NFL Free Agency: Fantasy Impact for Gus Edwards, Gabe Davis, Devin Singletary

Some big time NFL playmakers signed lucrative contracts with new teams and fantasy football players are frantically trying to keep up.

The NFL Free Agency Frenzy has been frenetic indeed, as several big names are on the move, including some who signed with rival franchises. (I’m looking at you, Saquon Barkley!) You can find all of my fantasy analysis for the major moves here including Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson, Tony Pollard, and Josh Jacobs but some other signings will also have an impact. Here’s some of those moves.

Sam Darnold will sign with the Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings lost Kirk Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons, so adding a quarterback was a must. That quarterback, maybe unfortunately for Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, is Darnold. The 26-year-old journeyman will either be the team’s starter or be a bridge to a younger field general the Vikings might pick in the NFL draft. The good news is that Darnold will be in a pass-happy offense with incredible weapons, so he would have late-round fantasy value if he does open as the starter.

Gardner Minshew heading to the Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders agreed to terms with Minshew on a two-year, $25 million deal with $15 million guaranteed. Based on that kind of money, he’ll likely be the favorite to open next season as the team’s starter. The mustache has great weapons in Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers and Michael Mayer too, so that’s an obvious plus. As long as he beats out Aidan O’Connell in camp, Minshew will have late value. 

Gus Edwards Going to the Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers seemingly found Austin Ekeler's replacement in former Ravens rusher Gus Edwards.  :: Mark Konezny/USA TODAY Sports

The Chargers are going to have a very different look next season, as new head man Jim Harbaugh brings his style of football to Hollywood. That style has almost always included having a bruising running back, which is what the team added in Edwards.

During his five-year career, nearly 50% of his rushing yards have come after first contact. Last season, he was 20th among backs in rush yards over expected, per NextGenStats. Edwards also rushed for 13 touchdowns on 39 red-zone attempts. With Austin Ekeler on the way out as a free agent, the Chargers will have Edwards and Isaiah Spiller under contract. That means more moves are coming, so I’d be shocked if Edwards were a true lead back. For now, he’s on the RB4 radar.

Devin Singletary Heading to the New York Giants

The G-Men lost Saquon Barkley to the Philadelphia Eagles, which leaves a hole in their backfield. Singletary will help fill it, at least in some role, as he signed a three-year deal with the team. New York is in rebuilding mode, and their backfield cabinet is mostly bare with Barkley gone and Matt Breida a free agent. Singletary is a good back who was a usable asset at times last season, but he’s rarely been more than a low-end No. 2 back or flex starter in his career. I would expect the Giants to make another move, possibly in the NFL draft, to create more depth at the position. But for now, Singletary will be a volume-based flex starter in a likely bad offense.

Gabe Davis Going to the Jacksonville Jaguars

The Bills lost one of their offenses big playmakers with Gabe Davis signing with the Jaguars :: Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports

The mass exodus out of Buffalo continues, as Davis will sign a three-year deal with the Jaguars. Presumably, he could take over as a starter with Calvin Ridley a free agent. That sounds like an appealing fantasy option in what figures to be a high-scoring offense, right? It would be, if it weren’t for the fact that Davis was unreliable for the Bills with a superstar quarterback in Josh Allen under center. In the event that Ridley does leave Duval County, I see Davis as a borderline WR3/WR4 in fantasy. What’s more, assuming Ridley does leave, I think the addition of Davis is good news for the fantasy draft value of both Christian Kirk and Evan Engram.

Antonio Gibson Heading to the New England Patriots

The expected departure of Ezekiel Elliott leaves an opening in the Patriots backfield, and the team was quick to fill it with Gibson. A versatile player who was a wideout in college, he’ll be a nice complement to Rhamondre Stevenson. Of course, Gibson will also be a thorn in the side of Stevenson’s PPR value. In his best fantasy season, when he averaged 14.7 points in 2022, he posted 69 catches and 421 yards out of the backfield. Those totals seem unreachable now, as Gibson will be used often as a pass catcher. As a result, Stevenson looks like a less attractive No. 2 option in most drafts. As for Gibson, he’ll be an RB4/RB5 option in the latter rounds.