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Free agency is always an exciting time of year for fans of NFL teams and fantasy football managers, as well. A player's situation is very important, and the idea that someone could land on a team with a better situation is tantalizing for anyone looking to get an edge in their leagues.
In the same vein, if someone signs with a poor team, it should make you nervous about picking them up. It's also important to look at the contracts players sign. Generally, if they're offered less money than usual by NFL teams, it could be a sign that their statistical production will suffer.
And, of course, the ones getting fat contracts will probably be heavily involved in their offenses. So, let's break down the top 10 free agents in the NFL for 2025 fantasy football.
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10. RB Nick Chubb
The devastating, multi-ligament knee injury that ended Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb's 2023 season prematurely also caused him to miss plenty of time in 2024. And when he returned, he was nothing like his old self.
NFL RBs since 2014, Nick Chubb is the man. pic.twitter.com/16OUkctw9q
— Football Insights 📊 (@fball_insights) May 26, 2024
He turned 29 in late December. How much he has left in the tank is a serious question. Massive knee injuries can destroy a player's athleticism forever (Denver Broncos RB Javonte Williams is proof). If Chubb can even return to 80 percent of what he once was, he'll probably have value as a complimentary back.
We just don't know if that will happen.
9. WR Stefon Diggs
Houston Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs turned 31 in November of 2024, so he'll be on the cusp of turning 32 when the 2025 NFL season starts. And he won't be in a good place. He tore his ACL in Week 8, and big knee injuries like that can spell the end of a player's good years in the league.
The #Texans are open to having WR Stefon Diggs back next year. Per Nick Caserio. @WillKunkelFOX pic.twitter.com/UbC4fkXYVY
— Dylan Delgatto (@DDelgattoNFL) February 26, 2025
There should be a deep, long, wide, and gargantuan chasmic gap between the amount of money he wants and how much teams are willing to pay him. And he's not likely to be fantasy-relevant in 2025.
8. WR Amari Cooper
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper was traded to his new team from the Cleveland Browns. With his new team, he eclipsed the 10,000 career receiving yards mark, though he was a non-factor for most of his tenure with the team. This was partly due to a wrist injury that he suffered, which caused him to miss time.
If the Bills decide to bring back Amari Cooper they have to use him more like this⬇️#BillsMafia | #GoBills
pic.twitter.com/dknBv7czUC— Peter DiBiasi (@DibiasiPeter) February 15, 2025
He still seems to have plenty of potential. He'll turn 31 years old in June of this year. We probably would have seen him do more as well, were it not for his wrist issue. Those can be extremely painful, nagging injuries that take a long time to recover from.
We don't yet know what will happen with Cooper. Buffalo is likely to want to bring him back, but at his age, he probably knows he only has one more chance to sign a multi-year contract before his career is over. His days in the league are numbered. It's possible the Bills aren't willing to commit to anything longer than one or two years.
And with how weak the WR market is right now, there are multiple teams that would probably be happy to give him a better deal. He has some juice left. So for now, we wait.
7. RB J.K. Dobbins
After multiple devastating, season-ending injuries over the first few years of his career, Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins ended up in a good landing spot and had an excellent season as a result. He missed about 4.5 games due to a knee injury but finished the year with 905 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 195 carries (just over 4.6 yards per carry) and 32 catches for 153 yards.
Power running from JK Dobbins 💪 pic.twitter.com/bZklWtMpd3
— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) January 11, 2025
It's tough to ascertain how "injury-prone" he'll be for the remainder of his career and how much that makes NFL teams nervous. But the Chargers could probably get him back on a relatively cheap deal, and they don't have any other good RBs on their roster. He'll still have fantasy value moving forward.
6. QB Sam Darnold
A lot of teams are desperate for a quarterback, so Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold should find a home somewhere. No one really knows for how much, though. He could be a fine bridge signal-caller on a team with a good offensive line. He just can't deal with pressure, so any team that takes him should know that he won't go anywhere in the playoffs.
“HE’S HOLDING IT TOO LONG! THROW IT MAN!” -Paul Allen
Sam Darnold is sacked for the 5th time in 2 quarters
Called by Paul Allen and Pete Bercich for KFXN in Minneapolis: pic.twitter.com/YxtjXFcQ7e
— will: Riley Greene Truther (@wrhiv_72) January 14, 2025
He may or may not have lost a ton of money in his hideous last two games of the season, though.
5. QB Justin Fields
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields is a pretty damn good fantasy football option when he starts, mainly due to his high rushing upside. It seems unlikely that he'll start, though, because he's not a good QB. He can't read defenses very well and is far too hesitant with the ball in his hands. He also turns pressures into sacks at a very high rate.
Me running through my house when I get that Justin Fields extension news pic.twitter.com/H29TWiyjc8
— Fields of Steel (@Fieldsofsteelfb) February 24, 2025
That alone makes him a good backup option. He will draw interest from many teams. The Steelers want him back, and that's not a bad spot for him, fantasy football-wise.
