There will be plenty of stars who will enter free agency this offseason. As a result, dynasty owners might not want to trade for a player who is set to become a free agent. That's because where these players land could affect their fantasy values.
Sometimes, though, it is worth taking a risk on players about to hit free agency. These players could wind up in a better situation, and their fantasy values could skyrocket in the coming months.
So, which pending free agents should fantasy managers buy in dynasty leagues this offseason? Let's dive in and find out.
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RB Najee Harris
Running back Najee Harris will enter free agency this offseason for the first time in his career after the Pittsburgh Steelers declined his fifth-year option. It will be interesting to see where the former first-round pick lands in the coming months, and he could wind up back in Pittsburgh. However, he is someone dynasty managers should be looking to acquire before free agency opens up.
Although Harris might not be the sexiest pickup for your dynasty team this offseason, he will likely continue to be a solid fantasy RB2 option on whichever team he winds up on. He has rushed for 1,000 yards in each of his four NFL seasons and has finished as a top-20 fantasy running back in half-PPR formats in all four years.
Najee Harris’ career so far:
•Never missed a single game
•First RB since 2008 to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first 4 seasons
•One of just three players since 2021 with 4,000+ rushing yards and 1,100+ receiving yards
Still Doubting? 🤔🤔#NFL #Steelers pic.twitter.com/aQHBKX1jmR
— The Standard (@TheStandard412) January 8, 2025
As a result, Harris should be a high-floor fantasy option for your dynasty team in 2025 and beyond. He is still 26 years old and could sign with a running back-needy team like the Dallas Cowboys in free agency. It might be wishful thinking, but that landing spot would certainly raise his fantasy value.
RB Javonte Williams
There's a strong chance that running back Javonte Williams will not be back with the Broncos next season. Williams didn't see many opportunities in Denver's offense for most of the year and only averaged 4.6 carries per game over the final eight games of the season. So, it appears he could play for a new team in 2025. That makes him a potential buy in dynasty leagues.
Now, trading for Williams is a risk because he hasn't shown much since tearing his ACL during the 2022 season. He has averaged only 3.6 yards per carry over the past two years and finished outside the top 28 at the running back position in both of those campaigns. However, dynasty owners trading for him are hoping he returns to his rookie-year form on a potential new team.
In his first season, Williams finished with 903 yards and four touchdowns while finishing as the RB17 in PPR formats. If he lands into the right situation this offseason, he could emerge as a solid fantasy RB2 option again.
While there is some risk in trading for him, there could be somewhat of a high reward for taking a chance on a soon-to-be 25-year-old running back. He is still relatively young, and it won't cost dynasty owners a whole lot to acquire him. He has an RB44 value on KeepTradeCut (KTC), which means a third-round pick might be enough to get him.
WR Chris Godwin
Wide receiver Chris Godwin was on pace for a career year in 2024 before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in late October. Godwin totaled 50 catches for 576 yards and five touchdowns across seven games. More importantly, he was the WR2 in PPR formats in those first seven weeks. Therefore, the 28-year-old should be a target for most dynasty teams this offseason.
Matthew Berry goes through potential landing spots for Chris Godwin during free agency.
🎥 NFL, FOX | @Applebees pic.twitter.com/Ae7MEm11ir
— Rotoworld Football (@rotoworld_fb) February 3, 2025
Godwin's value will certainly be down following his season-ending injury. On top of that, he is set to become a free agent this offseason. So, there is a possibility that he lands in a less-than-ideal situation. But there's also a great chance he signs back with the Buccaneers and continues to be a strong WR2 option.
That's why dynasty owners should be making a move for Godwin this offseason. He has a WR39 value on KTC, which seems low for a player who has finished as a top-20 fantasy wide receiver in two of his last three full seasons. Even though he is coming off a gruesome ankle injury, the 28-year-old still has plenty of solid seasons left in him.
WR Diontae Johnson
Wide receiver Diontae Johnson might be the easiest pending free agent to trade for this offseason. After a year in which he played for three different teams (Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens, and Houston Texans), Johnson's fantasy value is extremely down. He couldn't even get playing time on a Baltimore offense that lacked wide receivers and was cut by both the Ravens and the Texans during this past year.
However, he is someone worth taking a chance on in most dynasty leagues. Johnson is still 28 years old and has been a consistent fantasy option for most of his career. Before being traded by the Panthers this past season, the wideout averaged 13.6 PPR fantasy points in his first six games. He has also totaled at least 800 receiving yards in three of the past five years.
Given that this wide receiver free agent class is weak, Johnson could be one of the more sought-after options at the position. He has proved before that he can produce solid numbers in the league and could sign with a wide receiver-needy team in free agency like the Chargers, Cowboys, Commanders, or Patriots.
Dynasty owners also won't need to give up really anything to acquire him. Johnson has a WR96 value on KTC, meaning it would take only a late-round pick to trade for him. That seems like a chance you should be willing to take.
WR Marquise Brown
When Marquise Brown signed with the Kansas City Chiefs last offseason, his dynasty value skyrocketed. He was set to catch passes from Patrick Mahomes and was only three years removed from a top-25 fantasy finish in Baltimore. However, Brown injured his shoulder in the team's first preseason game and didn't make his season debut until Week 16.
With Brown now set to become a free agent, dynasty owners might be looking to sell him. He has totaled under 600 receiving yards in back-to-back seasons and hasn't really been a strong fantasy option in recent years. Still, the 27-year-old wideout could be a sneaky dynasty add before free agency opens up.
One player the #Commanders should target this offseason is WR Marquise Brown.
He’s been in the Kliff Kingsbury system before and could be a relatively cheap Dyami Brown replacement.#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/eGRVead0TP
— Wam ✞ (@WamNFL) February 1, 2025
He is one of the better wide receivers in this free agent class, and many teams could be in need of a solid WR2. Teams like the Chargers, Cowboys, Commanders, and Titans could all use another wide receiver in their offenses. As a result, take a chance on a wideout who currently has a WR61 value on KTC and see where he lands in the coming months.
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