Fantasy Free Agent Preview

Mon Feb 16 4:43pm ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Breece Hall will be sought after


It his hard to believe, but we are nearing the start of free agency (March 11). And there are a lot of notable free agents this year. We thought it might be a good idea to preview each position and look at the top fantasy prospects available. This should be an interesting offseason with plenty of twists and turns. Stay tuned.

QUARTERBACKS

Daniel Jones. It would be a surprise if Jones didn’t re-sign with the Colts. He was having his best season to date last year before getting hurt. He has a long road back from a torn Achilles’ but should be ready at some point.

Malik Willis. Willis might be the most intriguing free agent quarterback. He has looked really good with limited chances the last few seasons in Green Bay. He had a rough start to his career in Tennessee but is plenty of young enough to get it going. You could see the Dolphins or Jets making a run at Willis, giving him a chance a start. Willis has a chance to be a real impact fantasy player next season.

RUNNING BACKS

Travis Etienne. You would expect the Jaguars to make a play to re-sign Etienne after a strong season under the new coaching staff. But nothing is certain with the way the Jaguars are thinking. They might not want to give Etienne a big contract and go with Bhayshul Tuten as their lead back. Etienne should have some suitors if that is the case but might not get the volume he would have had if he stayed with the Jaguars.

Javonte Williams. Williams had his best season to date with the Cowboys. Dallas seems to really like him as their lead back and are likely to keep him on their roster. And if Williams stays with the Cowboys, this is great news for his fantasy value. Williams was 12th overall in fantasy running backs scoring.

Breece Hall. The Jets want to keep Hall and could end up franchise tagging him but you have to wonder if Hall wants to return to the team after last year. He might want to move on to greener pastures. And a move to a different team could bring a boost to his fantasy value. For fantasy purposes, it would be great to see him land with the Chiefs, finally giving them a dependable No. 1 back. It could happen.

Kenneth Walker. Walker was the MVP of the Super Bowl and had a great run in the playoffs, so he picked a good time to play his best football. Walker seems to really want to return to Seattle but money talks and he could take advantage of his chance in free agency to cash out. You could see a team overpaying for Walker in free agency. And a move to a new team could actually help his fantasy value, getting more chances than he does in the Seahawks backfield.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Deebo Samuel. Samuel had a solid first season with the Commanders and could return if the price is right. He isn’t getting any younger, though, and might want a longer term deal. This could lead to a change of scenery for him to go to a receiver needy team. You could see a team throwing some money at him to serve as an upgrade at the No. 2 receiver spot. We wouldn’t see his fantasy value changing a whole lot.

Mike Evans. Evans had an injury plagued season but wants to keep playing at age 32. He is expected to move onto another team, though, with the Bucs have some young receivers looking for more playing time. It makes sense for both sides. Evans could be a good fit for a team like the Patriots or Bills, giving them a dependable, veteran receiver. A move to a new team would not be all bad for Evans.

Jauan Jennings. Jennings is a little intriguing. He showed some flashes of good things in a starting role for the 49ers. He could get a chance to serve as a starter from day one on a new team. There are plenty of teams looking for receiver help, so look for Jennings to get a chance to play a big role in 2026.

Rashid Shaheed. Shaheed has never been a big-time starter but might get that chance next season. There is likely a team to spend big on him to be a big-play threat in their offense. He is another intriguing player to watch this offseason. The right fit could yield career-best fantasy numbers. 

Wan’Dale Robinson. Robinson is another player that picked a good time to have a career season. The Giants would like to retain him because they are thin at the position, but there are already rumors of him going to Tennessee to reunite with with Brian Daboll. This would be a good spot for Robinson to land, racking up some receptions in that offense.

George Pickens. Pickens is the top free agent receiver. The Cowboys are likely to franchise tag him, which won’t make him happy. Pickens is going to draw some big suitors but the Cowboys likely won’t let him get away.

Alec Pierce. Kind of like Malik Willis at quarterback, Pierce might be the most intriguing fantasy receiver in free agency. He has shown flashes of big things but never been featured as a No. 1 receiver. That could change with a move to a new team, which seems likely. He should get a big boost to his fantasy value. It would be great to see him land with a team like the Patriots.

Romeo Doubs. Doubs gets overlooked at time but has been very productive in Green Bay. He has a lot to compete with for targets in Green Bay, so a move to a new team could give him some added fantasy value. He might have more of a featured role as a No. 1 or 2 receiver.

