Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast - Free Agent Frenzy! + Big Trades - Fantasy Football Podcast for 3/11

Episode Date: March 11, 2025

Fantasy Football show for Mar 11, 2025. The free agency frenzy has begun! Big name players on new teams! Will DK Metcalf have success in Pittsburgh? How will Justin Fields impact the Jets offense? Reactions and fantasy football outlooks following the first big wave of free agency news! Manage your redraft, keeper, and dynasty fantasy football teams with the #1 fantasy football podcast.Get the lowest price on the 2025 UDK at UltimateDraftKit.com - Instant access to the Dynasty Pass with the UDK+(00:00) Introduction(03:10) Free Agency Frenzy(03:20) DK Metcalf(08:35) Geno Smith(12:15) Christian Kirk(15:32) Sam Darnold(20:43) Justin Fields(25:32) Daniel Jones(28:59) Najee Harris(34:00) Javonte Williams(37:10) Davante Adams/Cooper Kupp(42:30) Josh Palmer(45:15) Josh Allen(46:20) Chris Godwin(48:30) Aaron Jones(49:15) Other SigningsConnect with the show:Subscribe on YouTubeVisit us on the WebSupport the ShowFollow on XFollow on InstagramJoin our Discord

This is Christian Kirk and you're listening to the Fantasy Footballers Podcast. Welcome to the Fantasy Footballers Podcast with your hosts Andy Holloway, Jason Moore and Mike Wright. Welcome in! Tuesday episode, the fantasy footballer's Mike, the fantasy hitman Jason Moore, Andy Holloway back with you. So much. Yeah, not every off season show has this much action. So, here we are. There's so much and yet there's still so much that hasn't happened.

Well, we are in the midst of the wink wink, we're not talking but we're talking and signing you period. But also keep in mind that that legal tampering period, which is the moment you can just start talking only takes minutes to figure out contracts because as soon as that deadline strikes, it's like we have agreed to terms. Yeah, which is tampering squared right obviously you were talking before this ball you didn't just like one o'clock strikes you call someone up hey dude you want to do your 13 you better take it right now you go you I need a verbal yes okay we're

all right we're doc you signing go go go go no that's true it should not be able to happen five minutes later someone Someone had one, five minutes. Yeah, five minutes in. It was a defensive player. I forget who it was, but yeah. That's ridiculous. But we record off-season shows a lot of the times the afternoon before so we can release early morning.

On Tuesday, we delayed this one because we wanted to get as much information into news and deals happening every second. Ied to get that Rico Dowdle signing, but we wait. Oh, yeah. We wait. Any minute now, Mike. We'll do a very special episode for that one, Mike, and you can solo that one. Just waiting.

Don't hold your breath. So we have piles and piles of news to talk about. I've jotted down a few kind of quick takes. I wanna see if you guys agree or disagree with on certain signings. We've had trades and we're gonna break it all down. I know you guys have been looking forward to it and waiting for it.

A reminder real quick at the top, you can watch the show on YouTube, youtube.com slash The Fantasy Footballer, subscribe, click the bell, you'll know when new episodes drop, and then the giveaway is still going on. A signed Drake London jersey, footclanggiveaway.com, and you can enter for free. A lot of you have already done so,

and that'll, we'll pick a winner probably towards the end of the month, but you can get in there now, footclanggiveaway.com, the Ultimate Draft Kit, including the newest update to the Dynasty Pass, that's available at ultimatedraftkit.com. But I don't want to delay any longer, let's do it. ["Free Agent Frenzy"]

Free Agent Frenzy. Well, we got a trade. We thought it was coming. And D.K. Metcalf. Welcome to Pittsburgh. Yeah, he wanted somewhere sunny. Wanted to be on that West Coast and have a good quarterback.

Warm weather, good quarterback ends up in Pittsburgh. It's a good quarterback. Warm weather good quarterback ends up in Pittsburgh. Ends up filthy rich. I mean this is a deal. Yeah there it is. Not the only NFL player that chose money over victories or you know in Pittsburgh you win at least a little bit but you know Miles Garrett as well taking the money but we're talking fantasy players here and DK Metcalfe five years 150 million dollar deal largest deal in Pittsburgh franchise history and I don't know if we know the full guaranteed money yet but it's 33 million per year on average. Seahawks get a 2. He's 27 years old. His fantasy peak was 2020 where he finishes the wide receiver 7. Since then

the wide receiver 12, 18, 16, and 31. We know that Pittsburgh's had issues at the wide receiver spot for a little while here and they are trying to fix that with an Alpha who you know Jason you and I talked we agreed that we view DK Metcalf as a needle mover. Yeah he's certainly someone that's going to improve a football team. This is not great for fantasy football. I think this is good for the product of you know, assisting wins for the Steelers but I kind of hate the deal like he's a good player I think he's worth trading a two and give him a contract but a five year $150 million deal for DK

Metcalf feels like I mean I realize if he were a free agent on the open market because there wasn't a lot of options, maybe he would have got that, but that just feels pretty pricey for, you know, he's 27 right now. So obviously we don't have the details. I'm sure once he hits 30, that guaranteed money is probably gone. So it's more like a three-year deal, hopefully. But when you just hear five for 150 plus a second round pick, you don't have a quarterback. Exactly. So it's like, this is weird. It's kind of irrelevant.

It's not going to help you if you don't have a quarterback. Well, yeah, they've, I feel like, bounced back and forth between quarterback issues and wide receiver issues and trying to hatch the quarterback position since Big Ben departed. I mean on paper with Pickens and Metcalf and Freyrmuth and they tendered Jalen Warren. So Jalen Warren should be back. You have the pieces that would be attractive to a quarterback. The problem is you don't really have a quarterback on the open market that is attractive. Yeah.

