Five Pending Free Agents To Sell In Dynasty Fantasy Football Leagues

When players hit the open market, it is simultaneously exciting and terrifying for dynasty fantasy football managers.

A change of scenery can contribute to a breakout season (see Sam Darnold and Jonnu Smith). It can also flatten the stock of long-time roster pieces (Devin Singletary and Kirk Cousins).

Below, we examine five players from the upcoming free agent class to sell in dynasty leagues.

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Sam Darnold, QB

Selling Sam Darnold may be tricky, and it will definitely be easier in a 2QB or Superflex league. He's one of just a few free-agent quarterbacks with a starting pedigree (Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, depending on how you view the latter), which means he will be signed to, at worst, be a bridge quarterback for a team that selects a rookie signal-caller early in April's draft. Any starting quarterback holds value in those Superflex formats.

Unfortunately, the red flags were on full display in the biggest games of Minnesota's season. A national TV audience witnessed 166 yards, a 43.9 completion percentage, and zero touchdowns against Detroit with a chance to clinch the NFC's top seed.

Darnold follow that performance with two turnovers and nine sacks in the Wild Card loss to Los Angeles. Those games cost Darnold money in free agency and fantasy football stock.

The Sean McVay/Kevin O'Connell offensive system is the most quarterback-friendly scheme in the league. That helped Darnold register career-high marks in nearly every major passing statistic (throwing to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison didn't hurt).

What happens when he's not in that system? He had all the protection and elite receiving a quarterback could ask for and still held onto the football too long in the pocket. That's a quarterback who doesn't have confidence in his arm.

Sam Darnold had an EPA of -27.4 last night, according to @NextGenStats.

He was 9-17 for 84 yards and an INT when pressured. Six of the Rams' nine sacks came at least 4.4 seconds after the snap. pic.twitter.com/tVEePnIRSj

— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) January 14, 2025

Fantasy managers may have a starting quarterback in the short term, but Darnold isn't a long-term starter in this league. Even if he were to return to the Vikings on a team-friendly deal, 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy is waiting in the wings when Darnold flounders.

J.K. Dobbins, RB

J.K. Dobbins endured multiple ligament tears in his knee, an Achilles tear in 2023, and a handful of other injuries throughout his professional career. Back-to-back 100-yard rushing efforts in Weeks 1 and 2 propelled Dobbins into a starting gig with the Los Angeles Chargers and led to a finalist nomination for the NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

Those were Dobbins' only triple-digit marks of the 2024 campaign. His rushing average tanked after the quick start, with under four yards per carry in eight of 14 games (including the Wild Card loss). He was brought to Los Angeles on a one-year, prove-it contract. He proved that health continues to be an issue as he missed time with an injury for the fifth time in as many seasons.

Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers' brain trust will seek a more dynamic runner in the offseason. As much as they shifted to lean on Justin Herbert and the passing game later in the season, Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman still want to win on the ground. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, and Kimani Vidal won't cut it.

Despite all the negatives plaguing the former Ohio State Buckeye, Dobbins averaged 13.5 half-PPR points per game (14.8 PPR). That was good for 17th among running backs, ahead of big names like Breece Hall, Bucky Irving, and Aaron Jones. That's the entry point for trade negotiations.

Dobbins can still be a productive fantasy football asset in the right situation, and he just turned 26 years old. With uncertainty about his landing spot and consistent injury fears, selling after a career-best season is striking while the iron is hottest.

Rico Dowdle, RB

Don't let Rico Dowdle's recent breakout season fool you. He's not a young, blossoming star.

The Cowboys turned to the formerly undrafted back when they whiffed on prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft and Ezekiel Elliott (and other experiments) didn't pan out. Dowdle averaged over 20 carries per game from Week 12 through the end of the season. He rushed for over 100 yards in four of those contests, including back-to-back-to-back games setting a rushing yards career high.

Rico Dowdle Week 15

- 73% snaps
- 25 carries, 149 yards
- 14.9 fantasy pts

No catches or TDs so not the biggest fantasy day, but he was awesome

— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) December 15, 2024

However, the important thing to note is that Dowdle turns 27 in the offseason, and the Cowboys are notorious for rostering a big-name running back (from DeMarco Murray to Darren McFadden to Elliott to Tony Pollard). He's older than Jonathan Taylor and months younger than Josh Jacobs and Najee Harris, running backs who have been starting running backs in this league for several years.

We can say with certainty that the Cowboys will acquire running backs this offseason. Deuce Vaughn (another failed experiment) is the only true running back on the active roster (practice-squad member Malik Davis and fullback Hunter Luepke also exist).

The free-agent running back class isn't as robust as last year's crop (Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, D'Andre Swift, Pollard), but there are a few intriguing names. Does the aging Aaron Jones have one more year of productivity? Would a change of scenery redeem Najee Harris or Javonte Williams?

There's a boatload of backfield talent in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft, as well. Boise State's Ashton Jeanty is the belle of the ball. North Carolina's Omarion Hampton, Iowa's Kaleb Johnson, or one of the Ohio State runners (TraVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins) could have a star on their helmet next season.

Dowdle held no trade value before last season. That could be the case again after next season.

Jordan Mason, RB

Where does Jordan Mason go from here?

There were rumblings that the 25-year-old was beating Elijah Mitchell for the right to backup Christian McCaffrey before Mitchell suffered a season-ending injury. Then, McCaffrey sat out the first eight games of the season and Mason burst onto the scene.

Mason sputtered toward the end of his season. A season-ending injury (the same week as McCaffrey's PCL injury) gave Isaac Guerendo an opportunity. Guerendo, like Mason, Mitchell, and nearly every other running back in Kyle Shanahan's system, shined.

He's on a rookie salary for the next three seasons. McCaffrey isn't going anywhere. With a Brock Purdy extension looming, the 49ers will cut costs at other positions.

Jordan Mason who? pic.twitter.com/FCW0lZeySA

— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) December 8, 2024

Ultimately, the 49ers control what happens to Mason. He's a restricted free agent, unlike other players in this column. San Francisco can match any offer from another franchise.

Regardless of where he ends up, Mason profiles as a long-term backup and not a full-time starter. How does he fair in another system without an elite offensive line? He's not a threat as a receiver, so that doesn't help his outlook.

Trading Mason won't yield fantasy managers much. But his stock is likely only to fall from here. If you can get a third-round rookie pick, take that deal.

Stefon Diggs, WR

Fantasy managers are selling high on the other four players in this column. Stefon Diggs is being sold low.

Most other 31-year-old receivers recovering from a torn ACL wouldn't warrant a third-round rookie pick. Diggs is somewhat of an exception because of his name value.

Diggs secured over 100 passes, racked up 1,183 yards, and scored eight touchdowns in his final season in Buffalo. He was pacing for 100 receptions and 1,054 yards before the season-ending ACL injury.

Diggs could easily wind up back in Houston. C.J. Stroud struggled without a consistent second option next to Nico Collins. Tank Dell's gruesome injury is likely to sideline him until 2026. There's a massive need for receiving help.

Texans WR Tank Dell is going to be carted to the locker room with a knee injury after scoring on this play:

pic.twitter.com/4irMJNGOkA

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 21, 2024

That could behoove managers looking to offload the former All-Pro. They can point to the above production and a new-and-improved offense under first-year coordinator Nick Caley. The smarter manager shouldn't trust an aging receiver coming off a major injury. Sell while you can, otherwise, he's stuck on your roster.

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