Tyreek Hill. Hill was just released by the Dolphins and should be a hot item in free agency. Sure, he is going to turn 32 shortly and is coming off a pretty devastating injury, but Hill remains a pretty dynamic receiver and still has something left in the tank. If he lands in the right spot, he could have another big fantasy season. Maybe a reunion with the Chiefs?

TIGHT ENDS

David Njoku. Njoku is not expected to return to the Browns, having to compete with Harold Fanin for playing time at tight end. Njoku is a talented pass-catching tight end. He will have his suitors and a move to a tight-end friendly offense could be a big boost to his fantasy value.

Kyle Pitts. Pitts is another player that did well to post big numbers in their walk year. Pitts is coming off a huge season and likely going to get a lot of money in free agency. He could have his second straight big season this coming year. There are plenty of teams looking for an upgrade at tight end.

Dallas Goedert. Goedert is intriguing. He has always been erratic for the Eagles, competing with a lot for targets in a run-heavy scheme. He could see an uptick in production with a new team. He is a big-play threat capable of the big game any given week. He is one to keep an eye on.

Isaiah Likely. Likely split work with Mark Andrews in Baltimore but could get his shot as a full-time starter. He showed some promise in a starting role for the Ravens. He plays more like a receiver than a tight end at times. Likely has some real fantasy potential as a No. 1 tight end.

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.

Top Headlines
The Paur Report
Player Notes
Geno Smith Mar 10 2:10pm ET
Geno Smith

SNY's Connor Hughes reports that "all signs right now are pointing" to former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith returning to the New York Jets this offseason. The Jets failed miserably with the free-agent acquisition of QB Justin Fields last March, so this year, they are looking to bring in two cheap veteran options at the position to compete for the starting job this summer. Other than Smith, the Jets are high on Minnesota Vikings veteran backup Carson Wentz. The 35-year-old Smith was drafted by the Jets back in 2013 out of West Virginia in the second round, and he played the first four seasons of his NFL career in New York. The 35-year-old was a Pro Bowler in 2022 and 2023 with the Seattle Seahawks in a late-career resurgence, but he was one of the worst signal-callers in 2025 with the Raiders, throwing for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns, and a league-high 17 interceptions in 15 starts. Smith would probably be the favorite if he's competing against Wentz, but not many fantasy managers will want much to do with him, even as a low-end QB2 in superflex formats.

From RotoBaller

Alec Pierce Mar 10 2:00pm ET
Alec Pierce

The early projection is "eight to 10" targets a game for Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce in 2026, according to Stephen Holder of ESPN. The Colts re-signed Pierce on Monday to a four-year, $116 million contract after he led the team with 1,003 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 47 receptions in 2025. Sources say that the 25-year-old turned down offers from other teams that would have surpassed his deal with the Colts by a "substantive amount." Pierce preferred familiarity and to keep his connection going with quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles). The Colts traded away Michael Pittman Jr. on Monday, too, so Pierce will be Indy's unquestioned No. 1 wideout in 2026 after his breakout performance last season. Posting a second straight 1,000-yard season might not be easy, but Pierce has solidified himself as a big-play threat for fantasy managers after leading the NFL in yards per catch in each of the last two seasons.

From RotoBaller

Zane Gonzalez Mar 10 1:50pm ET
Zane Gonzalez

Veteran free-agent kicker Zane Gonzalez agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday, agent Mike McCartney told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Gonzalez will be joining his sixth team as he heads into his eighth NFL season. The 30-year-old former seventh-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2017 out of Arizona State kicked in nine games for the Atlanta Falcons last year and was solid, making 19 of his 22 field-goal attempts (7-for-9 from 50-plus yards) while missing just one of his 18 extra-point tries. The Dolphins already released long-time kicker Jason Sanders, and Riley Patterson, who filled in nicely in 2025, could leave in free agency, so Gonzalez gives Miami's new coaching staff an experienced fallback option at placekicker. In an offense that will be led by new quarterback Malik Willis, Gonzalez will be a low-end kicking option, at best, in fantasy football leagues if he's the starter this fall.