You have Aaron Rodgers. Who's left? Yeah, Rodgers, Russ. You've got Russell. Russell could return, and then you've got... I think the best quarterback out there who is somewhat available would be Kirk Cousins, personally. You just gave me the neck of all that money.

I think that... No, I get it. I'd rather have him than Rogers. Yeah, of those three, I would much rather have Kirk Cousins. You feel like Kirk Cousins is just, it's over? I don't know if it's over, but to get Kirk Cousins, it will cost a pick, and you will take on a bunch of that contract. Maybe.

It's a five, somehow, someway- It's a pick. It's a five-year gap between Cousins and Rodgers and H. Rodgers is 41. It will cost you a pick or a pick swap of some type. Unless they cut him. I think there is a world where Kirk Cousins gets cut. Really? Yeah, they would owe him, it would be a massive hit on the cap, but they wouldn't be... I

mean, that is an avenue that's been talked about. So to pay him what they're paying him right now is the backup is. Dead cap is $65 million. Yeah. I know Russ got cut and that was shocking back from the Denver Broncos days, but that's a huge dead cap

that you gotta live with for a while. It feels like the way to get rid of him is to have him so discontented with the backup role that he renegotiates and facilitates a trade. He could. But agree or disagree, the Seahawks are gonna miss DK Metcalf. Agree. Yeah. I mean, yes, of course their offense will miss them, but they are,

like they got Tyler Lockett's out. Metcalf is out. Geno Smith is out. He got traded to the Las Vegas Raiders for a third round pick, essentially. The Seahawks are retooling some stuff right now. So I mean, they're going to try and win. But I think that their coaching staff is like,

okay, we're gonna get our guys in here. It's actually- Like Sam Darnold. Like Sam Darnold. It's a weird thing, yeah. Gino Smith went, did we talk through that trade on this show yet? No, no, not yet.

Okay, so that's part of the news we need to cover. Traded by the Seahawks to the Raiders for a third rounder. The report said. He's back with Pete. Yeah, back with Pete Carroll. The report said that they made him a pretty generous offer and he turned it down and then never submitted a counter offer to Seattle and then requested a trade.

He goes to Las Vegas. It's a huge upgrade for Brock Ballard. Oh my goodness, it's massive. And then the other name just being mentioned that may be, you know, Jacoby Myers, right? Like, you know, we don't know what they do in the draft and what they have a wide receiver, but right now, like Geno Smith,

I'm not the biggest Geno Smith fan. Like, I don't think he's the kind of quarterback who's going to take you the distance. It's one of the things I criticized about him in Seattle. And so they agreed apparently to the point of making a move, but he's a huge upgrade on what Las Vegas had in their potential. And if they go out and they draft Gentie at six

or they get some more offensive weapons. T-Mac. Yeah, yeah. Teteroa, McMillan. Yep. If they land some more assets on that offense, it's pretty formidable. They paid Max Crosby. Pete Carroll is the kind of head coach that is very impactful, I think, your first couple

of years in a locker room on a culture. Not saying that they're going to be hyper competitive, but they'll be a better football team. Yeah, they will. If I were building a franchise, and I know the contracts weren't equal, but I would rather have Geno Smith than Sam Donald without question.

So I think that's a huge upgrade for the Raiders, probably the best they could have done this offseason. It's so exciting for Brock. Geno Smith, over his tenure as the starter for Seattle, he's been one of the most accurate quarterbacks in football. I mean, you got three years as the starter for Seattle, he's been one of the most accurate quarterbacks in football. I mean, you got three years as a starter for him. He's over, he's basically at 4,300 yards

for two of the three. One more down year, but he only played 15 games. The touchdowns aren't where we would hope for him to be, but for what, if you got Bowers on your Dino team and you're staring down Aiden O'Connell and all these other guys and it just who could it possibly be? Even a rookie. Like Gino, exactly.

It doesn't, there's no. It's better than a rookie. It's massive. In the short term. It's so much better. They're like, the Raiders didn't seem like they had an avenue to get yourself a competent quarterback for fantasy purposes. But this is a home run if you got Bowers. Yeah, what were those numbers you said?

4,300 passing yards? Yeah, so in 2022, he was at 4,282, so just under. And then last year was over 4,300. That's just not a realistic goal for a rookie quarterback. No, it's not. If they had ended up with Sanders or who's the Jackson Dart. Yeah, so it's huge for Bowers and whatever else they have in the passing game.

It's weird circling back to Seattle and losing Geno Smith and losing Metcalf and losing Tyler Lockett. And then you see what's happening in San Francisco. For those that haven't followed, they lost. Everybody? They lost. They are burning it down.

And piles of players. The 49ers also traded Debo Samuel. They let go of Kyle Juszczyk. Yeah. You've still got to pay Brock Purdy. Brandon Iyuk is on the edge of being traded potentially, which I because teams are after a wide receiver. I think New England's still in play there.

So you've got two teams in the NFC West that are not gonna look the same at all. Which is just kind of- Maybe the Steelers should be looking a Brock Purdy. You know what I mean? Just because- Just in case. The Niners, they want out of everybody. Just go knockin'.

We had another trade. It had been reported that Christian Kirk was going to get released. We expected him to be released. And the Texans said, let's bypass the open market here. Let's send a seventh round draft pick and take on Christian Kirk's existing contract. You know, if you're Christian Kirk, are you happy about that existing contract being paid out or would you have been happier?

Negotiating your final deal at 28 years old That's more than one year, but I mean you get paid 16.5 million to go to yeah I think he's he should be happy with that to go to Houston Here's my agree or disagree on this one Christian Kirk is better than tank Dell That's a really good question. Christian Kirk is better than Tankdale. And obviously, injury not withstanding.

Wait, yeah, we're talking two-legged Tankdale here? Well, yeah, we had two-legged Tankdale for most of the year before the injury. And it was a diss... He was like one, I'll give him like one and a half. It was a disappointing year for Tankdale. I'm just curious how you would answer that question in reality.

