2018 Free Agency Stock Report
With most free agents now under contract for 2018, we assess their fantasy value. "Fantasy Value" is based on standard-scoring, 10-team leagues.
QUARTERBACKS
1. Drew Brees
2. Jimmy Garappolo
3. Kirk Cousins
4. Case Keenum
1. Drew Brees
2018 Team: New Orleans Saints
Fantasy Value: Mid-range QB1
Remaining in New Orleans, Brees has plenty of weapons to help repeat his past success. The days of Brees as an elite fantasy QB are behind us, but he's still a solid fantasy starter.
2. Jimmy Garappolo
2018 Team: San Francisco 49ers
Fantasy Value: Mid-range QB1
The Niners are a popular up-and-coming offense, with "Jimmy G" at the helm. While he’ll need a stronger WR corps to become an elite fantasy option, Jimmy G will be a popular late round QB pick with upside.
3. Kirk Cousins
2018 Team: Minnesota Vikings
Fantasy Value: Low-end QB1
Cousins headlined 2018 free agency, but from a fantasy perspective, the move doesn't have much of an impact. Cousins is our QB9, with not much more upside than Case Keenum's 2017 fantasy output.
4. Case Keenum
2018 Team: Denver Broncos
Fantasy Value: Mid-range QB2
Keenum is signed for $18 million a year, but that number is pretty meaningless in today's world of overpaying QBs. Denver is still expected to draft a QB to at least compete with Keenum, and even if Keenum does start, the fantasy dividends won't be there.
RUNNING BACKS
1. Le’Veon Bell
2. Jerick McKinnon
3. Rex Burkhead
4. Dion Lewis
5. Carlos Hyde
6. Isaiah Crowell
1. Le’Veon Bell
2018 Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Fantasy Value: High-end RB1
Despite Twitter drama and Bell's frustration with the Steelers front office, Bell returns to Pittsburgh via franchise tag. This move is ideal for fantasy owners, as Bell is our pick for #1 RB of 2018.
2. Jerick McKinnon
2018 Team: San Francisco 49ers
Fantasy Value: Mid-range RB2
Signing in San Francisco is the best case scenario for McKinnon's fantasy value. Paired with young QB Jimmy Garappolo, SPARQ athlete McKinnon should thrive as a three-down workhorse. At minimum, McKinnon's value is similar to Howard/Mixon/Drake with even more upside.
3. Rex Burkhead
2018 Team: New England Patriots
Fantasy Value: High-end RB3
Burkhead returns to New England, where he averaged 4.1 yards per carry and scored 100 fantasy points in just 10 games in 2017. Burkhead should be treated with caution since Belichick can be unpredictable with his RBs, but Burkhead is a high-upside RB3 with the departure of Dion Lewis.
4. Dion Lewis
2018 Team: Tennessee Titans
Fantasy Value: Mid-range RB3
When the Titans released Demarco Murray, there were signs of hope that Derrick Henry would be treated as a work-horse RB. Unfortunately, those dreams were crushed by the signing of Lewis, who is likely to contribute both between the tackles and in passing situations. Workload will be the only thing holding Lewis back, limiting to a FLEX play in most lineups.
5. Carlos Hyde
2018 Team: Cleveland Browns
Fantasy Value: Low-end RB3
Hyde signing in Cleveland feels all too similar to Latavius Murray signing in Minnesota last off season; paired with pass-catching Duke Johnson (ie. McKinnon with Vikings), the Browns are still in the market for a top RB in the draft - Saquon Barkley (ie. Cook with Vikings). The only way Hyde provides fantasy dividends is if the Browns pass on Barkley and/or commit to using Johnson as a slot receiver more than an RB.
6. Isaiah Crowell
2018 Team: New York Jets
Fantasy Value: Low-end RB3
New York might have been the worst spot for Crowell to land for fantasy value. He'll find himself in a timeshare with Bilal Powell and Elijah McGuire in a QB-less offense. The only fantasy value Crowell could have is from touchdowns, but otherwise he's avoidable in 2018 drafts.
WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Allen Robinson
2. Jarvis Landry
3. Sammy Watkins
4. Jordy Nelson
5. Marqise Lee
1. Allen Robinson
2018 Team: Chicago Bears
Fantasy Value: High-end WR2
Robinson lands in Chicago, where the Bears front office brought in a supporting cast to boost Mitchell Trubisky's performance. Assuming Robinson is fully recovered from an ACL tear that sidelined him for most of 2017, he is in the WR10-12 conversation, valued near Thielen, Hilton, and Cooks.
2. Jarvis Landry
2018 Team: Cleveland Browns
Fantasy Value: Low-end WR2
Landry is changing scenes from Miami to Cleveland, but his fantasy outlook remains the same as the past. In standard leagues, he's a floor play, reliable for 6-7 points a game with a chance at a touchdown.
3. Sammy Watkins
2018 Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Fantasy Value: Mid-range WR3
Watkins is looking to bounce back from a bust of a 2017 season; Kansas City might be the perfect place to do it. Watkins' success largely rides on the arm of Patrick Mahomes, a slinger who could support two fantasy-relevant WRs (Watkins and Tyreek Hill).
4. Jordy Nelson
2018 Team: Oakland Raiders
Fantasy Value: Low-end WR3
It's only right that new Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden wanted a sure-handed WR to compliment streaky Amari Cooper. Nelson's signing coincides with the release of veteran WR Michael Crabtree, freeing up red zone targets for Nelson. Nelson's upside will never be the same without Aaron Rodgers, but he could be draftable as a FLEX with red zone and heavy third down usage.
5. Marqise Lee
2018 Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
Fantasy Value: Low-end WR3
By remaining in Jacksonville, Lee is locked in as Blake Bortles' top target for 2018. Odds are Bortles won't repeat his success from 2017, but the chance that the Jaguars offense is legitimate again is worth spending a late round pick on Lee.
TIGHT ENDS
1. Jimmy Graham
2. Trey Burton
3. Tyler Eifert
1. Jimmy Graham
2018 Team: Green Bay Packers
Fantasy Value: High-end TE1
The popular narrative is that the Packers always sign a TE who becomes overhyped in fantasy and busts. While this was true for less-talented guys like Jared Cook and Martellus Bennett, it wasn't true for Jermichael Finley, who was a top fantasy TE from 2009-12. Elite TEs Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce are still preferable in 2018, but Graham is not far behind and should be valued in the same tier.
2. Trey Burton
2018 Team: Chicago Bears
Fantasy Value: Low-end TE1
The Bears are desperate to provide weapons for QB Mitchell Trubisky, adding athletic Burton to serve as a security blanket for the second-year QB. Burton showed incredible red zone efficiency with Philadelphia in 2017, scoring 5 touchdowns on just 31 total targets. With a full-time role in Chicago, Burton has both high upside and a solid floor, making him draftable as a TE1.
3. Tyler Eifert
2018 Team: Cincinnati Bengals
Fantasy Value: High-end TE2
Despite the injury bug, Eifert re-signed with the Bengals in hopes that he can get healthy and once again provide Andy Dalton with a dominant red zone target. For fantasy purposes, Eifert cannot be relied on and should be treated as touchdown-or-bust. Draft him as a backup TE and hope that he can return to his TD-scoring ways.
Edited by: Eric Olaya