Whose Fantasy Football Outlook Improved, Or Didn't, Following NFL Free Agency?
In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by Pop-Tarts ...
In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by Pop-Tarts:
After the whirlwind of Free Agency, I could use a drink. Will the new shiny RBs steal the show? Will veteran WRs continue to command the attention they once did?
Over the next few months, we'll have plenty of time to under and overreact to NFL news. For now, we can at least recognize the spectrum of outcomes that are laid out in front of us.
Whether you see players' situations as half empty or half full … Well, that's up to you.
Bhayshul Tuten
When one door closes another door opens. In Bhayshul Tuten's case, when one 1,000-yard rusher leaves for a hefty paycheck and a brand new name, a fresh-legged RB with "super powers" enters the scene.
Tuten will either continue to earn short-yardage and goal-line work with a boosted role in Travis Etienne Jr.'s absence, or the newly, but highly-touted Chris Rodriguez Jr. is going to put an abrupt end to Tuten's hype before it even gets started.
Depending on whom you ask, Tuten's RB1 season is simultaneously dead and alive as we speak. Schrödinger's Jag, if you will.
Bucky Irving
Bucky Irving started 2025 right where he left off in 2024: Top-15 RB finishes with double-digit fantasy points. But after missing seven games last season, you wouldn't have known Bucky returned to action in Week 13 if you only glanced at his pass-catching statlines. His second-half body double was less impressive.
- Weeks 1-4: 19 rec, 193 yards, 2 TDs
- Weeks 13-18: 11 rec, 84 yards, 1 TD
To make matters worse, this season Bucky faces the threat of a split backfield with Kenneth Gainwell, who just commanded 1,000 all-purpose yards last season on a Steelers offense that ranked 26th in total team rushing yards.
Bucky is expected back from his offseason surgery and recovery in May. If healthy, he could hold down the RB1 role in Tampa once again and remind everyone why he is currently ranked RB15 heading into the season.
Or … y'know, Gainwell could press "repeat" on the season, earning a larger role during his first year with a new team—just as he did on his one-year contract in Pittsburgh where he was initially set to play "little ol’ backup" to Jaylen Warren.
Mike Evans
On the one hand, Mike Evans leaves a crowded room of pass catchers in Tampa. Rather than having to share targets with the likes of Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, Cade Otton and Irving, our 32-year old veteran now finds himself in the company of an injured George Kittle, an often-injured Ricky Pearsall and a soon-to-be-released Brandon Aiyuk.
On the other hand, Evans is coming off on an injury himself, which ruined his aesthetically pleasing 11 consecutive 1,000-yard statlines. And he leaves behind his familiar QB, Baker Mayfield, who finished Top-10 in passing yards and passing TDs in back-to-back-to-BACK seasons.
Ageists would say Evans' better days are behind him. But if he's back to full health, Evans has given us 11 reasons to believe he can pull off another 1K stint despite his age and new locker room.
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Alec Pierce (Colts)
Alec Pierce has been the NFL's most explosive WR over the past two seasons (11.9 yards per target), and last year he popped off with a career-best 47-1,003-6 receiving.
With his strong development, Pierce secured a four-year, $116 million contract from the Colts and pushed the team to part ways with WRs Michael Pittman and Adonai Mitchell over the past 12 months.
In 2026, Pierce is ready to emerge fully as the team's No. 1 receiver … a role he has secretly held in the shadows since 2024.
These postional favorites could be gracing your rosters in a few months.
Carnell Tate Scouting Profile: Smooth Like Santana
As the NFL Draft is approaching, where players are about to be drafted is coming into focus. We’re seeing who should be first-round picks, as well as some players who are going on Day 2 or 3. Carnell Tate has been a top-10 for the most part and is one of the three WRs who are in the top tier of prospects in this draft. Ian Hartitz profiled the Ohio State product, and stayed within the same program for a comparison that is quite fitting:
Smoothness is Olave-esque: While Tate won't be confused with an elite YAC producer, he wasn't exactly asked to operate in the underneath areas of the field very often, and there were plenty of flashes of him gliding past defenders in the open field either way. Independent of Tate's ability after the catch: His smoothness getting in and out of breaks is very impressive for a taller outside receiver.
Tate has made so much beautiful music for the Buckeyes and now will be performing a hopefully smooth transition to the next level.
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