My initial instinct is yes, he is better. He's a very proven veteran wide receiver who I do not believe is aged out for the way he plays. He's gonna be in the right spot. I think he's a really good match for CJ Stroud. That accurate be being the right spot, timing, throwing, I think will work really well. So a good compliment for Nico Collins and Houston. They did trade away. Their offensive line. Yeah, I mean, Laramie Tunzel dealt to Washington. So CJ Stroud, unless Christian Kirk is going to play left tackle, he's going to need some more help.

And they traded their offensive guard. It's so weird to me that they have multiple pieces on this offensive line. I believe they lost three players, traded two of them. And they have multiple players on this offensive line that other teams really want, trade a lot for. You know, the Eagles, I forget the guard's name, but the Eagles traded for them. And the Texans offensive line stunk.

Kenyon Green? Like their offensive line was terrible last year. I don't know how to reconcile these individual players being seen as great, but then their offensive line was just like not. I don't think you look at him as great. Tunsel is great. Like the metrics on him are he is an elite left tackle. He is going to like but he his contract situation is gonna

be really intense here coming up very very soon. So the other guys I get yes we got to get rid of them but it's you gotta you you got to get people in. If these guys were the starters and it was not happening, you would have put the backups in if you had options to replace that offensive line. So they're gonna have to make some moves. Don't be surprised. Yeah, when the NFL draft transpires

and they are heavily into fixing the offensive line, Tunzel will be 31 before the season starts as well, so some decisions to be made there. So those were the big trades, other than the Browns getting Kenny Pickett, Super Bowl champion Kenny Pickett. Of course, they fixed it. Not quite.

But let's talk about the signings here. The Seahawks fixed their, you know, they trade away Geno Smith, and then they went out and paid $100 million to Sam Darnold, who will depart the cozy Minnesota situation with Kevin O'Connell and an offensive line and Jefferson and Addison and Hawkinson and Aaron Jones. And we'll go to Seattle where they just let go of DK Metcalf,

where JSN is existing all by himself in an empty room right now. How do you feel about this move for Seattle? Do you feel like it was a desperate move because things didn't work out with Geno Smith? Do you feel like it was the right move? Obviously from an affordability standpoint, they're paying Sam Darnold.

Like if I want to defend them, they're paying a player that led a team to 14 wins that was a higher tier quarterback last year production wise, and they're paying him 20 million less per year than Jordan Love, you know, they, and they got a second round pick to the roster. Right. So I mean, if Sam Darnold is competent or close to Gino or better than Gino. I mean, maybe he leveled up.

The way he played football last year, you have to give him his props. He was an outstanding. For 15 of 17 games. Yes, for 15 of 17 games. 4,300 yards, 35 touchdowns, 12 picks, the quarterback ate in fantasy, 27 years old, so not old. I mean, that's great.

Yes, younger than Burrow, isn't it? Is he? Burrow came in late. Joe Burrow came in as an old man. So Sam Darnold is actually younger than Joe Burrow. Still. And every year, it keeps coming back. You know, it is very difficult to see Sam Darnold,

who you were saying before the show, he was a starter in Carolina. He was a starter in New York. We've seen him not be great and get rattled. And then he did awesome work this last year for the majority of his games, but it was in a perfect situation. And I look at the situation in Seattle,

post Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalfe with a new coordinator coming in. And do you like Kubiak and Darnold as a combination? I mean, I like that I think Kubiak is going to try to focus on setting up the run and protect Darnold in that way, but I just don't know that he has the offensive line or the offensive weapons. If you had to bet on Darnold being a top 14

fantasy quarterback this year. I would bet against it. I would bet against it. I wasn't sure where to set the line. Apparently I set it too low. Too high. Too high, I mean, yeah. Yeah, I mean if you had said 16,

okay, maybe he could be top half. Sam Darnold doesn't strike me as a quarterback that makes things happen when things go bad. You look at the trade years ago with the Rams and the Lions. You had two good quarterbacks. Yeah, I know where you're going with this, for sure. You had two good quarterbacks in Jared Goff

and Matthew Stafford, but to the Rams, they said, look, Goff can only do so much. And even though they had a good team with them, they were willing to trade a ton, a haul, to upgrade to Matthew Stafford. Because when plays break down, when the pocket is moving, when improvisation needs to happen, Stafford can make things happen. I don't see that for Darnold. If you put D put Donald on the Detroit Lions, I think Donald would be awesome. Having that great offensive line, a lot of weapons in the receiving game. I mean, we saw that to a certain extent

last year in Minnesota. That's not how I view Seattle. I view Seattle as it's going to be a difficult year, and Sam Donald, I don't know that he overcomes that pressure. It's just wild, because this is a 10 win team that retools on offense, your quarterback changes and the Seattle fans, like hopefully you're not taking any of the negativity to be biased from us against Seattle.

They're coming out on Twitter and saying, give me hope. Let me know. It's going to be okay. That's what I'm here sure so Yeah, I mean do you have any thoughts on Arnold the final piece is we it was leaked Allegedly the Minnesota Vikings offered him a one-year 25 million dollar deal that was the what I had seen Now because they want him to be in that but that's take over. They have JJ McCarthy waiting there, but you're coming off of... This isn't the Kurt Cousins-Michael Pennic situation in Atlanta. It was like, you got halfway through the season and Kurt Cousins was failing miserably for

you. Darnold was a success. Fourteen wins, and the Minnesota Vikings didn't really want him back. You know, a one-year offer to a guy who just won 14 games is not a stamp of full confidence. So that would weigh into it for me too if I'm Seattle. Yeah, that's interesting. All right, Justin Fields has a new home. We'll tell you about it in just a second. Alright well we you know we made our free edge of predictions and this is one that that went to the place we thought he would.

