7 Early Predictions For 2024 NFL Free Agency: Fantasy Football Offseason Outlook

Despite the NFL postseason still ongoing, it's never too early to look ahead at this year's free agent class and see where some star players might end up. The new league year hasn't even started yet, so it might be hard to nail some predictions that will happen come March and April. 

But it's also a good way to start analyzing where teams might need to improve for next season. The Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, and Las Vegas Raiders all have running backs with expiring contracts, so that means four Pro Bowl backs will be on the market this offseason.

Let's dive in and predict where some of the biggest stars might sign this offseason and what it could mean for their fantasy value during the 2024 season.

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WR Mike Evans: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After a successful year for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there's a chance they try to run it back with the same offense led by quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Mike Evans. But it all depends on if the Buccaneers will be able to pay the Pro Bowl wideout what he wants. There's going to be a big market for him, though Evans has stated numerous times that he wants to stay in Tampa and play with Mayfield again. 

As a result, the Buccaneers will do all they can to keep him and sign him to a multi-year contract this offseason. With Mayfield also returning (predicting that happens), Evans should be a strong WR2 option with WR1 upside in fantasy if he remains with Tampa. He'll have over 1,000 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns again in 2024, assuming everything stays the same with this offense. 

WR Tee Higgins: Chicago Bears

This might be a bold prediction, but it would surprise me if the Cincinnati Bengals sign wide receiver Tee Higgins to a multi-year deal. Now, the franchise tag is definitely in play here, and the Bengals could choose to go that route. However, the Chicago Bears are a potential suitor for Higgins in free agency.

Assuming the Bears do not take wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. in the upcoming draft and select quarterback Caleb Williams instead, pairing Higgins with DJ Moore to help their young quarterback is a move that Chicago could realistically make this offseason. They also have over $46 million in cap space -- according to Over the Cap -- so paying him won't be a problem. If the 25-year-old wideout ends up in the Windy City, he might be more of a WR3 in fantasy in his first year -- if Williams is the team's starter. 

WR Marquise Brown: Arizona Cardinals

For the first time in his career, wide receiver Marquise Brown is a free agent. After being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft and traded to Arizona before the 2022 season, Brown will look for a new home this offseason. However, that home happens to be right back with the Cardinals. 

For starters, Brown and quarterback Kyler Murray have been friends for a long time, dating back to their college days at Oklahoma. That means there's a real appeal for the wideout to stay with Arizona. On top of that, the 26-year-old has had positive contract talks with the team in the past, and there's a strong chance Murray will want his WR1 back.

Now, his fantasy value could get interesting if he stays because there's a strong chance the Cardinals select Harrison Jr. with the fourth overall pick. If that happens, Brown will likely be more of a WR3/WR4 in fantasy. 

RB Saquon Barkley: Houston Texans

Now this is a spicy take, but this is something that can absolutely happen this offseason. A reunion between running back Saquon Barkley and the New York Giants seems unlikely, especially with how things played out last offseason. With the Houston Texans being an up-and-coming team, needing a running back, and having a ton of cap space, Barkley seems like a logical fit. 

Barkley will want to get paid, and luckily, the Texans have over $57 million in cap space this offseason, according to Over the Cap. Devin Singletary is also a free agent, so there's a sudden need for this Houston team to pick up a running back in the spring. If this plays out like that, the 26-year-old back would be in for another top-five running back finish due to his potentially high usage behind a much better offensive line than he had in New York. 

RB Josh Jacobs: Las Vegas Raiders

There was a real chance that running back Josh Jacobs was going to be traded last year after holding out for most of the offseason. But he winded up playing on a one-year deal and is now set to become a free agent this spring. However, his return to Las Vegas seems more likely on a multi-year deal, given Antonio Pierce's hire just last week. 

Jacobs was one of many players that spoke out for Pierce to get the Raiders' head coaching job and said he would "one hundred percent" love to return to Las Vegas "especially with [Pierce] as the head coach." Now, that doesn't mean much, and with a young running back in Zamir White waiting in the wings, they could easily move off the former rushing champ.

However, this past season, Pierce has said that he wants to become a heavy running team, and no one fits that mold better than Jacobs, who carried the ball 340 times during the 2022 season. If the 25-year-old returns to the Raiders, he's a strong RB1 option. 

RB Tony Pollard: Los Angeles Chargers

It wasn't the best of years for running back Tony Pollard, who played on the franchise tag in 2023. With Dallas still needing to pay wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, edge rusher Micah Parsons, and possibly give quarterback Dak Prescott an extension, there's barely any money left to pay Pollard. So, his departure seems almost inevitable. 

With Austin Ekeler and Joshua Kelley also both free agents, the Chargers might be in the market for a running back this offseason. Pollard makes a lot of sense, given his chance to reunite with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. The 26-year-old had his best season with Moore as the OC in 2022. Now, Los Angeles will need to clear a ton of cap space, but this fit makes sense. Pollard would be a low-end RB1 in fantasy if that were to happen. 

RB Derrick Henry: Baltimore Ravens

The Derrick Henry era in Tennessee is officially over, and a reunion seems unlikely. Even at the age of 30, Henry still has plenty left in the tank to contribute. He rushed for over 1,150 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023 and should have a role with some team next year. 

Henry has stated over the past couple of weeks that he wants to play for a contending team in 2024. With Keaton Mitchell coming off a torn ACL and J.K. Dobbins officially a free agent, the fit in Baltimore makes all the sense in the world. The Ravens were the number one running team in 2023 at 51%, and having Henry in that backfield would make them even more dangerous on offense next year. 

If he does go to Baltimore and assumes RB1 duties, he would be a strong RB1 option in fantasy. Even at the age of 30, Henry can provide over 1,100 rush yards and over 10 touchdowns with the Ravens in 2024. 

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