With the new league year just under two weeks away, let’s take a look at five players to watch as free agency approaches. All of these players have provided elite fantasy football seasons with their old teams, but may have new jersies the next time we see them.
Top Five Fantasy Football Free Agents
WR Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Evans is entering free agency coming off another highly productive season, in which he caught 79 passes for 1,255 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has consistently produced at a high level since he entered the league, producing at least 1,000 receiving yards in every season of his career to this point.
While Evans has been with the Buccaneers his entire career, there are a number of teams around the NFL that need help at wide receiver. Some teams that make sense for Evans are the Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, and staying home with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Even at 30 years old, Evans will have no shortage of suitors, and it will be exciting to see where he decides to play in 2024.
RB Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans
In what was most likely his final season with the Titans, Henry produced well, carrying the ball 280 times for 1,167 yards and 12 touchdowns. Although he started to show some signs of decline, with his lowest average yards per game since the 2018 season, he is expected to remain effective for a few more seasons.
Similar to Mike Evans, Henry has spent his entire career with one team, making it hard to picture him playing somewhere else. However, given his age and the fact that the Titans are heading into a rebuilding phase, he is likely to sign elsewhere in free agency. Some potential suitors for Henry include the Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers, and Dallas Cowboys.
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WR Calvin Ridley, Jacksonville Jaguars
In his first season with the Jaguars, Ridley had strong numbers, catching 76 passes for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns. It was encouraging to see him produce at a high level again since his last elite season was in 2021 with the Falcons. Ridley is now set to become a free agent, and he will have plenty of suitors.
While I think it is likely he signs an extension with the Jaguars, teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears and New England Patriots all make sense as well. The wide receiver market is expected to be very competitive this offseason, and while he may not have the accolades of some of his peers, Ridley’s production will make him a top target for wide receiver-needy teams.
RB Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
After a contract dispute last offseason, Barkley played the 2023 season with the Giants under the franchise tag. With it being announced that the Giants are not expected to be using the franchise tag on Barkley again this offseason, it appears that he will be playing elsewhere in 2024. Barkley had a productive 2023 season, carrying the ball 247 times for 962 yards and six touchdowns. He is also still young since next season will be his age-27 season.
Some possible suitors for Barkley include the Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, and Cincinnati Bengals. Despite there being several running backs available this offseason, Barkley will be one of the top options due to his age and high level of production in both the running and passing games across multiple seasons.
RB Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
Ekeler had a difficult season where he only managed to carry the ball 179 times for just 628 yards and five touchdowns. He also caught 51 passes for 436 yards and another touchdown. Due to his underwhelming season, paired with the team’s salary cap constraints, his time with the Chargers has likely come to an end.
Still, when Ekeler is healthy, he is a productive all-around player who can produce well as both a rusher and a pass-catcher. Since he will still be just 28 years old next season he still has a lot to offer as a playmaker and is expected to have interest from multiple teams in free agency. Some teams with possible interest include the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