Justin Fields two year deal with the New York Jets. Justin Fields a starter again, $40 million deal, 30 million guaranteed. Started for now I should say. Yes. I don't feel like he's the guaranteed starter for two years, but 26 years old, averaged 55. 55!

Rushing yards per game over the last three seasons. He was a top 12 fantasy quarterback in 60% of his starts in the last three years. When he does start, agree or disagree, Justin Fields in New York is a top eight fantasy quarterback. Ooh, that's a good line. That's a strong line.

I'm going to go yes. I think he'll be right about there. It's a tough one. It is. It is. It is tough. I mean, you've got a lot of New York stank. You could have said top 10 and I think that would have been an easy, like, yeah, I'll

buy that. Top eights? But I mean, that's the point is he's right around there. A low end quarterback won. He's going to be a very fun later round quarterback. When you can run like he runs. I mean, averaging 55 rushing yards a game is monstrous for a quarterback. That's why he's always been so good for fantasy. It's a full touchdown. Right yeah you just auto start with a touchdown.

What do you like big picture for New York, Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, whomever they add in the draft class like Justin Fields doesn't he bring quite a few question marks to what you're getting out of those other players? Oh for sure I mean this is not great this is great news that Justin Fields is a starting quarterback for fantasy at the quarterback position but at the other positions this is bad news. Breece Hall you know we've talked about how the only place that he has thrived over the

last two seasons has been in the receiving game. And that is not usually what mobile quarterbacks are going to check down, nor should they. It's a better move for the team to scramble and run, use your own legs, have that extra blocker out there versus checking the ball down. So Breece, I think, takes a hit. Garrett Wilson is still, there's hope. I know, I know. I mean, there's- Is that the official position of all Garrett Wilson managers, Mike? What was that sound? It, we, the Wilson hive, we'll look at what DJ Moore did in 2023 and just be like, it can happen. So, okay, that's where I'll put it.

It can happen. It can happen. They played together in college. This is reuniting. Oh yeah, I'm sure that they're both super pumped. It can happen. I wonder how much Wilson might have impacted the choice. The sign? sign why genuinely you want to be whole entire mindset changed with like hey

I went out in New York and then it's like once Rogers left. It's like maybe the writing was on the water All right, all right here me out fellas Rogers comes in okay Garrett Wilson was there Garrett Wilson was set to be the star wide receiver Rogers comes in and he has full control And what does Rogers do he brings in all of his guys, right? set to be the star wide receiver. Rodgers comes in and he has full control. And what does Rodgers do? He brings in all of his guys, right? Lazard, Adams, Cobb.

Lazard, Adams, Cobb. And then once he gets Adams, what does he do? He just keeps throwing the ball to Adams. And here's Gary Wilson watching this going, this is awful, I hate this. Wait, wait, wait, what if, what if I brought in a quarterback buddy of mine from college,

and then he just throws it to me every play? And it's not a bad plan. So the quick reminder of the Garrett Wilson season is so strange. It's so weird because he finished as a top 10 fantasy wide receiver. Man, it doesn't feel like it. Wow. 1,100 yards. That feels like breaking news.

Seven touchdowns. But the right before Devante Adams got there, there was this stretch where Rodgers and Garrett had figured at least something out, from weeks five through nine. So a five game stretch, wide receiver five, two, 20, 15, three, and then Adams took over in the offense. So it's there for Garrett.

If we get a full hyper targeting from Justin Fields, then things could be okay. The rest of the team? I don't feel great about Breeze at all. No, his target share should go down. And losing potential some goal line, run option situations with Justin Fields, the target totals where Breeze did excel. Those are nerve-racking. Braylon Allen being still a

young talent there that could work in. It's a bit nerve-racking there. Daniel Jones to the Colts. It makes sense. I think it's a pretty perfect signing. They said they want to compete at the quarterback position. They are not handing the job to Anthony Richardson. You can run the same style of offense. Who's the better quarterback? Daniel Jones. Daniel Jones. Than Anthony Richardson?

Yes. So how many starts does Richardson get next year? If you had to handicap him. Send me a line. 10. Under. The line is now. Seven. Seven. That was where I was gonna go originally. That's a good one.

So even having this be debated is, it's not good for Colts fans. Because if that, you're basically guaranteeing some sort of transition at quarterback at some point during the year, which is not a great feeling. Richardson got benched for Joe Flacco. For Joe Flacco. This is, it will be the entirety of the year.

Anthony Richardson's margin for error is so incredibly small. You give him, let's say the Colts start 4-0. He rips off two straight bad games after a 4-0 start. They're gonna, the media will be calling for Richardson to get benched. That's the big risk with Richardson is that you can have games that are catastrophic. You can have the game where you have two fumbles and two picks and you complete 31% of passes and then

it just looks like you're desperate. Yeah, and then because Daniel Jones is there, that means that Anthony Richardson will almost certainly get the rug pulled out. The only way that Colts fans are happy this year, genuinely, is if Anthony Richardson plays 17 games. If Anthony Richardson plays 17 games, you guys are thrilled. So every Colt fan out there, don't be rooting for Daniel Jones.

That is not your future, that's not a happy path. Yeah, root for wasting 13 and a half, guaranteed. Yeah, which by the way, is way more than Anthony Richardson, I believe, is getting this year. Yeah, that's kind of wild. I mean, Daniel Jones could have gone back to Minnesota. That was an option. But looked at the competition of McCarthy being anointed

versus Richardson leaving an opportunity. I feel like 13 guaranteed is the team is telling Daniel Jones, you have a chance to come in here and be the starter. That's why he did not want to go where J.J. McCart, it's funny because you're picking two, you know, young, unproven quarterbacks and I think the reason he went there is not a money thing, it's a,

who do I think I could beat easier and he didn't want to compete with JJ McCarthy. Is Daniel Jones in the mix to be the next Baker, Gino, Darnold? Do you believe the structure in Indianapolis could afford him that? Eileen, no. Eileen, no on that one.

