NFL free agency has just had a big shake-up. It has dramatically changed what many fantasy football teams could look like.
Now that many NFL free agency moves have been made, it's vital to consider how this could impact different fantasy football players. Let's look at who has gained and who has lost out.
The winners
Derrick Henry
Running backs at Derrick Henry's career stage often struggle due to age and a heavy workload. But Derrick Henry is different. He's physically unlike any other running back in NFL history. So, it shouldn't be surprising if he continues to outshine others at this stage.
Henry's addition could be the perfect final touch for a running game already ranking among the top three last season. Despite encountering resistance in almost half of his attempts, Henry still managed to rank fifth in gaining yards after being hit with the ball. It certainly doesn't seem like he's slowing down, and now he's in a much better environment.
If he were on a different team, he might have been overlooked. However, it's a good idea to aim for him in your draft in Baltimore.
Drake London and Kyle Pitts
Last season, the Falcons encountered significant challenges with their quarterback play. While Desmond Ridder managed a steady performance on a play-by-play basis, he ranked low in passing efficiency. His problems with taking sacks, committing turnovers, and lack of precision significantly impacted the Falcons' passing game. Due to these issues, fostering the growth of their wide receivers and tight ends was difficult.
Kyren Williams
Last year was pretty successful for Kyren Williams, and it seems like things could only get better. Williams had the smallest percentage of failed attempts among those who tried more than 200 times at 37.7%.
According to data from Fantasy Points, he was also the most successful with man/gap runs. Under Sean McVay's Leadership, the Rams discovered a new approach that was different from their usual style, and they stuck with it this offseason.
The combined signings of right guard Kevin Dotson and left guard Jonah Jackson for $99 million show they prioritize the running game. This move also allows the hefty Steve Avila to shift to the center position. This means we now have more than 1,000 pounds of power in the left-to-right guard lineup. Williams stands alone as the leading running player of a man/gap system that just got strong support.
The losers
Justin Herbert
The Chargers were expected to part ways with either Mike Williams, Keenan Allen, or both this offseason. However, Justin Herbert is uncertain, with Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston now being the top picks.
Fantasy football lovers might get carried away by the buzz about the new run-heavy approach of the Chargers' coaching staff. While an enhanced running game would benefit the Chargers, Herbert could still stand out as an exceptional passer, even in a run-focused offense. However, this could be tough due to the lack of top-tier receivers.
Even if the Chargers add a high-performing wide receiver in the draft, which is not guaranteed, the team's receivers could still leave much to be desired. As such, Herbert's position in upcoming fantasy drafts may not be as alluring as in the past few seasons.
Jordan Addison
Jordan Addison is a talented player, albeit more suited to the role of a secondary receiver. In his standout weeks, he made the most of easy coverage situations, scoring big. In this upcoming season, while these easy coverage opportunities may still come his way given that Jefferson is fit, the real question is whether his new quarterback can skillfully navigate past the first line of defense fast enough.
Even if this team manages to bring in a rookie via a trade, they cannot realistically hope for the top two picks, so the newcomer might not be ready to jump into action from Week 1.
Ty Chandler
Ty Chandler's prospects dip because the offensive game may take a downturn. Also, Aaron Jones's signing could change any major plans that were set for him this year. Despite Chandler's show of potential towards the end of the season, which the coaching team applauded, Jones' signing may shake things up.