From RotoBaller

Ka'imi Fairbairn Mar 10 1:40pm ET
Ka'imi Fairbairn

The Houston Texans are signing kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn to a two-year, $13 million deal on Tuesday, a league source told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. Fairbairn still had a year left on the three-year, $15.9 million contract he signed with the Texans in March of 2024, but the Texans will extend one of the best kickers in the NFL for another couple of seasons. The 32-year-old veteran led the NFL in both field-goal makes (44) and attempts (48) in 15 regular-season games in 2025, also making all 28 of his extra-point opportunities. He went 9-for-13 on kicks from 50-plus yards out. Fairbairn was second behind only the Seahawks' Jason Myers in overall fantasy points among kickers last year. He has an 87.6% success rate in his career on 291 field-goal attempts over his nine years in the league. Locked in with Houston for another couple of years, Fairbairn will be a high-floor fantasy kicker in 2026.

From RotoBaller

Isiah Pacheco Mar 10 1:20pm ET
Isiah Pacheco

The Detroit Lions are signing free-agent running back Isiah Pacheco to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday, a source told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Pacheco will essentially replace David Montgomery, who was traded to the Houston Texans, as the backfield complement to starter Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit. The 27-year-old former seventh-rounder in 2022 out of Rutgers had 1,765 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns on 375 carries for the Chiefs in his first two years in the league, but injuries slowed him down the last two years, as he had a combined 772 rushing yards and only two rushing TDs on 201 carries in 2024 and 2025. The landing spot with the Lions is certainly a good one for a potential bounce-back campaign for Pacheco in his fifth year in the league, and he won't cost much late in drafts this fall as a handcuff for Gibbs.

From RotoBaller

Kalif Raymond Mar 10 1:10pm ET
Kalif Raymond

Free-agent wide receiver Kalif Raymond is signing an undisclosed one-year deal with the Chicago Bears on Tuesday, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The former Detroit Lions wideout will remain in the NFC North and will give the Bears some depth after they lost Olamide Zaccheaus to free agency on Monday. The 31-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Holy Cross started his NFL career back in 2016 with the Denver Broncos. He has been with Detroit since the 2021 campaign, catching 171 passes for 2,185 yards and eight touchdowns on 231 targets in his five years with the Lions. Raymond has mostly been an asset on special teams as a kick and punt returner. He didn't go over 300 yards receiving in each of the last two years in Motown and won't be expected to have a major role on offense in Chicago, making him avoidable in the majority of fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller

Rachaad White Mar 10 12:30pm ET
Rachaad White

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White is one of the best players remaining on the free-agent market this week, and the NFL Network's Mike Garafolo says he was told that White is one of the fallback options at RB for the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle failed to re-sign Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, and Zach Charbonnet (knee) might not be ready for Week 1 this fall after tearing his ACL in the playoffs. The 27-year-old won't be back in Tampa after the Bucs signed Kenneth Gainwell on Monday, but he could be the perfect fit with an expanded role for the Super Bowl-champion Seahawks in 2026. The former third-round pick in 2022 out of Arizona State is a dual threat out of the backfield and had 1,500 scrimmage yards in his second year in the league in 2023 with the Bucs. If he were to land in Seattle, White could be a sneaky RB selection in 2026 fantasy drafts as the top option out of Seattle's backfield, at least early on.

From RotoBaller

Dawson Knox Mar 10 11:40am ET
Dawson Knox

The Buffalo Bills and Pro Bowl tight end Dawson Knox agreed to a new, undisclosed three-year contract on Tuesday, sources told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Knox was a Pro Bowler for the first time in his career back in 2022, when he caught 48 of 65 targets for 517 yards and six touchdowns in 15 starts. The 29-year-old has been much less intriguing for fantasy football purposes since the Bills drafted Dalton Kincaid in the first round in 2023. In the last three seasons with Knox sharing playing time with Kincaid, the 29-year-old has totaled 80 receptions on 118 targets for 914 yards and seven total touchdowns in 45 games (36 starts). Knox still has plenty of chemistry with quarterback Josh Allen and is a key red-zone asset in the passing game, but unless Kincaid misses time with an injury in 2026, Knox will merely be a touchdown-dependent TE2 with limited upside.