Yeah, not from a NFL standpoint. From a fantasy standpoint, I think Daniel Jones, if he is the starter there, will be good. He does run the ball a lot. Similar to Justin Fields, he's had fantasy success in the past. He's very inconsistent, but you'll have big games from him. And completes more than half of his passes. Which is always a plus.

For fantasy, that's huge. That's a big plus. All right, Najee Harris has a new home. It's a one-year deal with the... That deal got a lot smaller. Los Angeles Chargers. Yesterday, media out here, Najee Harris, one year, $10 million.

Is that what the original report was? That's what I remember it being. It's worth 5.25 million. And I was the original report was? That's what I remember it being. It's worth $5.25 million. And I was shocked. I'm like, wow. There's $4 million in incentives built into it. It was reported as $9.25 million because they were including the incentives.

Now, we don't know how achievable the incentives are. It could genuinely be closer to a legit $9 million contract if they're easy to achieve incentives. Since we don't know what they are, we're not sure. But he's getting at least four million. The question here, and I think the best question that anybody listening could ever hear across the country, across the world.

Okay, building it up. Is Andy Holloway, how do feel yeah about Naji here fantasy this destination let's say they do not add another premium back a big draft pick Naji goes in as the lead dog there how where where does he finish running back what? He'll have double digit touchdowns. Whoa. All right. He will have just a nipple above a thousand yards. Yeah. Okay, yeah.

Which is a common expression. Right, right, right. Yeah, mama always said that. Well, we understand that's a very tiny amount. And so- Is this a cold nip or is this a warm nip which they're in Los Angeles probably a warm nip a little blow I mean a cold nip is further over a thousand oh really I would think that would I know a cold one's point now I

point now but it's shrinking down is getting you know what I mean it's point it's not well it's yeah I was I was measuring with the actually he Mike's right it should be no I'm thinking about your problem You're at a meter. Yeah, your nips are no, you're right. I get it. Okay a bonus Yeah, cuz you cross the line first exactly putting the chest out and to cross the line By our cold nipple it was a monstrous beat Boy yeah running back 16 with double-digit touchdowns, he's only getting to running back 16.

He catches zero passes. Running back 14. All right. Look, I want to give, I actually, it's funny because you set the table for me to talk about Najee Harris. I was going to begin my remarks on this signing with, let's give credit where credit is due. Here's what Najee Harris is good at, genuinely, playing. He's been on the field for 17 games for four straight years.

If you're talking about what you need in this offense, a reliable grinder that can score touchdowns, he's going to have success. Now do I believe he will be the only one in the backfield? No, I don't. I think this team understands what it needs at running back and is going to have more of a committee approach with one more name, whether it's a draft pick, whether it's bringing Dobbins back, which I think is a real possibility. But look, Nashe should be able to produce on an offense that's going to get into the red zone, that loves to run the football. I mean, to spin it back to you, it's going to be a great opportunity, Nashe should be able to produce on an offense is going to get into the red zone that loves to run the football. I mean, to spin it back to you, let's say

I say RB 14 is where I would expect him to be all along. What's the ceiling to you? Is that the ceiling? Is it higher? No, I think the ceiling is higher than that. If he were to be alone, and I do agree with you, this is so early, I don't expect him to be alone. I think there's a team that wants to run the ball and establish it a lot. They're going to go out and get another guy. And they look at Najee and he's been sharing time with Jaylen Warren. He can do that. So if he's alone, to me, I think his ceiling is like running back six because I agree.

Oh my goodness. I think double digit touchdowns are legitimately in the range of outcomes and he can catch the ball. We know Herbert will check it down a million times and Najee can be that check down running back. So if you've got both of those things on a good offense, I believe he could be very valuable for fantasy. He is, he's more of the check it down and then fall down. My final reminder here,

like this is if you got Najee Harris on your dynasty squad, you've got to be doing a big fist pump here. But I would say, just remember, last year, Gus Edwards was their marquee signing. 100%. JK Dobbins was an afterthought who was brought in for a league minimum, like a couple

hundred thousand dollars. And it was not a slow takeover. It was week one. brought in for a league minimum like couple hundred thousand dollars and it was not a slow takeover it was week one they went oh Dobbins is better if he's healthy we're gonna play him so that's the only thing that I would be standing back to look for to happen. Is Najee a better player than JK Dobbins? Yes. Yeah yeah yeah. You think so? Mm-hmm. OK. Javante Williams to the Cowboys for one year.

You need to apologize. The world needs an apology for this. This one is a disaster. Oh, man. Javante Williams one-year deal to Dallas. He's 24 years old, going on 38. He was 37 among 37 qualifying running backs by yards. That seems bad.

After contact per attempt in 2024. And it seems like just a decision here to pay less for Gervonta than what they would have had to pay Rico for either guy to be the complement to a potential incoming rookie, I hope. But who knows? Because it's Dallas. Yeah, Dallas has been doing very strange things.

They're at the 12th overall pick, and then they don't pick again until 44. So I think I'm more on the side of, I think, the Cowboys, if they're going to be targeting one of these running backs. It's with pick 44. I don't think there is any un-Gente as being made out there. If you had to pick anybody in football for a rookie to compete with and beat,

I would pick Javante Woods. Yeah, that'd be very high on my list. That would be good, but let me ask you this. Tyler Bade was getting work over Javante. Is there a chance that Javante Williams, let me just remind just remind you okay. He got I'm so glad this is you he got a Real catastrophic knee injury not one of the simple ACLs. It was a multi-legament very bad Situation he came back Earlier than anyone thought he would the only other player we've seen kind of do that with that problem

was Chris Godwin who came back earlier and looked like he was toasted and Then once it was two years later. We're already Three this is your three. That's what I mean any child Kenny Chris Godwin They can't come back strong. What team do you have him on that? You're talking? Oh, I don't I don't right now I don't have him anywhere. I Said where so many years removed from that that was the story of last year last season We were watching early on when he had a couple games where he was getting a lot of work and I went and I watched Every you know all 22 snap of his and I came away going it wasn't him

Like yeah, he had some lanes to run through and he did, and then he wasn't breaking tackles, wasn't doing anything on his own. So I would agree this is good news for the incoming rookie. Yeah, and what a just like, what a fart of a signing. Just like if you're Dallas and you're doing, what, they get a long snapper, right? What a slap in the face to Rico Dowdell.

