NFL Fantasy Free Agent Cheat Sheet

With the free agent signing period looming, here are the top fantasy players that could be on the market.

The NFL’s offseason calendar began on February 13, with the start of the 2023 waiver wire system and the first business day after Super Bowl LVII. Teams can next designate their franchise or transition players starting on February 21 and ending at 4 p.m. ET on March 7. During this period of time, the NFL Scouting Combine (Feb. 28-March 6) will also occur at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

A week later, starting on March 13, NFL teams can begin negotiations with the league’s pending unrestricted free agents. That’s where things will start to get exciting for fantasy footballers, as we’ll begin to get a clear picture of who might land where for 2023 and beyond. The new league year will then start on March 15 at 4 p.m. ET, during which time clubs must exercise options for 2023 on players with clauses in their contracts. At that point, free agents can sign with new teams.

Top Five Fantasy Landing Spots: Aaron Rodgers | Jimmy Garoppolo | Saquon Barkley | Tony Pollard | JuJu Smith-Schuster | Miles Sanders | Derek Carr | Lamar Jackson

NFL franchises can also start the process of making trades, which has become far more prevalent (and exciting) across the league in recent seasons. Just ask any fantasy fans who have Tyreek Hill or Davante Adams in dynasty leagues!

Now that you’re caught up on the important dates on the NFL’s calendar, here’s a look at the fantasy-relevant players who are scheduled to become free agents. All players per position are ranked in order of fantasy value for the 2023 season.

The Giants would probably like to re-sign both Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones, both of whom will be free agents next month :: Chris Pedota/USA Today Sports Network

Quarterbacks

1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
2. Daniel Jones, New York Giants
3. Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
4. Derek Carr, free agent
5. Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers
6. Baker Mayfield, Los Angeles Rams
7. Sam Darnold, Carolina Panthers
8. Taylor Heinicke, Washington Commanders
9. Mike White, New York Jets
10. Teddy Bridgewater, Miami Dolphins
11. Gardner Minshew, Philadelphia Eagles
12. Tyler Huntley, Baltimore Ravens*
13. Jarrett Stidham, Las Vegas Raiders
14. Jacoby Brissett, Cleveland Browns
15. Cooper Rush, Dallas Cowboys
16. Drew Lock, Seattle Seahawks
17. Andy Dalton, New Orleans Saints
18. Joe Flacco, New York Jets
(* -- restricted free agent)

Notes: Jackson, Jones and Smith are the best available free agents at the position, and most folks think they’ll remain with their respective teams. That doesn’t mean a trade involving Jackson won’t happen, however. Stay tuned. Carr is already a free agent, and Garoppolo is almost certain to leave the 49ers with both Trey Lance and Brock Purdy on the roster. The best of the rest, including Mayfield and Darnold, are borderline NFL starters and won’t be drafted in most 2023 leagues.

Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports

Running Backs

1. Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
2. Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
3. Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys
4. Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles
5. David Montgomery, Chicago Bears
6. Jamaal Williams, Detroit Lions
7. Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills
8. Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns
9. Damien Harris, New England Patriots
10. Rashaad Penny, Seattle Seahawks
11. Jerick McKinnon, Kansas City Chiefs
12. Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins
13. Jeff Wilson Jr., Miami Dolphins
14. D’Onta Foreman, Carolina Panthers
15. James Robinson, New York Jets
16. Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings
17. Latavius Murray, RB, Denver Broncos
18. Samaje Perine, Cincinnati Bengals
19. Kenyan Drake, Baltimore Ravens
20. Dontrell Hilliard, Tennessee Titans

Notes: Barkley and Jacobs are the two biggest free agents at the position, but I'd be a bit surprised to see either leave their incumbent teams. The same goes for Pollard, who could be franchised by the Cowboys. I like Williams to remain in Detroit since D’Andre Swift isn’t durable, but Sanders, Montgomery and Singletary could be on the move. A move from Cleveland could really help the value of Hunt, while Harris and Penny will likely have to take committee or backup roles.

Wide Receivers

1. Jakobi Meyers, New England Patriots
2. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kansas City Chiefs
3. Odell Beckham Jr., free agent
4. Allen Lazard, Green Bay Packers
5. D.J. Chark, Detroit Lions
6. Sterling Shepard, free agent
7. Mecole Hardman, Kansas City Chiefs
8. Parris Campbell, Indianapolis Colts
9. Darius Slayton, New York Giants
10. Mack Hollins, Las Vegas Raiders
11. Richie James, New York Giants
12. Marvin Jones Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
13. Noah Brown, Dallas Cowboys
14. Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers
15. Nelson Agholor, New England Patriots
16. Demarcus Robinson, Baltimore Ravens
17. DeAndre Carter, Los Angeles Chargers
18. Jamison Crowder, Buffalo Bills
19. Jarvis Landry, New Orleans Saints
20. Julio Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Notes: The wide receiver position is not chock full of big fantasy names, though that could change if the likes of Michael Thomas, Keenan Allen and some others are cap casualties. For now, Meyers is the best of the bunch with Smith-Schuster a close second. Beckham Jr. comes with a ton of question marks due to knee injuries over the last few seasons, but several teams are likely to take a chance on him this offseason. Lazard, Chark, Shepard, Hardman and Campbell could draw fantasy value in the right situations, and the same holds true for the trio of Slayton, Hollins and James. The rest of the wideouts would be late-rounders in best cases.

Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports

Tight Ends

1. Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys
2. Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars
3. Mike Gesicki, Miami Dolphins
4. Irv Smith Jr., Minnesota Vikings
5. Hayden Hurst, Cincinnati Bengals
6. Austin Hooper, Tennessee Titans
7. Robert Tonyan, Green Bay Packers
8. Foster Moreau, Las Vegas Raiders
9. Jordan Akins, Houston Texans
10. Donald Parham, Los Angeles Chargers
11. Dan Arnold, Jacksonville Jaguars
12. O.J. Howard, Houston Texans

Notes: Schultz and Engram are the best of the free agent tight end bunch from a fantasy perspective. If they remain with their current teams, both would be top-12 options. Gesicki could make a big push in drafts if the veteran lands with a team that will utilize him as a pass catcher. Remember, he was a top-10 tight end in 2021. Smith Jr. and Hurst should remain late rounders, but none of the rest will have much appeal unless they land starting jobs with a projected uptick in targets.

Kickers

1. Robbie Gould, San Francisco 49ers
2. Brett Maher, Dallas Cowboys
3. Greg Joseph, Minnesota Vikings
4. Matt Gay, Los Angeles Rams
5. Matt Prater, Arizona Cardinals
6. Mason Crosby, Green Bay Packers
7. Greg Zuerlein, New York Jets
8. Chase McLaughlin, Indianapolis Colts
9. Riley Patterson, Jacksonville Jaguars**
10. Eddy Piniero, Carolina Panthers
(** -- exclusive rights free agent)

Notes: Kickers matter (at least to me)! The list of free agents includes Gould and Maher, who finished tied for seventh and tied for third respectively in points this past season. Joseph, Gay and Prater will also have value with the right teams, and Crosby and Zuerlein are veterans who will be backend No. 1 options at best.

---

Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Click here to read all his articles here on SI Fantasy. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for your late-breaking fantasy news and the best analysis in the business to help you win a fantasy championship!