From RotoBaller

Nate Hobbs Mar 10 11:20am ET
Nate Hobbs

The Green Bay Packers are releasing cornerback Nate Hobbs (knee) on Tuesday with a post-June 1 designation, a source told Rob Demovsky of ESPN. With the move, the Packers will save $8 million against the 2026 salary cap. The move doesn't come as a huge surprise, as Hobbs played in only 11 games (five starts) for the second straight season in 2025 and finished the year with a torn MCL that he suffered in Week 17 against the Baltimore Ravens. The 26-year-old signed a four-year, $48 million contract with Green Bay in March of last year. Hobbs was drafted in 2021 by the Las Vegas Raiders in the fifth round out of Illinois. It's unclear if Hobbs will be ready to go for the start of the 2026 season this fall, but if he is, he should be a candidate to start with another team. Injuries have been an issue for him, though, as Hobbs has played more than 13 games in a season just once, back in his rookie season in 2021.

From RotoBaller

Michael Pittman Jr. Mar 10 11:20am ET
Michael Pittman Jr.

The Athletic's Mike DeFabo believes that newly acquired wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., a player with good size (6-foot-4, 223 pounds), physicality, and pedigree, will be a good fit with the Pittsburgh Steelers. If the Steelers re-sign quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the 42-year-old future Hall of Famer "seems to prefer veterans who understand the nuances of route running, how to read coverages and what it takes to prepare for an opponent." Pittman, who should slot in as the No. 2 behind DK Metcalf, "checks a lot of those boxes." The 28-year-old will receive a new three-year, $59 million contract with the Steelers after being acquired from the Indianapolis Colts on Monday. Pittman did lead the Colts with 80 catches last year and had a career-best seven touchdowns, but his yardage total (784) was down for a second straight season. His 2026 fantasy value hinges on whether Rodgers returns for another season in Pittsburgh.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Bass Mar 10 11:00am ET
Tyler Bass

The Buffalo Bills and kicker Tyler Bass (hip, groin) agreed to a revised contract on Tuesday that includes $1 million guaranteed and a chance to earn up to $3.5 million in 2026, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Bass missed the entire 2025 season due to injury, so a pay cut was inevitable. The 29-year-old made 24 of his 29 field-goal attempts (4-for-4 from 50-plus yards) and went 59-for-64 on his extra points in 17 games during the regular season for Buffalo in 2024. The former sixth-rounder (188th overall) in 2020 out of Georgia Southern has made 84.5% of his 155 field-goal attempts in his five years in the NFL, all with the Bills. He has two years left on his contract and should enter the start of the 2026 season this fall as the team's starting placekicker, which will make him attractive again in most fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller

Chuba Hubbard Mar 10 10:10am ET
Chuba Hubbard

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard was one of 2024's most successful fantasy breakouts, finishing his fourth professional season as the RB15, but 2025 brought hardships in the form of injuries and a frustrating timeshare with Rico Dowdle. With Dowdle now agreeing to a two-year pact with the Steelers in the opening hours of the NFL's legal tampering window, Hubbard again finds himself with a chance to claim the top spot on the depth chart. After a day in which the Panthers committed to spending big on the defensive side of the ball, the running backs' room is left with Hubbard, the oft-injured Jonathon Brooks, and 2025 fourth-round pick Trevor Etienne. If the team believes in the receiving prowess of Brooks and Etienne, this very well could be the trio they enter the 2026 season with, perhaps with the addition of a late-round depth piece from a rookie class not necessarily touted for the strength of its running back group.

From RotoBaller

RJ Harvey Mar 10 10:00am ET
RJ Harvey

Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey finished his 2025 rookie campaign as the lead back in the Mile High City, following a Week 10 foot injury that ended J.K. Dobbins' first season with the team. Expected to pursue the position aggressively when the legal tampering window opened on Monday, the Broncos agreed to a new two-year deal with Dobbins, worth up to $20 million with $8 million guaranteed. After handing out one of the larger running back deals of the day, it would appear that Harvey will find himself in a similar position to the one in which he opened his rookie season as the clear 1B in a timeshare with Dobbins. Harvey was able to salvage his fantasy season, with a traditionally unsustainable 12 touchdowns, but he lacked notable explosiveness, and his 128-touch pace through the year's first ten weeks was well below what fantasy managers had hoped for following his lofty second-round NFL Draft capital and rumblings of his usage in Sean Payton's Joker role.