They view that, like Rico's out now. It kind of was reported that now that he's signed, I think Rico doesn't want to come back. But it's like, that means they kind of chose, because this was, this was $3 million. Yeah. I mean, yeah, maybe Rico was asking for more money. But I mean, Rico was an undrafted guy.

Like Rico needs to go get money right now. That should be his top concern. Let's talk about a more exciting one, potentially. Maybe not. But the Rams have signed wide receiver Devonte Adams to a two-year deal worth $46 million, 26 million guaranteed. He is 32 years old, just a little bit older than Cooper Cup. And they chose, obviously, to move on from Cooper Cup in this offense.

They're trying. This pisses me off, man. I know, I know. What? It really pisses me off. Like I get, I love, I love Cooper Cup. Yeah, that's fine. Devante Adams is a little bit older. It's almost, it's almost the same contract. I mean, there, there, there was a lot of money

to both players here. This isn't like, well, we can't afford Cooper cup. This is literally saying I want nothing to do with you. Triple crown winning, perfect for our system. Cooper cup. Who's been a Ram and been part of our- Can't pay for the past, man. But then they kind of are. Well- No, Adams- You think Devonte Adams is a significant-

I do. Upgrade over Cooper Cup. I do. I do think he's a better wide receiver at this stage of his career, and I also think he's far more durable. And I think those two things combined. Now I don't know, something happened behind the scenes with Cooper Cup, Sean McVeigh and this, in this, uh, entire, you know, organization, because you

listen to McVeigh talk about how hard that situation was, you listen to Matthew Stafford's family talk about how hard that situation was like. Stafford was pissed. Yeah. Something, something went sideways and you don't know what it is. You don't know if it's cut being frustrated, which I would be, if I was Cooper cup and I had triple crown and I was that Superbowl winning wide receiver. And then Pooka gets all the attention.

I don't know what went through it, but they bring in Adams. Now I'd love to say, look, I trust the Rams. This is the same Rams organization that gave Allen Robinson three years and $46 million late stage career, which caused me to believe that they saw a guy that wasn't washed. Yeah. It cost us to believe that, like, I mean, that contract gas-lit us for Alan Robinson's entire season previous to that, where we all watched Robinson go, no. We're like, oh, he must be done. It's done.

This is absolutely over. And then the Rams gave him all that money, and it turned out it was. It was, in fact, over. I don't know, watching Adams play last year, both teams, it's not over for Adams. He's still, I think he could fulfill this contract. I do not think that this is bad. I don't think Adams will be a bad player. He'll be fine, but I see him as the most moderate upgrade over Cooper Cut. Well, let me...

Like, not a needle moving change. Agree or disagree? Devontae Adams hurts Puka more than Cooper Cup hurt Puka. Agree. Disagree. So tie break us here, Andy. Agree. Okay.

But... So you hate Cooper Cup? Cup was a red zone guy, too. It's not like Adams is coming in and threatening touchdowns more hate Cooper Cup? Cup was a red zone guy too. It's not like Adams is coming in and threatening touchdowns more than Cooper Cup did. Who do I hate, Jay? Cooper Cup, I just love Cooper Cup. I'm so mad at the Rams.

Look, I just. So mad at you. I do believe, look, Cooper Cup doesn't have a new home yet. And it was reported. No, he's still a Ram. He's still a Ram. It was reported that if they can't find a trade, they're going to cut him.

I just wonder, I don't think his contract's gonna look like this. No, no it won't. So that's, you know, it's not gonna look like Adam's contract and I don't know if he's gonna go into a place and make us excited for fantasy. Because the rapport he had with Stafford was a big part of it.

And for Cooper Cup to be successful, I feel like you need a lot of volume. How do you explain the end of the year? I will say that Cooper Cup. Yeah, it's very difficult. That's why I'm saying something happened, man. Something behind the scenes, game planning, went sideways to the point where the second the season

was over, they're like, yeah, Cooper Cup's gone. Like it just happened instantly. So I don't know if he was upset. Stafford maybe was told to focal point the offense somewhere else. I don't know. Yeah, it's crazy. The first nine games that Cooper Cup played,

played 83% of the snaps, was on pace for 171 targets. He was highly targeted, very effective. Then the very end of the season, the last three games and into the playoffs, 82% of the snaps, he's still out there. He would have had a 17-game pace of 51 targets. He was just deleted and I don't understand it. Yeah, if it's game plan or if it's the players done, I don't know. We're going to find out. But Adams, from a fantasy perspective, do you view him as a wide receiver too? Yeah.

With one upside? Mm-hmm. See, I don't feel like it's going to be impossible for Adams to give you a lot of big weeks with the Rams. No. With Stafford, I mean, Adams had himself a fine end of year. He's a pretty demanding ride receiver, too.

He is, but I think that Stafford can handle it. I think Stafford, there'll be enough to feed both those guys. Josh, and you know what? And Puka is injury prone. So that is an aspect you're going to have to try to overcome. Josh Palmer, three-year deal with the Bills, worth $36 million. He's 25 years old. We have been marveling at the contracts that wide receivers are getting this offseason.

