X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Engel's Offseason Fantasy Football Angles: Names Makin' News

Dak Prescott - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Scott "The King" Engel evaluates the start of the NFL free agency period amid a flurry of significant action that is already fueling fantasy football speculation and impacting dynasty and keeper outlooks.

While we have no active sports right now, the beginning of NFL free agency and other offseason news items are already entertaining us and stirring a lot of buzz. As soon as the tampering period opened, we saw a flurry of significant action that is already fueling fantasy speculation and impacting dynasty and keeper outlooks. Plus, some players are being retained by their current teams, stabilizing their 2020 outlooks.

It appears that teams are acting quickly to either acquire or keep top available players, and there can be some surprises as to who may be on the move. Free agency is thin in some areas, such as wide receiver, and the Texans-Cardinals swap came as a bit of a shock. Seeing David Johnson dealt was expected, but whenever a player the stature of DeAndre Hopkins is traded, it generates a lot of surprised reaction, in the real and fantasy worlds.

There is a lot more to come in terms of player movement and news. I will be providing my insights consistently here on RotoBaller.com. To begin, here are my first reactions to the initial moves of consequence.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

The Big Trade

While draft picks were also part of the exchange, in a stunner, the Texans unloaded superstar WR DeAndre Hopkins and tried to bolster their RB position yet again. Hopkins should not see a significant change in value, as he is going into a situation with a very promising young QB and has performed at high levels with mediocre passers in the past. Giving Kyler Murray a superstar wideout, though, elevates his appeal for 2020 and puts him firmly in the conversation as the third to fifth QB off the board. With a crew of Hopkins, Larry Fitzgerald, Christian Kirk and Andy Isabella, you should expect a healthy boost in TD passes (20 as a rookie) and he will obviously be a running threat as well. Murray also should now be seriously considered as a third keeper.

The deal obviously leaves the Texans wanting at WR for now, but we will have to see how they attack the position going forward in free agency and the draft. Once again, they have attempted to fill their longtime need at RB, but David Johnson is coming off an injury-plagued 2019 season and health has been an issue for him over the past few seasons. The Texans are rolling the dice that he can recapture his past form, and heavy opportunity is now in front of him. This is the last chance for Johnson to show he can still be a quality all-around producer or Houston will be left wanting at the position again. He should be viewed as a very low-end fantasy RB2 for 2020.

 

Tight Ends Fly In and Out of Atlanta

As expected, Austin Hooper left Atlanta. He signed a four-year deal with the Browns, a move that should certainly knock down his value a bit. There is an obvious downgrade from Matt Ryan to Baker Mayfield at QB, and now Hooper has to share targets with Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. in the Cleveland passing game. Hooper played at a top TE level for a good chunk of the 2019 season, but now falls a bit further away from the Top 5 at the position. The acquisition, though, does deepen Mayfield’s suite of pass-catchers and gives him a proven big target on key downs.

The Falcons quickly reacted to the loss of Hooper by acquiring Hayden Hurst from Baltimore, where he was buried on the depth chart. At times last season, Hurst flashed his potential (3-73 and a TD in Week Week 14 vs, TEN, 4-53-1 in the playoffs vs. BAL). Now he has Top 10 potential at the TE position for 2020. Ryan certainly can use him frequently as a third option, and Hurst’s abilities were not being properly utilized with the Ravens. The natural skills are there for him to become a fantasy starter this upcoming season, and he has suddenly gained a newfound amount of significant appeal in dynasty leagues.

 

Dak Gets Tagged

One of the controversial non-fantasy questions of the offseason has been whether Dak Prescott should be among the very highest-paid QBs in the league on a long-term deal. That answer will have to wait, as the Cowboys slapped the franchise tag on him. Prescott has only won one playoff game, but he is an experienced and proven passer with the potential to win much more than he has so far.

If Dallas were to part with him, regaining a quality starting QB of his caliber is far from an easy goal to accomplish in the NFL. Prescott rates just outside the top-five in fantasy at QB and Dallas will continue to work with Amari Cooper while Michael Gallup continues to improve. With bigger money on the line and more to prove, Prescott could play at an elite level in 2020.

 

Titans Lock Up Tannehill, Franchise Henry

Tennessee moved fast to make sure they kept the key offensive pieces that drove them to an unlikely AFC Championship run. It was important to sew up Ryan Tannehill to a four-year deal, because free agency does not offer much in the way of QB options and there will be competition to trade up for the top rookies.

