The fantasy football offseason is in full swing and this column is designed to be a one-stop shop for quick-hitting analysis of the most impactful player movement during the free-agency period, including trades and those who re-signed with their teams.
ESPN Fantasy writers Mike Clay, Tristan H. Cockcroft and Eric Moody offer their insights into what each move means for a player's fantasy value in 2022, separated by position and listed alphabetically.
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Quarterback
Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: It's difficult not to view Brady as a QB1 in 2022. Last season, he averaged 312.7 passing yards and 25.5 fantasy points per game. It is likely that he will produce similar per-game numbers this season, as many of his key receivers return. - Moody
Marcus Mariota, Atlanta Falcons: Moments after trading Matt Ryan to Indianapolis, the Falcons signed Mariota as a bridge quarterback. Mariota is "only" 28 years old, but he's totaled 190 pass attempts as a backup over the last three seasons (30 attempts during the last two seasons). Perhaps he'll end up starting some games in 2022, but his most likely outcome is backing up a first-round rookie, which would keep him off the fantasy radar. - Clay
Matt Ryan, Indianapolis Colts: Carson Wentz is out and Ryan is in as the Colts' quarterback after Indianapolis acquired the veteran for a third-round pick. Ryan has posted one top-10 fantasy campaign over the last five seasons and, considering his lack of rushing output and the Colts' run-heavy scheme, he's unlikely to be a viable starting option in 2022 leagues. - Clay
Mitchell Trubisky, Pittsburgh Steelers: During training camp, Trubisky will be considered the favorite to start for the Steelers. As the Bears' primary starting quarterback from 2017 to '20, he ranked 29th out of 36 quarterbacks in both passer rating and yards per dropback. It wouldn't be wise to trust Trubisky as anything more than a QB2, despite having playmakers like Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool and Najee Harris at his disposal. - Moody
Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns: Watson had a change of heart and will be the Browns' new quarterback. The dual-threat quarterback has averaged 25 fantasy points per game with the Texans from 2018 to 2020. Watson will return to the field as a QB1 in Cleveland with the numerous offensive playmakers in an AFC North division that is also home to Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson. - Moody
Carson Wentz, Washington Commanders: Considering Washington's limited number of receiving playmakers, Wentz can be viewed as a high-end QB2. The Commanders should continue to rely heavily on play-action passes. Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen were the only other quarterbacks with more play-action touchdown passes than Wentz (12) last season. - Moody
Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos: Wilson now has one of the best, youngest and deepest groups of targets in the league. In addition to aforementioned Sutton, Jeudy and Williams, he'll have Tim Patrick, Albert Okwuegbunam and KJ Hamler. Wilson should be valued as a QB1 with top-five upside. - Clay
For more on the Wilson trade and its impact on Broncos, Seahawks players, check out Mike's full reaction.
Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints: After exploring other options, the Saints settled on re-signing Winston as their 2022 starter. Winston played very well prior to tearing his ACL last season, ranking no worse than six in QBR, EPA and ANY/A, though his fantasy output was all over the map. He's likely to settle in as a QB2, but his aggressive style provides some upside. - Clay
Running back
James Conner, Arizona Cardinals: Last season, Conner averaged 26.0 fantasy points per game in five games without Chase Edmonds. Conner is a perfect fit for the Cardinals' offensive scheme. Although he can be viewed as an RB1, Arizona may still add a back of significance to cap his upside. - Moody
Chase Edmonds, Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins signed Edmonds to resurrect a running game that averaged 3.5 yards per carry, the lowest in the NFL. It remains to be seen if Miami will deploy him on all three downs. In spite of this, Edmonds is very much on the RB2 radar. - Moody
Leonard Fournette, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Fournette should see a full workload once again in an offense led by Tom Brady. Last season, he averaged 19.0 opportunities (rushing attempts plus targets), 90.4 total yards and 18.2 fantasy points per game. Fournette is a high-end RB2 with RB1 upside. - Moody
Duke Johnson, Buffalo Bills: After failing to close a deal with J.D. McKissic, the Bills turned to Johnson as a passing-down complement to Devin Singletary. Johnson is entering his age-29 season, has never cleared 104 carries in a season and has one top-25 fantasy campaign in his career. However, he finished 2021 strong with Miami and he's joining a high-scoring offense. His upside is limited, but there's potential for some deep league PPR value. - Clay
J.D. McKissic, Washington Commanders: Apparently, McKissic changed his mind and decided not to sign a two-year, $7 million contract with the Bills. Over the last two seasons, he averaged 4.8 carries and 6.0 targets per game for Washington and will continue to have a similar role as part of the Commanders' running back committee alongside Antonio Gibson. - Moody
Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins: It's interesting to see Mostert sign a one-year, $3.125 million contract with the Dolphins. He will be able to start the season healthy after a knee cartilage injury ended his 2021 campaign, and is reunited with Miami's new head coach, Mike McDaniel. Mostert will have a chance to compete with Chase Edmonds for touches in a wide-open Dolphins backfield. - Moody
Rashaad Penny, Seattle Seahawks: Penny will return to Seattle on a one-year deal. Over the final five games of last season, he rushed 92 times for 671 yards and six touchdowns. During that period, Penny averaged 22 fantasy points per game behind an offensive line that ranked 31st in run block win rate. Although Chris Carson's future is uncertain and the Seahawks will have a new quarterback under center, Penny can still be regarded as a solid RB2. - Moody
James White, New England Patriots: The Patriots have a good, young RB duo in Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson, but that didn't stop them from re-upping this long-time passing-down specialist. Despite missing all but three games last season, White ranks first among backs in targets, receptions and touchdown catches since 2015. He'll remain a low-ceiling flex, whereas Harris is a TD-dependent flex and Stevenson a late-round insurance back. - Clay
Wide receiver
Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders: The Raiders have finally found themselves an impact perimeter receiver, trading premier draft picks to Green Bay in exchange for Adams. Adams has finished as a top-three fantasy WR three of the last four seasons, and while he'll no longer have Aaron Rodgers force-feeding him targets in one of the league's highest-scoring offenses, Derek Carr will keep him plenty busy. Adams remains a viable WR1, whereas Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller are sure to see a small dip in targets. - Clay
Braxton Berrios, New York Jets: Berrios is expected to replace Jamison Crowder as the Jets' primary slot receiver. Although Berrios is worth taking a chance on in the double-digit rounds of PPR drafts, his presence will allow Elijah Moore to be exclusively used as an outside receiver next season, which should make fantasy managers salivate.- Moody
DJ Chark Jr., Detroit Lions: The Lions entered the offseason with a major void at wide receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, so adding Chark -- a speedy, 6-foot-2 vertical threat -- to the perimeter is huge. Chark missed most of 2021 due to injury, but he went for 1,000 yards and a score back in 2019. The 25-year-old figures to settle in as a WR3/flex. - Clay
Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns: Cooper is assured of being the Browns' top wideout, especially after Jarvis Landry was released. In a less-pass-friendly offense than the one he left in Dallas, Cooper may have trouble achieving surefire WR2 status every week, but is still a top-30 WR. - Cockcroft
Russell Gage, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tampa Bay has found its No. 3 wide receiver behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Gage, a 2018 sixth-round pick, has been one of Matt Ryan's top targets in Atlanta the last two seasons, posting 72-786-4 and 66-770-4 receiving lines. Gage has yet to produce a top-35 fantasy campaign, but a top-three role in the Buccaneers' high-scoring, pass-heavy offense positions him as a potential flex option. - Clay
Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys: I've liked Gallup for a long time, but never felt he got the opportunity he deserved. Now he will, with Cooper gone. Gallup is on the fringe of the top-30 WRs opposite a true fantasy WR1 in CeeDee Lamb. - Cockcroft
Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins made a big splash by acquiring Hill from the Chiefs in exchange for five draft picks. Hill averaged 8 targets, 81 receiving yards and 19 fantasy points per game over the past three seasons. He is still a WR1 in fantasy, but it is worth noting that Tua Tagovailoa averaged only 213.5 air yards per game over the last two seasons, while Patrick Mahomes averaged 283.6. New head coach Mike McDaniel likes to take advantage of his receivers' ability to get yards after the catch and no one is better in the league when it comes to doing that than Hill. - Moody
Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars: Jacksonville has proactively surrounded second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence with playmakers. Kirk is coming off a career season in which he primarily played in the slot. The trend should continue in Jacksonville and Kirk remains a WR3 for fantasy purposes. - Moody
DeVante Parker, WR, New England Patriots: The arrival of Parker is good news for Patriots quarterback Mac Jones. New England now has a receiver whose frame and speed the team has wanted for years. Last season, the Patriots became the first team since the 2009 Rams to go an entire season without a player having a 100-yard receiving game. In Parker, the Patriots add a legitimate X receiver and he has the opportunity to become New England's top receiver. In spite of that, the Patriots had one of the most run-heavy offenses in the league last season. That could change with Parker on the team in 2022, but he is still best viewed as an upside flex option currently. - Moody