I think we're experiencing a little bit of an inflationary market for wide outs because the cap has gone up. The running backs aren't getting a lot of money, but then Diami Brown gets a 10 million dollar deal. It's also the drafts. I think the NFL is telling us what they think of this draft class right now of the running like... Difference making wide outs, not being a lot of them. The running backs are not getting contracts. You thought, well man, after last year it worked out for the big guys. Certainly the market will correct. No, they're still gonna be in on all of these good cheap rookie running backs and the draft is not full of wide receiver talent. So they're locking up these secondary guys. Yeah so I mean Palmer to Buffalo it's hard for me not

to just view that as another body among the kind of collective wide receiver room. It's hard to look at it like, you know, do you like Keon Coleman or Josh Palmer or Khalil Shakir on a weekly basis or is it Kinkade or is it, you know, it just feels like another piece of the puzzle, not like a premier piece. I mean, he never took advantage of opportunities with the Chargers on a regular basis. Yeah, it's pretty irrelevant. This is a signing that just, it doesn't matter for fantasy. Palmer had opportunities with a great quarterback many, many times, and every now and then he'd

come through, and most of the time he wouldn't. That'll be exactly what happens for the Bills. Matt Collins leaves, Joshua Palmer comes in, he'll be on the field, he'll have some long deep touchdowns from Josh Allen. You won't know when to start him. And if you had to pick him in order, I'd be probably going Shakir Coleman. Yeah. Those two guys I'd pick before Palmer.

Me too. Mike, do you disagree on that one? I think I'd... I mean, Coleman, it's going into year two but his his rookie season I don't know if I saw enough that like I I think at this point Palmer is a much better wide receiver I don't know if that turns into fantasy value but if you're ordering I'm gonna take my chances it right now Palmer will be at two behind Shakir yeah I probably just put the only reason I put Coleman higher

is because I want something better. Right, yeah, exactly, the hope that he levels up in here too. I want the chance of something that's not Josh Palmer. But we'll take a break and we'll talk about some of these other signings and extensions before we close it out. There's actually a lot of news here There's actually a lot of news here in terms of players re-signed or given extensions. Josh Allen got the largest guarantee ever given to an NFL player.

This thing is like under the radar. Yeah, I mean 250 million guaranteed, 330 dollar extension six years the bills MVP Josh Allen Staying home which look every every MVP every quarterback the next deal is gonna be bigger than the one before Yeah, but I mean this is how many Kyle do you know how many years Josh Allen had left? Because this is just this is what you got to do. You know, you're to pay Josh Allen. Like, it's going to happen, so why not do it right now? It's also the phone call a good agent makes. Yeah. Sure. When you're an MVP or you're Saquon Barkley

and you just want a Super Bowl, you call the team and say, you know what, let's talk. But I'm saying, you're going to have to pay Josh Allen. Yes. Do it now. If you do this next year, it's more. It's a potentially higher percentage of your cap. It was rumored that Chris Godwin was gonna get a bigger deal than we might have imagined.

He did. Three years, $66 million, $44 million guaranteed. Godwin if you remember, he dislocated his ankle in week seven. It was kind of a gruesome injury. He was carted off. It was kind of a gruesome injury. He was carted off. It was emotional. The team clearly feels like he is in great, in a great position recovery wise

to give him this kind of money. And it was reported he turned down an extra $20 million over the course of a deal to stay home with Baker, which look, they have stability. I mean, goodness gracious, if you don't remember how good Chris Godwin was last year, when he went down, he was the wide receiver too. I mean, that is, he was- He was going to be the best pick in fantasy

football. Yes, unfortunate injury, but I love the fact that this contract, I mean, nobody knows how his recovery is going better than the Buccaneers who are 100% fine just shelling out the money. So it makes me happier to trust his recovery process. Plus this is a player who we've seen come back from injury before. So we know it's not a work ethic problem. And I'm happy you got the money.

This is great news for pretty much everyone. Great for Baker. Except for McMillions. Yeah, it's bad for Jalen McMillan, for sure. It's also gonna be, I mean, let's not forget there's another coordinator change. And that could be more impactful for Godwin though than Baker. That is very much true, but you know how we talked about, and on the

things to remember, we talked about continuity really mattering. Is it possible this is continuity for Baker Mayfield? Yes, it is. Is changing coordinators, like that's what he's used to? That's the only thing he knows. That's the only thing with the two players. His only consistency is inconsistency. His only consistency is a coordinator change.

If he had the same coordinator two years in a row, he'd be like, this is madness. So like on his calendar every year, he has a time when he meets the new coordinator. Exactly. And that would get messed up. Next. He just schedules it annually on his calendar. So.

Weekend. Laser. Weekend retweet. Retweet? Retweet. Weekend retreat with new coordinator? Yeah. Every year.

Aaron Jones, two-year deal, coming back to the Vikings, $20 million, $13 million guaranteed. I'm a little surprised at the money to bring him back. Did it was that much? I guess just like for a team that is, look they've made moves on defense this off season, I guess you've got it to spend when you got a rookie quarterback. You do. I think it's a great deal for both of them. The $13 million guaranteed, good for you, Aaron Jones. It's not an amount, to me, that is insurmountable for a rookie.

One of the big rookies could land with Minnesota. And Aaron Jones getting this deal doesn't turn me off of that rookie in the slightest. Jalen Warren, a second round tender placed on Jalen Warren, what does that mean? That means the team would have to give up a two to offer Jalen Warren a contract. And that is a second round tender worth $5.3 million. It pretty much means Jalen Warren is a stealer. Yeah, yeah, it does.

This is the perfect year for the second round tender for these guys, for running match. Jordan Mason of the 49ers, he got tendered at the second round as well. I don't see teams being like, yeah, I'm going to give up a two for one of those guys. No way. I have to give a new deal to when I could just

draft one of the rookies in the second round. Yeah, I was going to say, if I spend a two in this year's draft class, I'm getting a much better. Getting a rookie on a four-year deal. So this is the perfect strategy, in my opinion. And Jalen Warren. Elijah Mitchell's gone. Yeah.