When a team finds the correct fit at QB they have to tie that player up, as so many franchises struggle to find the right, winning option. Tannehill scored less than 18 points just once between Weeks 7 through 16 and played better than ever with a quality supporting cast and better coaching. He didn’t produce much during the postseason but is at least a top-end QB2 in fantasy for 2020.

Franchising Henry was smart because although he looked like the most unstoppable force in the league in the playoffs and led the league in rushing, he has a track record of inconsistency. With the lure of more money to play for and wanting to prove 2020 was no fluke, it’s reasonable to tab Henry as early as the third RB off the board in 2020.

 

Bengals Still Seeing Green

Cincinnati franchised A.J. Green and he will likely have to show he can stay healthy and regain his better form before he has any hopes of an extension. Projected new QB Joe Burrow will welcome the sight of an available Green, as the veteran is a big target who can be quite an asset on key downs, If Green can avoid major injuries, he still has starting WR potential.

But we also have to see how much all the health issues have affected his abilities. Green can be drafted as a WR4 if he has no further setbacks; having Green, Tyler Boyd, and John Ross can certainly help Burrow perform well as a rookie.

 

More News and Moves

The Falcons released Devonta Freeman, so do not be surprised if Atlanta goes with a duo of Ito Smith and Qadree Ollison in 2020. Ollison has some real promise as a TD producer. … Greg Olsen is a wild card for the Seahawks, as he could be a frequent target on important third downs and in the red zone. But if Will Dissly returns healthy and Jacob Hollister stays in the mix, the picture will become murkier. … The Cardinals used the transition tag on Kenyan Drake but will likely match any offer. He should be considered a mid-range fantasy RB2 for next season. … The Chiefs exercised their 2020 option on Damien Williams. He is a playoff hero, but Williams still has not shown he can stay healthy or perform at a high level consistently over a full season, so he could still be part of a timeshare next season.

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Niko Goodrum7 mins ago

Signs Minor-League Deal With Mets
Nick Kurtz11 mins ago

Belts Third Home Run In Last Four Games
Shohei Ohtani25 mins ago

Blasts Walk-Off Home Run
Zac Veen33 mins ago

Triples, Collects Four RBI At Triple-A On Wednesday
Zac Gallen34 mins ago

Strikes Out 13
Luke Waddell1 hour ago

Swinging A Hot Bat At Triple-A
Chandler Simpson1 hour ago

With A Two-Run Triple, Stolen Base On Wednesday
Los Angeles Chargers2 hours ago

Chargers Sign Tight End Jordan Petaia
Austin Gomber2 hours ago

Scratched From Rehab Start With Shoulder Inflammation
Zack Wheeler3 hours ago

Records 10 Strikeouts
3 hours ago

Matthew Golden Making Pre-Draft Visit To Steelers
Cincinnati Bengals3 hours ago

Trey Hendrickson Not Looking For Short-Term Deal
Aroldis Chapman3 hours ago

Earns First Save Of The Season
Garrett Crochet3 hours ago

Works Eight Strong Innings
Tutu Atwell3 hours ago

Rams Plan To Give Tutu Atwell A Bigger Role In 2025
Rafael Devers3 hours ago

Finally Delivers At The Plate
Tampa Bay Buccaneers3 hours ago

Bucs Restructure Antoine Winfield's Deal To Free Up Cap Space
Xavier Edwards3 hours ago