Zach Pascal, Philadelphia Eagles: Pascal has reunited with his ex-offensive coordinator and current Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni. The 27 year old has been in the 4.4-to-4.5 targets per game vicinity each of the last three seasons and has yet to post a top-50 fantasy campaign. He'll be a role player in Philly and is unlikely to provide consistent fantasy value. - Clay
Allen Robinson II, Los Angeles Rams: The Rams led the NFL in three-plus WR sets last season, so it's no surprise that they added a third impact receiver to team up with Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods. Robinson is coming off a rough final season in Chicago, but he's "only" 28 years old and will be playing with the best QB of his career. He'll be on the WR3/flex radar. - Clay
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kansas City Chiefs: Smith-Schuster will join Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill in Kansas City. Smith-Schuster averaged 78 receiving yards and 16.6 fantasy points per game while playing alongside Antonio Brown from 2017 to 2018, and playing alongside Hill should improve his fantasy value with the Chiefs. He can be considered a high-end WR3 with upside in Kansas City's high-octane offense. - Moody
James Washington, Dallas Cowboys: Washington will likely open the 2022 season as Dallas' No. 3 receiver, running a high percentage of his routes in the slot. He should see consistent targets without Amari Cooper and Cedrick Wilson. Michael Gallup, who is coming off knee surgery and may not be available in Week 1, averaged 6.7 targets a game over the past two seasons in the Cowboys' high-powered offense. Washington should get those targets and be a popular sleeper heading into fantasy drafts this summer. - Moody
Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers: The Chargers re-signed Williams after he set personal bests in targets (129), receptions (76) and receiving yards (1,146) last season. With franchise QB Justin Herbert throwing the ball to him, Williams can be considered a WR2 heading into the 2022 season. - Moody
Cedrick Wilson, Miami Dolphins: Wilson is expected to play primarily from the slot for the Dolphins. Miami had the fourth-most receptions from the slot last season (151), with Jaylen Waddle (55) and Mike Gesicki (48) accounting for 68% of those receptions. As the Dolphins' fourth receiving option, it will be difficult for Wilson to find fantasy relevance. - Moody
Robert Woods, Tennessee Titans: The Rams traded Woods to the Titans in exchange for a sixth-round pick. The veteran was headed for his fourth-consecutive top-15 fantasy campaign last season prior to tearing his ACL in November. Woods will be a reliable target for Ryan Tannehill, but he's entering his age-30 season and will be playing in an extremely run-heavy scheme. He's best viewed as a WR3/flex as things stand. - Clay
Tight end
Mo Alie-Cox, Indianapolis Colts: Alie-Cox, with Jack Doyle retired, is firmly on the TE2 radar and could contribute more to the Colts' offense this season. That could change if Indianapolis adds another tight end in free agency or the NFL draft, though. - Moody
Tyler Conklin, New York Jets: Conklin put up 61 receptions for 593 receiving yards and three touchdowns with the Vikings in 2021 and decided to test the market as an unrestricted free agent. Now signed with the Jets, it appears New York is placing a strong emphasis on the tight end position in 2022 considering the team also signed C.J. Uzomah. Conklin remains on the TE2 radar for fantasy managers despite this frustrating situation. - Moody
Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars: Over the last two seasons, Engram averaged only 8.0 points per game in a poor Giants offense. My biggest concern with Engram in the Jaguars' offense in 2022 is that he will have plenty of competition for targets, even if a change of scenery is good for him. He will be more of a matchup-based streamer this season. - Moody
Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals: In 11 games with Kyler Murray in and out of the lineup because of injury, Ertz racked up 574 receiving yards and three touchdowns for the Cardinals last season. Ertz's three-year, $31.6 million contract makes him the highest-paid tight end in the league, and fantasy managers can consider him a TE1. - Moody
Austin Hooper, Tennessee Titans: With the Titans, Hooper signs a one-year, $6 million contract. It's a good landing spot for his fantasy value as the Titans' only pass-catching tight end. In 2021, Tennessee's tight ends averaged 6.4 targets per game. Hooper can be viewed as a TE2. - Moody
O.J. Howard, Buffalo Bills: Howard had a dazzling start to his career with 1,456 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns during his first three seasons. A torn Achilles in early 2020 altered his career trajectory. Now with the Bills, Howard is expected to start the season as the No. 2 tight end, though Buffalo could use more two-tight end sets in 2022. - Moody
Ricky Seals-Jones, New York Giants: Seals-Jones has a great opportunity with the Giants, now that they have a void at tight end after Evan Engram moved on to the Jaguars. Last season, Seals-Jones had 30 receptions for 271 yards and two touchdowns for Washington. Seals-Jones is a TE2 with significant upside in a Giants offense hungry for playmakers, so he should contribute right away. - Moody
C.J. Uzomah, New York Jets: Last season, Uzomah had 49 receptions for 493 yards, while Jets tight ends combined for 50 and 534. New York has not been a hotbed for tight end fantasy football production in the past. Uzomah can be considered more of a TE2 with upside in certain matchups. - Moody