Ustech is gone for San Francisco. And Jordan Mason is the returning backup to McCaffrey. It does, to me. With Garando. Jordan Mason's the guy. If Christian McCaffrey unfortunately misses more time, they'll go right to Jordan Mason. It's a, for the squad that had Mason as a dynasty running back,

there were bigger rumors out there of like, there was like the Cowboys are interested in trading for Jordan Mason. I think that's probably gone now. But at the very least he's locked in as the insurance back for Christian McCaffrey, which we all need Christian McCaffrey insurance these days. Yeah. Yeah. Hollywood Brown back to the Chiefs in a one-year deal. They also signed Elijah Mitchell, former 49er running back. It's a one-year deal for Elijah Mitchell. That's very interesting because I feel like his skill set matches this offense really, really well.

It does. Elijah Mitchell's problem has always just been staying healthy, but that's also like a 49er problem. So maybe changing to an upgraded or maybe it's a downgradeed. I don't know what the grading is on this strength training process for the 49ers, maybe they go too hard. They're too strong. They're too strong, they're working out. Do they have to, it's San Francisco, right?

So are all their fields like on, is it like a hill? Cause there's a lot of- Oh yeah. That's it. Do you know what I mean? Oh yeah, it's the- The San Francisco. They gotta have a name for that. Well what's the famous Swirly Road?

Right, yeah. You know what I'm talking about. Yeah, who doesn't? Uh, Lombard Street? Yeah, that's the one. That's the one. You guys don't know that? No, of course I really do.

I just didn't remember the name of it. But yeah, anyways, Elijah Mitchell's... You wouldn't describe it as Swirly? The Falcon is like trying to tell us yeah, the stadium's in Santa Clara. This is a bit, Falcon. Yeah, yeah, yeah. This is a joke.

It's just a goof. We're telling a joke. We're not being serious. Yeah, we don't actually think that they're training on Hills, you dummy. Yeah, yeah, they're doing a little Rice-A-Roney joke. Do you call them the Santa Clara 49ers? No, I was just saving y'all from the comments.

We fear no comments. You ever watch this show? Darius Slayton. Drafting. Drafting. Darius Slayton, for some reason, he signed a three year deal with the Giants.

Who have tried to kick him off the boat for six years and yet he has earned himself $36 million! So Darius Slayton, to kick him off the boat for six years and yet he has earned himself 36 million dollars. So Darius Slayton look so weird. I know it's it's I mean okay. All the good for the Giants. There's talk this morning of Rogers to the Giants. So yeah you know if it's Slayton and neighbors whatever to to out well one year deal to go back to the Rams. They're fine paying Tutu.

I knew you were gonna say it. I'm just so pissed about it, man. Yeah, you're. I'm rooting for Cooper Cups so hard. I want him to go get a bigger contract now. He should come to Arizona. Zach Ertz, one year deal. Boo! One year deal back with the Commanders.

Boo, although the, look. How many years in a row have you tried to project Zach Ertz's demise? Are we going on like six, seven years? boo although the how many years in a row the promise ride to Project Zach Ertz is demise. Are we going on like seven years? So many the the booing is more just for for Ben's beloved The government is closed the the prophecy is still on track ladies and gentlemen Oh, that's right. We need a year and a half of Zach Ertz and then Benson it becomes the new Trey McBride. Okay. Well, you know we're We're not toast yet. I Don't love it the bangles sign Mike gets sick you do a three-year deal or a 25 and a half million dollars

That's a big deal. You get sick. He had your stud your studs man you're sick he had some big games he was sticky get sick he very well he was a tight end five in week two number one in week nine it's hard to predict he had ten catches in week 17 yeah he won't be inconsistent for fantasy but I just wait for your Higgins injury for the bagels offense this is a goals base are the bangles Bagels that sounds like a delicious tea the bangles. I think this is a great sign for their office He's like you think he's like hold on hold on hold on guys. Hey Falcon Bagels was just we didn't really think no bagels no that was a bit We know it's the bangles just in case case. I had no idea. Yeah, no.

Got you. You can't just say, OK, we're going to put all of our defensive power into stopping Jamar Chase and T. Higgins. If you do that, Mike Osik you will feast. OK, they also brought back Samajee P. Ryan. They did. Yeah. So far, that's a win forajay Perrine. They did. Yeah.

So that, hey, so far that's a win for Chase Brown. Yeah, it is. Perrine is a role player at best. And I'm trying to look through and see if there's anything else. Patriots signed Josh Dobbs to be their backup behind Drake May. They'll probably trade Joe Milton,

aptly named Bazooka Joe, one of my favorite nicknames in the game. Yeah, it's strange. I don't know how you see that one game from Joe Milton. It's not that. We need to get a new backup in. I think Milton wants out because he wants a better opportunity to compete. He knows that Drake May is the next 10 years.

Yeah, and I also think that other teams saw that one performance and thought I would like to maybe give him a chance. Also, we did not get to talk about this. Probably should have rolled it to the top, but Evan Ingram released by the Jacksonville Jaguars. So Evan Ingram, fresh off of very productive seasons in Jacksonville. Last year was injury-riddled, but the year before,

he obviously put up the 114 receptions on 143 targets. Last year was kind of a deletion. He's 30 years old. He's meeting with the Broncos. Broncos would be exciting. Agree or disagree that Evan Ingram still has what it takes to be a top 10, tied in? I agree. Well, I think it completely depends on landing spot.

If he goes to the Broncos. No, I think only the Chargers Would be the only place I would say top ten. All right. Well that'll do it for today's episode The free agency frenzy continues on Thursday's show the only breaking news we got during this episode Miles Sanders, Miles Sanders released What a career. Whoops! Released into retirement. Yes, that'll be it. But we'll be back on Thursday. Looking forward to it. Goodbye. Thank you for listening to another episode of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast.

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