The NFL’s new league year kicked off on Wednesday, March 12. We’ve had a week of wild wheeling and dealing that has a lot of familiar faces in new places. All that leaves some players as winners and some as losers in this game of musical teams. Over the next two posts, I’ll be looking at a couple of each at the four different positions. Today, we kick off with players whose stock dropped as a result of the last week.
Quarterbacks
Stock Down: Russell Wilson, Free Agent
About: As of this writing, Wilson is a free agent. He spent most of last year as the starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who reached the playoffs and flamed out. It seems the Steelers aren’t keen to have him back. And while other journeymen and his 2024 backup, Justin Fields, got lucrative new deals, Wilson has made two visits and remains unsigned. I suspect he will get signed, but it’s hard to imagine he gets more than a one-year deal, and he seems to be moving from reliable QB2 territory to NFL backup quickly. That’s not great for those rostering him in Dynasty.
Stock Down: Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons
About: Some thought Cousins would be a hot name on the quarterback market yet again. But that $65 million in dead cap number is no joke for the Falcons, who’ve said for months that they intended to keep Cousins as their backup. It seems that is proving true, as he’s still on the roster, collecting a big roster bonus. In terms of Dynasty, it’s hard to imagine releasing him, but it’s also looking more likely he won’t be playable in 2025.
Running Backs
Stock Down: Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
About: Pacheco had a 2024 to forget. He rushed for 310 yards and a touchdown, averaging less than four yards per carry. He’s never been much of a receiver, so if he’s not putting up big rushing numbers, that’s a blow. Yes, he broke his leg and was missing for a number of games. But he wasn’t effective upon his return or in the post-season. That cast doubt on his long-term value. The Chiefs responded by re-signing Kareem Hunt and adding Elijah Mitchell from the 49ers. I suspect they aren’t done yet, either. All this leaves Pacheco as a player that you need to move if you can and create a backup plan if you’re counting on him.
Stock Down: Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers
About: Dowdle had a memorable 2024 season. He finished with 1,079 yards on 235 carries. All that seemed to offer the potential for a good free-agent deal. Instead, he signed a one-year deal with the Panthers, where he figures to back up Chuba Hubbard while the team waits for Jonathon Brooks to recover from injury. All that leaves Dowdle as a bench piece with an unclear path to consistent touches and a murky Dynasty future.
Wide Receivers
Stock Down: George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers
About: It would be hard to have a worse end to the season than Pickens did in 2024. He missed time with injuries and because he missed meetings. And he was often missing in action when he was on the field. That led the Steelers to make receiver a priority this off-season, trading for D.K. Metcalf and giving him a five-year deal. Now, Pickens is a WR2 option at best on a team that doesn’t yet have a franchise quarterback. His value is dropping.
Stock Down: Jalen McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
About: McMillan had a solid rookie season, stepping up in the clutch down the stretch as Chris Godwin missed time with an injury. With Godwin a free agent, it seemed like he was poised for a year two leap. Then Godwin signed a new three-year deal. That leaves McMillan as likely the third receiver, again. It’s a blow for those who collected shares waiting for the breakout. Barring a big injury, he’ll be in a complementary role again in 2025.
Tight Ends
Stock Down: Ben Sinnott, Washington Commanders
About: Sinnott is another player who looked poised for a year two breakout. He was behind a good Zach Ertz in 2024 and didn’t get a lot of chances. But with Ertz a free agent, the Third-Round pick looked like he was in line for more targets in 2025. Instead, the Commanders brought Ertz back again on a one-year deal, dashing those hopes. Sinnott remains a deep league stash—ideally on a Practice Squad—for at least another year.
Stock Down: Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders
About: A Second-Round pick in 2023, Mayer didn’t do much as a rookie and saw the team add Brock Bowers in 2024. Relegated to a backup role, he was given permission to seek a trade by the new Raiders’ regime. That indicates they don’t see him having a fantasy-relevant role in 2025 if he remains with the Raiders. The problem is that he hasn’t gotten any bites elsewhere, either. For those that snagged Mayer hoping for a top tight end prospect, it’s looking like he’s a deep league stash at best.
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