From RotoBaller

Bhayshul Tuten Mar 10 9:40am ET
Bhayshul Tuten

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten appears to have benefited from the first day of the NFL's legal tampering window, watching former teammate Travis Etienne Jr. agree to a four-year deal with the New Orleans Saints and leaving him presently atop the depth chart. With most of the bigger-name free agent backs already finding new homes in the first 24 hours of open negotiation, and the Jaguars likely picking too late in the draft to add an impactful Day 1 rookie, Tuten has a strong chance to enter his second season as the team's number one option out of the backfield. Currently joining him on the depth chart are 2025 seventh-round pick LeQuint Allen, who spent much of his rookie year relegated to special teams, handling only 23 rushing attempts, and seventh-year journeyman DeeJay Dallas.

From RotoBaller

Devin Lloyd Mar 10 9:30am ET
Devin Lloyd

Pro-Bowl linebacker Devin Lloyd has agreed to a three-year, $45 million contract with the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers, who also agreed to terms on a four-year deal with edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, continue to reshape their defense by bringing in the 27-year-old off-ball linebacker who is coming off one of the most impactful seasons of his four-year career. A Pro-Bowler and Second-Team All-Pro in 2025, the former Jaguar finished the year with a career-high 10 quarterback hits and five interceptions, including one that he returned 99 yards for his first career touchdown. Lloyd is now one of the ten-highest-paid players at the position and will be the focal point of a Panthers defense on which the team committed to spending big on the first day of legal tampering.

From RotoBaller

Malik Willis Mar 10 9:12am ET
Malik Willis

Dynasty | The Dolphins have signed free agent quarterback Malik Willis Dynasty Analysis: After spending four years as a backup in Tennessee and Green Bay, Willis finally gets his chance and a whopping three-year, $67.5 million contract in the process. Miami let Tua Tagovailoa go this morning, making this move less surprising. However, Willis is still pretty unproven and it's a gamble for a team that's taking on $99 million in dead cap money already with Tagovailoa being released. Willis has a high ceiling and low floor but his ADP is going to skyrocket now that he's one of just 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL.

Kenneth Gainwell Mar 10 9:12am ET
Kenneth Gainwell

Dynasty | The Bucs have signed running back Kenneth Gainwell. Dynasty Analysis: With Tampa Bay likely losing both Sean Tucker and Rachaad White as free agents, they needed to add some depth at the position behind Bucky Irving. Gainwell got a $14 million deal, so he could eat into some of Irving's catches and be more than just a fallback option. However, expecting the same numbers he posted last year in Pittsburgh seems unrealistic. Gainwell remains a back-end roster stash and now a good handcuff to Irving as well.

Tyler Allgeier Mar 10 9:12am ET
Tyler Allgeier

Dynasty | The Cardinals have signed free agent running back Tyler Allgeier. Dynasty Analysis: Once the starter in Atlanta in a pre-Bijan Robinson world, Allgeier will now add himself into a backfield that already has a restructured (in many ways) James Conner and Trey Benson. This looks like a backfield to avoid in fantasy leagues and a signing that's a lot better in reality than fantasy. Allgeier only signed for $12.25 million on a two-year deal, meaning his market really didn't develop. He remains a shaky hold in dynasty league but one you likely need to have while the backfield shakes out in the coming months.

Travis Etienne Mar 10 9:12am ET
Travis Etienne

Dynasty | The Saints have signed free agent running back Travis Etienne. Dynasty Analysis: Etienne reportedly gets a four-year deal worth "$52 million" to be the centerpiece of the offense next to Tyler Shough. This is a solid landing spot for Etienne, who will take over lead back duties from Alvin Kamara and push Kendre Miller back into a backup role. Etienne is a solid back who has had some ups and downs but he had a solid bounce-back season last year and is still just 27 years old. He could push for RB1 status again next year just based on what looks to be a three-down workload.

Wan'Dale Robinson Mar 10 9:11am ET
Wan'Dale Robinson

Dynasty | The Titans have signed free agent wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson. Dynasty Analysis: Robinson inks a four-year deal worth $78 million. He took off last season with Malik Nabers hurt, posting a 92/1,014/4 season with the Giants. That may be tough to replicate with Cam Ward and company but it's a solid landing spot as he'll have a clear starting job and could be the WR1 in the offense with the future of Calvin Ridley unknown and Elic Ayomanor still not projecting as a true "go-to" option at the position. In the end, this is a solid get for the Titans and Robinson's ADP should still be on the rise.