The NFL’s new league year kicked off on Wednesday, March 12. We’ve had a week of wild wheeling and dealing, with many familiar faces in new places. All that leaves some players as winners and some as losers in this game of musical teams. Today, we continue with players whose stock improved last week.
Quarterbacks
Stock Up: Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
About: Darnold turned a one-year, $10 million shot at redemption in Minnesota into a chance to be the top quarterback on the free agent market this off-season. He finished as QB9 last season and became a hot commodity. He had his pick of spots and chose the Seahawks, who have a decent core of players, including Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp at receiver. He got a three-year deal that has a potential out, but he figures to be a solid starter in fantasy in 2025.
Stock Up: Justin Fields, New York Jets
About: Fields didn’t have much of a market last off-season. He was shipped off to the Steelers, where he went 4-2 in six starts but got benched in favor of Russell Wilson, who finished the season. That seemed like a negative sign. And yet, Fields and now Wilson had a bigger market to kick off free agency. The Steelers were interested, but Fields signed a two-year deal with the Jets to be the starter. That makes him an interesting prospect for fantasy, especially as he reunites with Garrett Wilson. If you held Fields through a down year, you’re on the cusp of taking a step forward in 2025.
Running Backs
Stock Up: Najee Harris, Los Angeles Chargers
About: After four solid years of production, rushing for more than 1,000 yards each season, Harris hit free agency. Harris hit the market and landed in a good spot with the Chargers. Under Jim Harbaugh, they want to be a run-first team. That should give Harris plenty of opportunities. He only signed a one-year deal, which is something of a concern, but I like Harris quite a bit for 2025.
Stock Up: Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
About: Brown had a fantastic 2024. He showed he could carry the load for the Bengals, finishing as RB10 on the season. But would the Bengals give him a chance to carry the load again in 2025? So far, the answer appears to be yes. The Bengals signed Samaje Perine, who figures to be a contributor and a good pass blocker. They still have Zack Moss, who was there last year, as a rotational player. But all signs point to Brown being the lead back again in 2025 as part of a productive offense. If you bet on him last season, you’re in great shape in 2025.
Wide Receiver
Stock Up: Josh Palmer, Buffalo Bills
About: Palmer has been a steady, if unspectacular, contributor to the Chargers since he was drafted. It was fair to wonder about his value as he hit free agency. But Palmer signed a three-year, $36 million deal with the Buffalo Bills. He figures in as part of an answer at the position along with Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman. That makes Palmer an interesting stash heading into the new season, giving him potential weekly flex value.
Stock Up: Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers
About: After a disastrous 2024 that saw Williams disappear in stints with the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers, he seemed like a droppable player in dynasty. Then, a funny thing happened. The wide receiver-needy Chargers brought Williams back. It’s only a one-year deal, so I’m not going crazy. However, Williams returned to a place where he had his best success and already had a connection with quarterback Justin Herbert. That gives me a spark of hope again as we head into 2025.
Tight Ends
Stock Up: Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars
About: Strange had a solid season when filling in for the injured Evan Engram. He finished with 40 receptions on 53 targets. The Jaguars have released Evan Engram, leaving Strange as the likely starting tight end for new coach Liam Coen. With the Buccaneers last season, Coen used tight end Cade Otton well. He finished as TE14 despite missing a handful of games. That gives Strange high-end TE2/low-end TE1 upside.
Stock Up: Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
About: Last season wasn’t incredible for Johnson, so as he hit free agency, it wasn’t clear what his value would be. Instead, he signed a new, lucrative three-year deal with the Saints and new coach Kellen Moore. We don’t know how this new offense will run, but Moore has used a tight end well in the past. That gives Johnson some high-end TE2 upside at this point, which makes him an interesting pick-up or hold in Dynasty.
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.