Collects Four Hits
Pete Alonso3 hours ago

Comes Up Clutch
Jackson Merrill5 hours ago

Goes Deep After Inking Nine-Year Extension
Jrue Holiday5 hours ago

Won't Play Against Miami
New York Jets5 hours ago

Xavier Newman-Johnson Re-Signs With New York
Luis Castillo5 hours ago

Finally Beats The Tigers On Wednesday
Al Horford5 hours ago

Sidelined Versus Heat
Seiya Suzuki5 hours ago

Carries Cubs Offense With Two Homers, Five RBI
Kristaps Porzingis6 hours ago

Ruled Out On Wednesday
Fred VanVleet6 hours ago

Out Versus Utah
Dennis Santana6 hours ago

Picks Up First Save Of The Year
Evan Phillips6 hours ago

Tony Gonsolin, Evan Phillips Starting Rehab Assignments
Dean Wade6 hours ago

Sidelined On Wednesday
George Springer6 hours ago

Hits First Homer In Win Over Nationals
Alex Bregman6 hours ago

Considering Using Torpedo Bat
Trae Young6 hours ago

Expected To Suit Up On Wednesday
Joel Embiid7 hours ago

Will Undergo Arthroscopic Surgery On His Left Knee
Evgeni Malkin7 hours ago

Joins Penguins For Road Trip
Filip Chytil7 hours ago

Could Miss Rest Of Season
Declan Chisholm7 hours ago

Back In Action Against Rangers
Keaton Wallace7 hours ago

Sidelined Again On Wednesday
Samuel Girard7 hours ago

Exits Avalanche Lineup Wednesday
Joel Kiviranta7 hours ago

Returning Against Blackhawks
Eeli Tolvanen7 hours ago

Misses First Game Of The Season
Jaden Schwartz8 hours ago

Unavailable Against Canucks
9 hours ago

Kyle McCord Rising Up Draft Boards?
9 hours ago

Ashton Jeanty To Raiders Continues To Gain Steam
9 hours ago

Emeka Egbuka To Fall To Round 2?
Los Angeles Rams9 hours ago

Rob Havenstein Expected To Be Ready For Training Camp
Cleveland Browns11 hours ago

Mike Hall Likely To Miss Offseason Program After Having Knee Surgery
New England Patriots11 hours ago

Christian Barmore Expected To Be Ready For Offseason Workouts
11 hours ago

Saints Expected To Visit With Quinn Ewers
Jake Moody11 hours ago

49ers To Bring In Competition For Jake Moody
Pittsburgh Steelers11 hours ago

Steelers In Play To Draft A Running Back
Green Bay Packers14 hours ago

Packers Not Ruling Out Jaire Alexander Returning
Tennessee Titans14 hours ago

No. 1 Overall Pick Might Not Be For Sale
Kenny Pickett14 hours ago

Browns Feel Good About QB Situation, Kenny Pickett
Cleveland Browns14 hours ago

Browns Unlikely To Trade Up To No. 1 Overall For Cam Ward
Cincinnati Bengals14 hours ago

Bengals Still Working On Contract Extension With Trey Hendrickson
Dyami Brown14 hours ago

Jaguars Intrigued By Dyami Brown's Potential
Bennedict Mathurin15 hours ago

Iffy For Wednesday
Myles Turner15 hours ago

May Miss Another Game Wednesday
Al Horford16 hours ago

Considered Doubtful Wednesday
Jrue Holiday16 hours ago

Questionable For Wednesday's Game
Kristaps Porzingis16 hours ago

Listed As Questionable For Wednesday
Jaylen Brown16 hours ago

Could Remain On The Shelf Wednesday
Cade Cunningham16 hours ago

Likely Out For Fifth Straight Game
Anthony Davis16 hours ago

Probable Wednesday
Evan Bouchard17 hours ago

Tallies Two Assists In Victory
Jake Guentzel18 hours ago

Tallies Goal, Assist In Victory
Kirill Marchenko18 hours ago

Scores Hat Trick On Tuesday
Tage Thompson18 hours ago

Stays Hot On The Scoresheet
Lane Hutson18 hours ago

Dishes Out Three Helpers In Overtime Victory
Alex Ovechkin18 hours ago

Tallies Two Points In Victory
Cameron Young23 hours ago

A Player To Avoid At Valero Texas Open
Kurt Kitayama23 hours ago

In Search Of Consistency At Valero Texas Open
Si Woo Kim23 hours ago

Looking To Bounce Back At Valero Texas Open
Tom Hoge1 day ago

Looking To Build Off Strong Performance At The PLAYERS Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick1 day ago

