With the 2024 season in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look ahead. Before we get to the draft, we start a new league year and a free agent frenzy. Ahead of that, I’ll be looking at five impact free agents—and a couple of honorable mentions—at each of the four big fantasy positions. Today, it’s a look at wide receivers.
No. 1: Tee Higgins
2024 Team: Cincinnati Bengals
About: Among many dominos at wide receiver, Higgins is the biggest. He played on the Franchise Tag in 2024 and played well when he was available. He only appeared in 12 games but saw 109 targets, catching 73 passes for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns. Higgins averaged 18.2 points per game, finishing as WR17.
The Bengals have expressed a desire to have him back, but will that happen? Higgins figures to command a hefty salary as the premier free agent. He’s a high-end WR2 for me with upside. I think in the right spot, he could easily finish Top 12.
No. 2: Chris Godwin
2024 Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
About: Godwin is the other big name on the free agent market. He has been a great producer throughout his career in Tampa Bay. Unfortunately, he ended the 2024 season with an injury. In just seven games, he saw 72 targets, catching 50 passes for 576 yards and five touchdowns.
Godwin has some miles and will be entering his ninth NFL season, but he’s still a good producer. I’m not sure he’s back in Tampa Bay, which could allow him to be a producer for someone else. For now, he’s a WR3 for me. But I like Godwin’s potential.
No. 3: Stefon Diggs
2024 Team: Houston Texans
About: Diggs soured on the Bills and, last season, was dealt to the Houston Texans. They, in turn, amended his contract to give him an out after the 2024 season. He appeared in eight games before being injured, seeing 64 targets and catching 47 passes for 496 yards and three touchdowns. He had some good production and now hits the open market.
But what is Diggs’ market, and what is Diggs’ role? I think Diggs has upside, but he’ll be entering his 11th NFL season on his third team in three years coming off injury. Realistically, he’s a WR4 with some upside potential.
No. 4: Amari Cooper
2024 Season: Buffalo Bills
About: No receiver fell off a cliff faster than Cooper in 2024. In 2023, despite being on a bad Browns team with uneven quarterback play, he finished as WR20. In 2024, he started on a poor Browns team and was traded to the Bills. Despite a good Bills offense, Cooper was a relative non-factor. He saw 32 targets in eight games and caught just 20 passes for 297 yards. He had just 547 yards receiving on 44 receptions in 2024.
Now, he hits free agency. Cooper is still only 30 despite having ten professional seasons under his belt. Before 2024, he had been a great producer year-in-and-year-out for three different NFL Teams. But what will his market be? Can Cooper bounce back from near irrelevance in 2024? I think he can in the right spot, but he’s still just a WR5 at this point. His inability to do anything in Buffalo gives me pause.
No. 5: Keenan Allen
2024 Team: Chicago Bears
About: After a great career with the Chargers, Allen was dealt to the Bears to be a veteran option alongside No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams. It was a disastrous season for the Bears, but Allen was able to contribute. He saw 121 targets, catching 70 passes for 744 yards and seven touchdowns.
Allen has entered the phase of his career where he’s a veteran option alongside a WR1. But there are plenty of teams where he could slot in and provide some upside for the offense. Still, given his age and the uncertainty, he’s a WR5 for me.
Honorable Mention: DeAndre Hopkins
About: Hopkins left Tennessee mid-season to join the Chiefs. He provided a spark at times, but his days as the focal point in the offense are behind him. He’s on the WR5/WR6 bubble but could still contribute to an offense needing a receiver.
Honorable Mention: Mike Williams
About: Williams signed a free agent contract with the Jets last off-season, but that fizzled out quickly. He ended up getting traded to a Pittsburgh Steelers offense desperate for wide receiver production and made nearly no impact. So, where does that leave Williams this off-season? He still has name value, but I’m not sure he has any practical fantasy value. I wouldn’t blame you if you set him free this off-season.
Honorable Mention: Diontae Johnson
About: It’s hard to imagine any receiver had a worse 2024 than Johnson. He was traded to the Carolina Panthers but didn’t fit with them. He was traded to the Baltimore Ravens and ended up with the Houston Texans. He had a total of three receptions on nine targets for the latter two playoff teams. He washed out of both places with reports of attitude issues.
That leaves him a free agent this off-season with a very uncertain future. At one point, he was viewed as a Top 25 receiver, but now it’s hard to say if he has any fantasy value left. Watch his market, but I suspect he’s a player who won’t be signed until close to the season, if at all.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
