We’re officially into the off-season, with the new League Year less than a month away. Soon enough, we’ll get the draft and mini camps. But before all that, we get free agency. As we careen toward the new league year, I’m looking at five key free agents at QB, RB, WR, and TE. Today, Today I’m wrapping it up with pass catchers, looking at three WRs and three TEs of interest. Unlike the QB and RB landscape, which features a number of interesting options, pass catchers that could be difference makers will be in short supply.
Juju Smith-Schuster
About: Juju is undoubtedly the biggest name on the WR market, but it’s unclear how we should feel. He had a solid career in Pittsburgh but ended up signing just a one-year prove-it deal with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022. JuJu earned a Super Bowl ring, but it was just an OK season. He saw 101 targets, catching 78 passes for 933 yards but just three touchdowns. Now, he enters free agency again. He could be back in Kansas City, but as the biggest name on the market, he’ll likely have suitors offering a longer commitment. Juju isn’t a No.1, but in the right spot, he could be a solid WR2/WR3 for dynasty purposes.
Allen Lazard
About: Another player who had a shot to be the best WR option on his team in 2022. When Davante Adams moved to the Raiders, it seemed like Lazard was poised to break out. It didn’t happen. He saw 100 targets, catching 60 passes for 788 yards and six touchdowns. Now, he enters free agency. Like Juju, he’s not a true No. 1. He could be a good role player in the right system and will likely be looking for a place to be a WR2/3.
Jacobi Myers
About: Myers has been the best and most dependable receiver for the Patriots for a couple of seasons. I could see him going back there and continuing in that role. It also wouldn’t be a surprise to see Myers test free agency. He caught 67 passes for 804 yards and six touchdowns on 96 targets. Like the others on this list, he has the potential to be a solid WR2/3. It seems like the Patriots are focused on getting a WR1 this off-season, which could make a return for Myers make sense, or he could be a great role player for a contending team.
Dalton Schultz
About: The Cowboys made the decision to apply the Franchise Tag to running back Tony Pollard. That assures that Schultz will hit the open market. After receiving the tag last season, he had a solid season for the Cowboys. He caught 57 passes for 577 yards and five touchdowns, missing some time with injury. The year prior, he caught 78 passes for 808 yards and eight touchdowns. He’s a solid weapon in the passing game and should be an intriguing target for a team in need this off-season.
Mike Gesicki
About: Gesicki is another player who got the tag last season, but he had an underwhelming 2022 season with the Dolphins. While receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle thrived, Gesicki was a boom/bust option. He saw just 52 targets, catching 32 passes for 362 yards and five touchdowns. He will certainly be moving on this off-season and figures to be a fascinating target for a team in need of another passing game weapon.
Hayden Hurst
About: Hurst turned his stock around in 2022. After drafting Kyle Pitts made him expendable in Atlanta, Hurst caught on with the Bengals and proved to be a valuable weapon for Joe Burrow. He caught 52 passes for 414 yards and two touchdowns, serving as a complementary weapon in the Bengals’ passing game. He was a great fit for the offense, and it would be good for fantasy to see him land back there. If not, he showed in 2022 that he could be a valuable weapon on offense for a team that has a need, making him an intriguing 2023 free-agent option.
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.