Looking For Consistency At Valero Texas Open
Corey Conners1 day ago

Continues Strong Form Ahead Of Valero Texas Open
Patrick Cantlay1 day ago

Eyeing Victory At Valero Texas Open
Gary Woodland1 day ago

Showing Great Form Ahead Of Valero Texas Open
Akshay Bhatia1 day ago

Aiming For Repeat At Valero Texas Open
Alejandro Tosti1 day ago

A Volatile Choice At TPC San Antonio
Guerschon Yabusele1 day ago

Out Against Knicks
Karl-Anthony Towns1 day ago

Sits Out Tuesday's Game
Jevon Carter1 day ago

Ruled Out Tuesday
Dalen Terry1 day ago

Unavailable Against Raptors
Julian Phillips1 day ago

Out On Tuesday
Jimmy Snuggerud1 day ago

Ready For NHL Debut Tuesday
Jacob Trouba1 day ago

Set To Rejoin Ducks Lineup Tuesday
Troy Terry1 day ago

On Track To Play Tuesday
Jonathan Marchessault1 day ago

Remains Out Against Blue Jackets
Alex Laferriere1 day ago

Expected To Return On Tuesday
Luke Schenn1 day ago

A Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Dante Fabbro1 day ago

Returns Against Predators
Olli Määttä1 day ago

Olli Maatta A Game-Time Call On Tuesday
Jordan Spieth2 days ago

Needs To Find Consistency At TPC San Antonio
Jake Knapp2 days ago

Making First Appearance At Valero Texas Open
Michael Kim2 days ago

Looking To Find The Magic Again In San Antonio
Tommy Fleetwood2 days ago

Is Nearly A Must-Play At Valero Texas Open
Tony Finau2 days ago

Hoping For Better Approach Play In San Antonio
Eric Cole2 days ago

Trending In Right Direction Ahead Of Valero
Sam Stevens2 days ago

Enjoys Nice Result In Houston
PGA2 days ago

J.T. Poston Seeks To Contend At Valero Texas Open
Denny McCarthy2 days ago

Keeps Making Cuts But Needs To Make More Putts
Brian Harman2 days ago

Off To A Subpar 2025 So Far
Ryan Preece2 days ago

Has Three Straight Top-10 Finishes For First Time In His Career
NASCAR2 days ago

Bubba Wallace After Third-Place Finish At Martinsville: "What a Great Day"
Todd Gilliland2 days ago

Has Mistake-Free Day At Martinsville, Grabs Another Top-10 Finish
Brandon Moreno2 days ago

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Steve Erceg2 days ago

Losses Third Consecutive Fight
Drew Dober2 days ago

Gets Knocked Out At UFC Mexico City
Manuel Torres2 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Harry Hall2 days ago

Bounces Back In Houston Last Week
CJ Vergara2 days ago

Gets Submitted
Édgar Cháirez2 days ago

Edgar Chairez Gets Submission Win At UFC Mexico City
Vince Morales2 days ago

Drops Decision At UFC Mexico City
Raul Rosas Jr.2 days ago

Gets Decision Win At UFC Mexico City
Saimon Oliveira2 days ago

Still Winless In The UFC
David Martinez2 days ago

Wins His UFC Debut
Kevin Borjas2 days ago

Earns His First UFC Win
Ronaldo Rodríguez2 days ago

Ronaldo Rodriguez Suffers His First UFC Loss
Christopher Bell3 days ago

Powers His Way To A Second-Place Finish At Martinsville
Chase Elliott3 days ago

Strong Martinsville Performance Ends With A Top-Five Finish
Kyle Larson3 days ago

Collects A Top-Five Finish At Martinsville
William Byron3 days ago

Places 22nd After Struggles At Martinsville
Joey Logano3 days ago

Claims His First 2025 Top-10 Finish After Up-And-Down Performance
Tyler Reddick3 days ago

Fails To Place In The Top 10 At Martinsville
Denny Hamlin3 days ago

Silences Doubters After Crew-Chief Change
Ty Gibbs3 days ago

Earns Best 2025 Finish At Martinsville Despite Failing Cool Suit
Ross Chastain3 days ago

Has A Great Day At Martinsville
Chase Briscoe3 days ago

Has Solid Run At Martinsville
Erik Jones3 days ago

Disqualified At Martinsville For Weight Violation
Josh Berry4 days ago

Has Top-10 Upside At Martinsville
Joey Logano4 days ago

Don't Overlook Joey Logano This Weekend
Ryan Preece4 days ago

Could Get First Three-Race Top-10 Streak Of His Career
Chase Elliott4 days ago

Looking To Continue Great Runs At Martinsville
Christopher Bell4 days ago

Wins Pole At Martinsville, But Can He Stay Up There?
Ryan Blaney4 days ago

Fast In Practice But Skeptical About Car
Denny Hamlin4 days ago

New Crew Chief Has Terrible Martinsville Record
Steve Erceg5 days ago

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Brandon Moreno5 days ago

A Favorite At UFC Mexico City
Manuel Torres5 days ago

Set For Co-Main Event
Drew Dober6 days ago

An Underdog At UFC Mexico City
Joe Pyfer6 days ago

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Kelvin Gastelum6 days ago

Set For Middleweight Matchup
Vince Morales6 days ago

In Dire Need Of Victory
Raul Rosas Jr.6 days ago

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Saimon Oliveira6 days ago

Looks For His First UFC Win
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
UFL RANKINGS, FANTASY FOOTBALL,

UFL Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 2: QB, RB, WR, TE Rankings and Analysis (2025)

Week 2 of the UFL season is just around the corner. This week will feature one game on Friday, one game on Saturday, and two on Sunday. Birmingham and Michigan will play at 8:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, followed by Memphis-D.C. on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. EDT. Sunday's game pits the 1-0 Renegades against the […]


Calvin Ridley - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL DFS Picks, Draft Sleepers