4. WR Marquise Brown
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Hollywood Brown missed nearly the entire regular season (15 games) due to a sternoclavicular joint separation injury he suffered in the preseason. He returned to play two regular-season games and all of the Chiefs' playoff contests, but now his contract is up.
The Chiefs have expressed interest in re-signing him, but it's hard to believe he wouldn't at least explore other options, as many teams are desperately searching for help at the position. He's not been consistent in his career, and injuries have certainly marred his production, but when he's healthy, he has enough speed, quickness, and route-running prowess to be a difference-maker.
Hollywood Brown didn't get in the box score, but he was close to 2 massive plays
Both really well-paced routes, one throw was too long, one throw was perfect -- but couldn't be finished pic.twitter.com/CXP5pcIMQ4
— Ron Kopp Jr. (@Ron_Kopp) January 19, 2025
Though limited, his tape this season suggests that he's still a good WR. A lot of teams want that and would be happy with a healthy version of him as their WR2. He's still in play as a solid FLEX option in many fantasy football formats, depending on where he lands.
3. RB Aaron Jones
30-year old running backs are not in heavy demand by NFL teams this season, and with the RB class of 2025 set to hit the league after the 2025 NFL Draft, players like Jones might find it difficult to get in good landing spots and get paid what they're worth. Jones had another solid season in 2024.
Aaron Jones could play the "joker" role (yeah, I used the term) in Payton's offense. He was deployed all over the formation for KOC and was a consistent mismatch on passing downs.
Combine that with great vision and burst in the run game, and you've got an exceptional FA option… pic.twitter.com/B0qmZad97d— Frankie Abbott (@FrankiesFilm) February 26, 2025
Some teams may not be interested in picking a later-round rookie running back. They might have other positions they need to address, choose to trade their draft picks, or just whiff on one of the many great options available. There are still a few places Jones could go where he'd be fantasy-relevant. He has some juice left, but the injuries are concerning.
2. WR Chris Godwin
If he's able to recover fully from the ankle injury he suffered that ended his 2024 season, he'll be a prime free agent. That's up for debate, but we'll assume he's at least close to 100 percent by midseason. Even though he's about to turn 29 years old, he probably still has plenty of mileage left.
Chris Godwin is a free agent. 🤔
🎥: @Ihartitz
— Savage (@SavageSports_) February 17, 2025
Godwin is a fundamentally sound, excellent route-runner with great ball skills and separation ability. He could immediately become the WR1 on a handful of teams and the WR2 on quite a few more. The Buccaneers will need to address the position soon, as Mike Evans is getting old.
They probably want him back. It's just a question of whether they want to pay him.
1. WR Tee Higgins
It's really not close here. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is the best free agent for fantasy football in 2025. As of right now, it's really not clear what will happen with him. While the team has now stated multiple times that they want Higgins to return, probably in large part due to the public urging of quarterback Joe Burrow to do so, his status remains up in the air.
"I want (Tee Higgins) on my team."
Duke Tobin just now at the podium in Indy.
"Our preference is a long term agreement. We'll work hard to get that done."
Later said he's "optimistic" it gets done.
(Via @HolgateRegan and @GSorrentinoTV)#Bengals @Fox19 pic.twitter.com/DuwOfZ5zYD
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) February 25, 2025
The question isn't necessarily whether they want him but how they could get a deal done. The Bengals have had a good problem for the past few years, having two elite receivers at the same time. Higgins and fellow WR Ja'Marr Chase are easily the best wideout duo in the league, notwithstanding Higgins' injury issues.
The only thing preventing a stampede of other teams from trying to get him has been his injury issues. Yeah, who am I kidding? There are tons of teams that are desperate to get their hands on Higgins. This year's rookie class is considered weak at WR, as is the free-agent class overall, so there are very slim pickings at the position.
The reality is that it's likely another team will be able to pay Higgins more money. The problem is that they might not be willing to give up draft picks and shell out a huge contract for him. It's a player's market at the position right now. They're getting insane contracts, and rightfully so.
Tee Higgins??? OK?
Per: @AdamSchefter , @PatMcAfeeShow
Schefter implies Tee Higgins could be a good candidate for a tag and trade.
Hmm 🤔
Interesting. 👀🔥
— Savage (@SavageSports_) February 26, 2025
The wasteland of available players at the position has a Higgins Oasis, though. There are multiple teams with the draft capital and cap space to pull a move like this off. If he goes to a team like the Washington Commanders or Los Angeles Chargers, be prepared to draft him very high in fantasy football drafts in 2025. He'll be worth it.
Update (Monday, March 3): The Bengals have franchise-tagged Higgins for the second straight season, and the star WR seems to be staying in Cincinnati for the time being.
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