Big Moves Are About To Go Down In NFL Free Agency

In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by Hims:

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Free agency is upon us, and while the new league year doesn't begin until Wednesday, the legal tampering period starts today at noon ET.

So what does this actually mean? Well, I'm glad you asked! For 52 hours, teams can "start" negotiating with agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents when their contracts expire on Wednesday (the start of the new league year).

Here are the biggest free agents to watch closely for fantasy football:

Kenneth Walker

I sent a personal letter to Kenneth Walker begging him to stay in Seattle, so we will see if he reads it or not. Walker really upped his value during the Seahawks’ playoff run, which ended in his MVP Super Bowl performance. Walker managed to stay healthy all 2025 and locked down 1,309 scrimmage yards, averaging 4.6 yards per carry during the regular season (both career highs).

Potential landing spots: Denver Broncos, New York Giants

Travis Etienne

It was a great bounceback year for Travis Etienne in Liam Coen's offense. He had 1,399 scrimmage yards and 13 total touchdowns, which was a welcomed change after gaining only 558 yards in 15 games in 2024. The Jaguars have Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen on the depth chart, but bringing Etienne back is definitely still in the cards.

Potential landing spots: Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints

Mike Evans

There was a lot of smoke around Mike Evans potentially taking his talents to Buffalo, but after the DJ Moore trade it now seems unlikely. Staying with Tampa Bay makes too much sense here, but Matthew Berry reported that he believes Evans will be in a new uniform next year. Injuries limited Evans to only 368 receiving yards last season, but we can all remember that he notched 1,000 yards in each of his previous 11 seasons. Could he do it again?

Potential landing spot: Philadelphia Eagles (courtesy of Matthew Berry)

Alec Pierce

This might be my favorite player to watch this free agency. The Colts can still bring Alec Pierce back even after placing the transition tag on Daniel Jones, but Pierce is going to test the market (because he deserves it). His deep-threat ability will be beyond valuable for any NFL team. Pierce has led the NFL in yards per catch each of the past two seasons, with a league-high 21.3 yards per reception in 2025.

Potential landing spots: Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Chargers

Daniel Jones

The Colts placed the transition tag on Daniel Jones last week, which is different from the actual franchise tag. Basically, Indianapolis has the right of first refusal and can match any competing offer another team brings him. This is the seventh time since 2013 that a team has used the transition tag on a player, and according to ESPN, it's the first time the Colts have used the transition tag since 1998.

Potential landing spots: Indianapolis Colts, literally any team that needs a QB

Malik Willis

This is another great free agent who earned himself a payday last season. Malik Willis is going to be a gem for any team that is strapped at the quarterback position and is definitely someone to watch for fantasy football. In 11 games with Green Bay, Willis passed for 962 yards and 6 TDs, completing 78.7% of passes. He also had 42 carries for 261 yards and 3 touchdowns. His 6.2 yards per rush is fourth behind Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield and Spencer Rattler over the past two seasons among passers with 100-plus dropbacks.

Potential landing spots: Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins.

AND SOME TRADES WE’D LIKE TO SEE

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Editors’ Picks

Buckle up, friends. It’s going to be a fun week of new faces in new places. And we’ll have the fantasy spin and more in our content …

Kelce Heir Apparent in KC?

The Chiefs could be in position to draft the success to Travis Kelce. Matthew Freedman dropped the latest mock draft.

Tyreek Hill’s Landing Spot

Is the Cheetah running back home? Matt LaMarca breaks down Hill’s potential new team.

Love or Mendoza at 1.01?

Jeremiyah Love or Fernando Mendoza will be debated at the top of Dynasty superflex rookie drafts. Sam Wallace and Jack Trowbridge tackle that conundrum and more in their latest mock draft.

Top 10 Free Agents: A Loaded Class

We could go through ALL the free agents available who could be moving around the league this week, but who wants to talk about linebackers and nickel cornerbacks? We do have a special place for offensive lineman, though, as they’re doing the dirty work for others to give us fantasy glory. Matthew Freedman formed his own list of the 10 most important free agents among QBs, RBs, WRs and TEs. One is a running back who had a bounceback and could continue on with the right team:

No. 6: RB Travis Etienne

Travis Etienne looked great in his first season of action (1,441 yards, 5.1 yards per carry, 7.0 yards per target), but in the three years since, his efficiency has dissatisfied (3.9 yards per carry, 5.8 yards per target).

Still, since 2023, he has produced (3,695 yards, 27 TDs) and exhibited his three-down skill set (677 carries, 177 targets), proving that efficiency isn't everything.

As long as he gets his opportunities in 2026, Etienne has a shot for another 1,400-yard campaign, almost regardless of where he signs.

See the other nine players and where they could make some noise in a few months. ⤵️

THIS WR MAY BE NO. 9 ON THE LIST, BUT NO. 1 FOR A NEW TEAM

Free Agency Roundtable: Chiefs RB, Willis Destination and More

We all want good things for those who have been good to us. Patrick Mahomes, for one, has made many fantasy football manager so happy over the years. Only one thing has been missing for him in his nine seasons as a starter: a marquee running back. It being the eve of NFL Free Agency, and this being a loaded class, Kendall Valenzuela, Matthew Freedman and Jake Trowbridge linked up in a pre-free agency Fantasy Football Roundtable. So who are we wishcasting to the Chiefs and Mahomes?

FREEDMAN: Trick question: I don't think the Chiefs will sign such a player … but I do think that Rico Dowdle—one of just 11 players with 1,300 scrimmage yards in each of the past two seasons—makes a lot of sense for a team that will probably need to be thrifty at RB.

Dowdle's probably not as good as his production suggests, but he has efficient career marks of 4.5 yards per carry and 5.7 yards per target, and over the past two years he has been a three-down back with 471 carries and 99 targets.

Our trio answered questions on several players as a great primer for the days ahead. ⬇️

WHERE WILL MALIK WILLIS SIGN?

Free Agent Tight Ends: Likely Moves

We’ve been teased by the athleticism and the occasional spike weeks for Isaiah Likely throughout his four-year career. Who can forget emptying our FAAB wallets on him after Week 1 of 2024? Well, if he finds a new home during free agency, there could be some competition to draft him in the middle rounds after the elite TEs are gone early. Ian Hartitz has Likely among his top free agent TEs:

There's a reason why fantasy nerds and virgins around the world have been intrigued with Likely over the years: He's one of the position's best YAC talents when at his best. Overall, Likely's career average of 5.5 yards after the catch per reception is tied for the eighth-highest mark among 34 qualified TEs since 2022. The man has put some ridiculous highlights on tape over the years.

Travis Kelce (yes, we think he’s coming back), Dallas Goedert, David Njoku and more are highlighted among the top TEs who could be on the move.

Also, ICYMI, we covered the other positions:

IS TRAVIS KELCE CONTINUING HIS LOVE STORY IN KC?

Around the Watercooler

The latest fantasy and NFL gossip, news, memes and more from our merry band of football nerds …

🚨 The NFL Draft Guide got an update. Who is moving up and down?

🐶 The rookie WR class is so loaded. Many contenders for top dog.

🏈 The gap is wide among RB draft prospects from Jeremiyah Love to the RB2. Very wide.

👀 A.J. Brown headed out of Philly? Too much smoke for there not to be a fire.

📊 NFL Draft order got an update. Thanks to the Raiders trading for another pick.

🤷🏼‍♂️ Two sides to the Alec Pierce coin. Flip.

💪 This says so much about the rookie RB class. Protect the football.

🤝 Pete and cooterdoodle talk dynasty TEs. Trading Harold Fannin?