Dynasty Fantasy Football Rankings: Overvalued, Undervalued Players (2025)

Dynasty fantasy football rankings constantly shift, especially as we inch closer to the new season and fantasy drafts. Dynasty managers know the importance of finding those underrated players who could be steals in drafts or trades. They also know some players are overhyped due to unsustainable trends or past production. I'll break down two overvalued […]


Justin Fields - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Best Fantasy Football Moves During 2025 NFL Free Agency

It has been a wild offseason so far in the NFL. Plenty of players have switched teams in free agency, and some stars were even traded. Deebo Samuel Sr. was dealt to the Washington Commanders, Geno Smith was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders, and DK Metcalf has a new home with the Pittsburgh Steelers. These […]


Tyreek Hill - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Three Aging Fantasy Football Players To Sell In Dynasty Leagues

It's hard to always know when to sell off your aging fantasy football players. Often, it's also difficult to accept that it's better to move on from a player when he's coming off a productive season and still has a lot left in the tank. But I believe it's better to be a year early […]


J.J. McCarthy - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Draft Sleepers

Five Fantasy Football Superflex Quarterback Breakouts, Draft Targets (2025)

If you’ve ever played in a Superflex fantasy football league, then you know how important quarterbacks are in this format. The ability to start multiple stud quarterbacks can carry you to a Superflex title. Unfortunately, finding two such players isn’t so easy. All the top signal-callers come off draft boards first, and that makes it […]


Omarion Hampton - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks - NFL Draft

Ideal Landing Spots For The Top 12 Fantasy Football Rookies - 2025 NFL Draft

Then, the NFL Draft continues to inch closer and closer. This is a very interesting class, with a handful of players who could be stars in the NFL and reshape fantasy football leagues going forward. Here are the ideal landing spots for the top 12 fantasy football rookies. These picks exist in conversation with each […]


Jalen Coker - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Eight Best Ball Late Round Value Fantasy Football Players To Target For 2025

Fantasy football is the most popular game in all of sports. It has gone from a paper-and-pen game to a multi-million dollar-a-year one. While redraft leagues are the most popular form of fantasy football, best ball leagues are quickly gaining steam. The best part of best ball leagues is the ability to draft thousands of […]


Abdul Carter - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

2025 NFL Draft Rankings: Top 10 Fantasy Football Edge Rusher Prospects

Edge rusher is the most important, most coveted, and most highly-paid position on defense in the NFL. It stands to reason that the most important position in the entire game being quarterback, and by a wide margin, means the most important position on defense are the players that are tasked with disrupting opposing QBs as […]


Brock Purdy - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Picks

Brock Purdy Dynasty Fantasy Football Outlook and Trade Value

Despite becoming the all-time leading passer for the Iowa State Cyclones, Brock Purdy wasn't a highly touted prospect due to his perceived lack of athleticism. The 49ers picked him with the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, but Mr. Irrelevant quickly proved everyone wrong. In his first two years, he started in back-to-back NFC […]


Michael Florio's Football Show - Podcast RotoBaller Network

Florio's Football Show: Scouting NFL Draft Prospects!

Michael F Florio goes over some of the top prospects from this years NFL Draft. Florio talks about what he looks for when watching prospect tape and explains what traits translate best to the NFL level. Be sure to also tune into RotoBaller Radio on SiriusXM (SiriusXM channel 87) on Sundays from 6-7 am. You can […]


Najee Harris - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Dynasty Fantasy Football Buy or Sell: Najee Harris, Rico Dowdle, Jordan Mason

One year ago, we discussed the futures of Josh Jacobs, Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, and Aaron Jones as those free agents found new homes. This year's headliners are Najee Harris, Rico Dowdle, and Jordan Mason. Not quite the same. Still, with every transaction come implications for dynasty fantasy football rosters across the globe. Below, we […]


Romeo Doubs - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Early 2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Undervalued NFC Draft Targets

While the 2025 fantasy football redraft season is still several months away, there is no such thing as being too prepared for your fantasy draft. Fantasy football is year-round, even for those who only play in redraft leagues. The landscape of fantasy football will change between today and the start of redraft season, with the […]


Detroit Lions Defense, Aidan Hutchinson - Fantasy Football DST Rankings, Streamers, IDP Sleepers

2025 Fantasy Football IDP Sleepers: Five Draft Targets

It's notably difficult to identify sleepers in fantasy football IDP leagues. The skill of the players in question is very important, but situation also plays a large factor, as does a recent history of injuries. Rather than bucketing them into groups, it's better to analyze each one individually, look at where they are in terms […]