would roll the dice on WR Golden Tate. They missed out on JuJu Smith-Schuster, and the move made sense. Especially with Sammy Watkins walking. Here, they don’t make the same mistake twice, and add veteran slot WR Cole Beasley via free agency this time around. Wheels up for his fantasy football stock if this move actually happens.

It pays to be provocative — I get it. Deadlines demand stories and content must be created. People love drama. I accept that, and I accept that Russell Wilson stirred the pot; but should we continue the pressure campaign? I say no, Russell remains a Seahawk and plays in Seattle beyond his contract. If Russell says he wants to be in Seattle, and team leadership want Russ in Seattle, media should kill the story.

Drafting Kyle Pitts as the highest-selected tight end ever was too risky. How the Falcons could have traded Matt Ryan in the summer of 2021.

Lessons learned from the Tyler Boyd contract. Where should Michael Gallup go in free agency?